The Paramount (of a lifetime)

The Paramount (of a lifetime)

I’ve finally managed to get this all rendered and put together. After ninety years, he finally gets the adulation he deserves.  He’s a wonderful character and hero, and deserves all the recognition. He and my mother taught me everything I know.  School taught me nothing.  I learned appreciation, beauty, wonder and curiosity.  I’ve learned life can be entertaining.  And I learned that if I was ever interested in anything, they would run on ahead and help lead me there.  Now, I still keep running on ahead, but for them this time.  I’m sure this show will still run for a long time. I’ll keep buying season tickets.

Early work on my father’s birthday

Early work on my father’s birthday

My father was born February 15, 1923.  He’ll be 90 next year.  So, I’ve been working on a graphic to use for the invitation.  One of his favorite memories was going to the Paramount Theater in Toledo, Ohio and opened in 1929.  It was a fabulous picture palace in every sense of the word.  He speaks fondly of the “moving clouds” and the beauty that was the Paramount.  Unfortunately, it was torn down in 1965 (I was 6).  So, I decided to merge a few pieces of his life into one thing.  You won’t see it this time, but what you will see is a re-creation of the marquee (the early work, I’ll add the lights later and change it in celebration of him).  Also, I’ve included a photo of the actual marquee in it’s heyday. and what I worked from.

Home Theater Design

Home Theater Design

I finally decided to finish the design I started for a home theater. I hadn’t finished it because the client unfortunately died before the changes he made could be completed. I felt bad, so I didn’t finish it until recently. Really all I needed to do was show seating. I opted to put in regular theater seats instead of the planned seating for this image. Seating was to be more like a club lounge with the big recliners and side buffets and a cocktail bar. He wanted a “real, authentic theater palace” look. Reproduction Maxfield Parrish murals, custom cloud ceiling and a stained glass dome in leau of a chandelier.