I did some research into logging. It's heroic and eccentric and full of big trees and small trains and scary tools and brave guys. It's rustic but, incredibly dynamic. With all of it's strength and richness of history it easily stands with pride as one of this country's great symbols of ingenuity and determination.

I think that the way they move logs around is as interesting as how they take the trees down. Surprisingly small trains are a considerable part of logging's storied past. When you couldn't find a train or, even a horse, sometimes a moose would do. Unfortunately the wall isn't long enough to support both a harnessed moose with a logging sled and a train so I chose the train. Build it sturdy and scenic it up to have an antique patina, it could look like a hallowed artifact and still be something the folks could touch and climb inside of for photo ops. I replaced the little house over the water wheel with a water tank. I't an interesting thing. It makes sense with the train and it breaks up what would be a very long, straight stretch of roof. The wall behind all of this could be a great spot for long rolling mural of lumber country's wooded hills and big sky.

I kept the drawings real loose and sketchy as promised. These new drawings are generated directly in a photoshop document with a Wacom drawing tablet. The drawings still have the done on vellum look with pencil but, since it's already in the computor. I don't have to worry about the size of the drawing or, the size of the scanning bed or how quickly I can get it to you.

I figured that it was only logical to go with the log framing for the rest room entrance when considering the entry of the Saw Mill Grill. I flanked the door frame with shortened stacked logs, end grain facing out as a way of breaking out of the monotony of the vertical planks. The roundness of the logg faces also echos the roundness of the saw blade motifs used for the rest room signage and behind the train as back drop and display. I miss the Bear! I thought about sticking him in the rest room entrance but, I think that is would become to crowded, a pity.

Hey Kevin, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to sketch for you. I've been involved in sculpting other peoples art work for such a long time that my sketching hand got pretty rusty. It took me a couple of days to shake it out but, it's working just swell again.
( click on any image to enlarge it.)

I realize that being able to sketch quickly in key in this business so, please accept my apology for not getting you the sketches sooner. I didn't want to give you anything till I was back up to speed.

These are a few quick thumbs. I really like the multiple beaver thing. The one in the tree is in my opinion, the coolest but, the truth is that I found no photografic evidence to support the fact the at beavers spend any time up in trees at all.

The idea behind this sketch is to replace the tent with something a bit more scenic and interactive. The logs and stumps are hang out spots and fun place for photo opportunities.

Developing a beaver character was a surprising challenge. The beaver is not God's most handsome creation but, he can be as funny as hell.

These are actually some of the first sketches that I did. I wanted to feel my way into what beaver are like in nature. To do a large beaver sculpture will pose a serious challenge in that they really are big rodents. The basic anatomy, proportions and posture can in certain situations appear to be very rat like. I'm not sure that a big rat like thing is the way your client would want to go. A beaver monument could be amazing but, hotel water parks are seldom the venue for such things and done well it would be quite a large ticket item.

Before I do anything, I usually put together a reference page. It's a drag and drop sort of thing directly from the internet into a Photoshop document. They're always helpful and get idea's across very quickly.