Thank goodness May is here. Because April was emotionally draining.
I was looking forward to April ending because of all the ‘death stuff‘, then on the morning of the 30th (the last day of the month) I received an email with more sad news.
My ex-boss and friend of many years had succumbed to cancer and passed away at the age of 59.
I burst into tears. And cried all day.
But I don’t want to write another post about death (one was enough don’t ya think?). So I’d rather tell you the good stuff about my friend and one great art lesson he taught me ‘way back when’.
Call it a little tribute.
As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, I used to be a graphic designer in my twenties (remember…I’m old). I worked at a small studio out of college for a year or two, then tried to go the freelancing route at 22. A bit risky. But I was still living at home so the timing was good.
Through a mutual connection, I met Steve Buist who was looking for a little extra help around his small graphic design studio. He took a chance on me and I did some work for him off and on for another two years or so.
Then he offered me a full time position. I took it and worked at D-Zign S.A.B. for the next six years until I left to pursue animation with Steve’s blessing.
Back then, the studio was just me, Steve, another guy named LP and Steve’s wonderful wife Cheryl. Steve was a boss who wasn’t a ‘boss’. His clients loved him. His suppliers loved him.
He loved his job, he loved his family and he loved cars.
Anyone would be lucky to work for a guy like Steve. We were a little family in that studio.
I saw his three girls grow up. We knew what was going on in each others lives. We drank a lot at our little Christmas parties.
And I learned tons about graphic design.
Now, this was a time when a graphic designer didn’t mean ‘someone with 3 months of training and a MacBook’.
When I started, it was markers, paste-ups, wax machines, rubber cement thinner, x-acto knives, T-squares, Letraset and stat cameras (Google it). Half of the supplies could cause some serious health issues or cut the end of your finger off! Those were the days, baby.
Everything was done by hand. It rocked.
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