HOW IT STARTED
I had gained local notoriety as a teenager painting various things like signs and cartoons on classmates cars. My talent was recognized at school and was asked to paint the baseball field advertisements, and even the school mascot on the 50 yardline during football season. Later, as a challenge to myself, I asked my dad if I could try to paint something on his barn. He agreed but didn't like my idea of painting a spinning Tazmanian Devil character. I painted a Road Runner scene but I wasn't happy with it, so I went with the next best thing...The Ohio State Buckeyes and Brutus mascot painting! My grandfather Don Hagan took some photos and showed the local newspaper- the Barnesville Enterprise. They called me and ran a front page story! I was 19 at the time.
Meanwhile, a staffer from the Ohio Bicentennial Commission (Nichola Maretti) was looking for a unique way to advertise about the state of Ohio's upcoming 200 year birthday, and upon seeing a photograph of the Ohio State Buckeye logo painted on our family barn, they began to spin the idea for a statewide project.
THE PAINTING PROCESS
Each painting represents its own challenges. Size, surface type and weather are the biggest factors. Equipment and travel time are all considered before hand.
After the design and quote has been determined and agreed upon, a tentative schedule is made. I travel with a 27' RV which also serves as my work truck, and a trailer. The RV is my work truck and hotel. It makes things easier in many ways but at times some areas may be difficult to drive into and set up depending on the terrain and area around the project. Things to consider are narrow gates, steep driveways, tree limbs, power and water. A steep slope in front of a building might mean I cannot use my equipment for example. Any obsticle in front of the building needs to be considered. I once had to leave a project due to a garden planted in front of a barn.
My kind of painting has been compared to the work of fellow Belmont Countian(OH) Harley Warrick, best known for the Mail Pouch logos he painted on barns across the country. Warrick was the last of the Mail Pouch "Barn Stormers". I grew up 15 miles from his home. When I was asked to do the Ohio Bicentennial project, I knew I needed more than just a ladder for the work. My Dad called Harley one day and asked for advice. Harley showed me how the Mail Pouch barn painting crews used a rope and pulley scaffolding and how to tie off the knots and rig the block and tackle. He was so gracious to me and willing to help! I loved hearing his stories from the road and to me he became a friend. I would stop by now and then on my way home from college. Warrick passed suddenly in the winter of 2000 at age 76.
My painting work has been featured in several state promotional videos, a national video essay entitled "Discoveries...America", several magazine’s including "Out Here", "Country Magazine", "Ohio Magazine" and more. "USA Today", "The Wall Street Journal", and even "Ripley’s Believe It Or Not" have written articles.
THE GOAL
My goal is to paint more American flags and to find more "winter work" in the southern states! I really enjoy painting the High Scholl Gym Murals!