Of those who retire from their years of work, many continue their talents but use them for new personal projects. Some spend more time with what they were enjoying on their “days off”.
I have written of these artists (below) in the past (search Geezer’Gallery and add name). Also, you can see their current websites at right: “Artist’s Sites” & “Still In the Game”.
Dave Broad, Lowell Herrero, Bruce Wolfe, Ward Schumaker and Jack Allen
After working as a humorous illustrator at Landphere Associates in San Francisco, Dave Broad continued free-lancing from his home studio for B of A, Sunset Books and others. Dave returned to watercolor as his favorite painting medium. A solid member of Marin Society of Artists and the California Watercolor Association, Dave won numerous CWA Awards and other contests earning him the rare distinction of Master Signature member in the CWA. He painted well into his mid-90s, expanding his boundaries and challenging his creativity.
Another artist known for his humorous commercial art, was Lowell Herrero who still had a whimsical style in his move into fine art. On September 1, 2007, a book or 224 pages was published showing Lowell Herrero’s paintings.
Bruce Wolfe had just turned 20 years old when he was employed by one of the largest advertising agencies, Foote, Cone & Belding as an art director doing design, layout and television. His years as an illustrator followed. In his downtime he painted and sculpted friends, such as photographer Ed Zak. Then, all of his creative time was devoted to sculpture of famous persons.
Ward Schumaker, as a commercial artist, quickly moved beyond the usual advertising accepted style, His lettering and illustrations showed a step into fine art. His clients accepted his unique style. Special shows and art galleries are now his venues.
After alternating his roles as an art director or photographer, Jack Allen retired and continued in fine art. His painting style was easily adapted as subjects for jigsaw puzzles.
Some of us, found ourselves on projects that we never attempted before.
This is about Murray Hunt (who unknowingly gave a huge project to Dick Moore and myself).
Murray Hunt had represented Spartan Typographers. Spartan’s owner, Jim McGlynn, had been to the Haas’sche Schriftgiesserei (Haas Type Foundry) of Münchenstein, Switzerland and brought back the new 1957 type font – Helvetica –exclusive to their shop in Oakland at that time. The type became a huge favorite (and still is) as we are using it here on this site.
Murray became a good friend to all, as he called on the SF Bay Area’s graphic community.
His off-hours passion was white water kayaking in the Sierra foothills. He invited me into his group. No way!
When he retired from Spartan, he still kayaked, but found the time to look back into the life of his step-great grandfather, Matthew Turner (the California builder of 228 tall-sailing ships and other sea going vessels). Murray then wrote a family book.
At the same time, plans were being made to build a tall wooden ship (in Sausalito, CA) to teach young and old about sailing and the sea.
Alan Olson, who envisioned the ship, interviewed Murray. Alan chose the design of one of Matthew Turner’s ships, re-designing it to accommodate 38 berths forward for “overnighters”.
Here’s where Dick and I came-in (after our retirements). Murray invited us to an opening celebration, the “Keel Laying Ceremony” on 10-19-2013. We attended and we took a few photos that day.
Then when work was to begin building the Matthew Turner, Dick and I promised Murray that we would send him a few views by email, since he lived too far north to visit Sausalito easily.
For a few months we did just that, sending our photos and getting nice emails from Murray as he appreciated each sending. But then Murray, who was well up in years, passed away on May 15, 2014.
We kept taking photos. A monthly visit to the construction site fit our schedule for Dick’s once-a-month visit to the SF VA hospital for a B‑12 shot. We would swing down into Sausalito on our drive home. This was a change in our lives using photography which we previously didn’t use professionally. We each had taken photos (mostly just for family).
After each visit to the ship, there was an evaluation of what we had shot. I had used a small camera using a “non-shake” mode and “no-flash” mode so that we could move quickly through the workmen and work space to not disturb anyone. I carried batteries in my pocket. There were no charging possibilities if we had a camera that would need that. Dick did carry an iPhone and his Nikon for wide angle shots.
A partial photographic record would be of no use to anyone. We did not know the construction time needed to bring the ship to when it would be sailing full sail on the San Francisco Bay.
Our monthly visits covered Oct.19, 2013 to February 27, 2020. By then we had more than 3000 usable photos.
At the computer (with Photoshop) I squared, color balanced, cropped and dated each visit.
Here is where I was in a self-imposed assignment that had no background in my 40 years in my graphic art career. Dick was a commercial illustrator and watercolor artist.
What to do with the edited-down 3,365 chosen shots?
First I created a book The book is ready (but the publishing houses apparently aren’t)
It has a lot of written history that I was able to collect. The photos, in sequence, show the progression.
With the book, I wanted to reach the people that worked on the this beautiful ship. Alan Olson suggested that I present a video, first.
I taught myself Apple’s iMovie and even added music and some background sounds (here and there) and even zoomed-in using the “Ken Burns” effect. it was a big job for me. Covering all the photos, the documentary is long but the viewer can stop, move ahead or bookmark it to watch later.
I chose the platform, Vimeo, because it has no advertising interruptions. I don’t know any other educational report of a subject like this that shows the monthly record of a tall ship growing from a stack of wood to the finished ship, sailing full-sail.
Our assignment ended just before the ship was complete (just a few items still not in place). Because of Covid-19, visitors were no longer allowed the ship. But, luckily, everything that was important on the ship WAS DONE and the crew could live aboard!
Here is the link to Vimeo, which was sent out to the 550 volunteers who worked on the ship:
The Building of the Matthew Turner
https://vimeo.com/846043988
There are credits throughout, for the photos that were taken, when and where we couldn’t be.
So, here was an after-retirement project, that came from a friendly invitation from our friend, Murray Hunt. Dick Moore and I thoroughly enjoyed our new creative project.
Dick now is daily painting new watercolors.
I never, before retirement, attempted writing! Geezer’s Gallery in 2010 was my first attempt. Then (like Murray) I wrote my family history. The Matthew Turner book brings me to the present. I still find more to write here on our monthly, Geezer’s Gallery.
(I do miss drawing.)
I thank you for your interest,
Ann Thompson