Pool and Spa Expo

Another show and school in the books. 10+ years of Las Vegas Swimming Pool conventions... a few exceptional restaurants, beyond that, I am bored with Vegas! The Sketch Up class was worth the $$ and effort. There were a few frustrating moments when the program confounded me, but good instruction and diligence won the day ('s). I am uncertain though, how or when I will incorporate this tool into my presentation. Still much to learn, but right now my Sketch Up drawings look cartoonish. For now I think, I will continue with my trusty pencil and color renderings but possibly incorporate some 3d modeling, via sketch up, for specific details within my presentation. I believe drawing skills are still vital to my work and will continue to promote that thought to others I consult with in the industry. However, I also believe design with computers has arrived (in our industry) and is here to stay. That said, the computer and software only ease the physical drawing process, design is still design. Success and credibility in this field require in-depth studies, years of experience and a little talent sprinkled in, among other things. The Genesis 3 program is the resource within the swimmng pool industry that promotes and supports what I've said here. Within the G3 curriculum you will find classes on color theory, art history, elements of design and many other programs relating to design and construction of pools and related features.

Sketch Up

Attempting to catch up with the new millinium and embrace design from the Mac perspective. I started toying with google Sketch Up earlier this year after an Architect friend of mine suggested I give it a try. He said his commercial firm was using the program almost exclusively in their design process. They still have a need for CAD to produce CD's but design was Sketch Up. As mentioned earlier, I am now a Mac guy. What took me so long?? I liken it to my move to all digital photography some 8 years ago. My age doesn't allow change quickly from something I have known and am so comfortable with. As with my digital Nikon, I love my Mac! The Sketch Up program is my new toy, not quite proficient just yet, but its still fun. I leave for Las Vegas Saturday for a Genesis 3 Sketch Up class specific to the pool designer, hopefully I walk away after the three day program with all the skills to begin implementation in the real world of presentation of my work. I hope to replace my perspective hand drawings with Sketch Up, hopefully expediting the process. For a bit of artistry, I'll be adding color via marker and prisma to the computer generated drawing, giving it a soft, sexy look as opposed to the hard cartoonish lines of a computer drawing. Looking forward to working in this new medium.

Been away from blogging for the last 6 months. Hope to update more frequently in the future.

I'm having a blast preparing a pictorial book of my swimming pool work, inclusive of all the beautiful details such as negative or infinity edge pools and spas, glass tile details, waterfalls and water features, architectural elements including kitchens, tellis' or arbors and many, many more fabulous items...

Pig

We finished up the pig hunt at Northstar Outfitters in Winona, TX with several Genesis 3 members and the #2 principal pig. Overall it was a good trip for the guys, even though I was not involved in the daily hunts, I'm more of a petter than hunter. They seemed to enjoy themselves and came away with several birds (consumed on site) and many pigs to be processed into to hams, chops and sausage. The weather day one was 36 degrees, coooold, wet and snowy. By the final day 3 it was T-shirt weather, 77 degrees, welcome to Texas boys!

Start

The spring 2010 Luxury Pools Magazine arrived today. Dave Peterson wrote an article and interviewed me for a few statements on, "What makes a project luxurious?" I like how the article ends and how my statement reads, "Luxury is a sensation that becomes apparent upon entering an environment. Its a combination of many, and if done correctly, it just feels good to be there."