Da Man has spoken: New gift idea....

[gina164]

OK, fellow 'giftors'...so much for my 'voting thread'...

I called Dan -

First, he sounded really good!...like he is definitely 'back,' although he is still gaining his strength back, after so much bed rest.

Second...he told me he hates regular art tables...oops! Apparently, he hasn't liked working  at 'regular art tables' since his college days...And, he added that he would like to buy his own table - because he is VERY particular about the type he likes to work on...He was, of course, really glad that we chose to ask him first

So, anyway, I then asked if there was anything in particular that he would enjoy receiving from us as a housewarming gift...he told me 'a print or picture' ...something to hang on the walls.

SO...now the question is...a print of what?

Any ideas?

Oh...and Poonhead has given $8 more via PayPayl, so our total is now $378!

An idea I had was to take Dan out to shop for a print...
sound OK to everyone else?

I could take pics of the shopping trip, and then of Dan by the print in his new house.

Let me know if you all are cool with that!

Hope all is well in cyberspace and in your homes, too

Gina

[Poonhead]

Well a nice print isn't very expensive, maybe 40 bucks.  Then Framed or mounted for another 50, or so.
I'm all for getting him whatever it is he really wants, but this is more than enough money for just an art print.
He's still gettin a turntable right?

[cheddarcat]

yes definitely, take him shopping for a print! that sounds great.
maybe more than one, if they're that inexpensive. or maybe he'll think of something else... since he is so particular, maybe it's good to let him choose the bulk of it, and just keep a couple surprises

[Henry Long]

How about an actual page of Jack Kirby art? They can be had on eBay, usually penciled by Kirby, inked by another (Mike Royer, etc.) and sometimes signed by both. Knowing Daniel, it wont matter what page it is or where (which comic) it comes from. I have one from Black Panther, and it is beautiful.

Framing with conservation glass, acid free mat and a decent frame actually comes alot closer to $175-$200, even if it is a small image.

I would recommend NOT just getting a poster or a print, since this is from his fans for his home, but something of actual value. Something signed or numbered. Maybe something by John Lennon? I've seen pieces available through

http://www.lennonart.com/newrel.htm

Or a nice photo print of his heroes?
http://www.showcaseeditions.com/gallery/features/harrison.asp

Good luck! Keep us informed.

[notdaniel]

How about an actual page of Jack Kirby art? I have one from Black Panther, and it is beautiful.
I would recommend NOT just getting a poster or a print, since this is from his fans for his home, but something of actual value.

I think the following should be kept in mind, y'all: Dan sometimes has different ideas about "value' than those which normally apply to the rest of us. If you spend $100,000 to send him the original Simon & Kirby cover art from Captain America #1, it would floor him, but a month later he might hand it off to a DQ waitress he thinks is cute. If he does, you then have no right to be angry!!! Dan is just as likely to lovingly hang a cheap color Xerox of the Mona Lisa on his wall and stare at it in awe for hours as he is to do the same with the genuine article.

Personally, I've got three cardboard boxes full of my old '60s/'70s monster models - in various states of repair - in the trunk of the car waiting for the day (soon) I get my butt back out to Waller for a visit to the Johnston estate! Without their original boxes, their collectors' value is next to nil, but I think Mr. J will find a happy home for their creepy countenances! Also in the gift-bag: 1) A photocopy of a coloring page from a Casper comic blown up and hand-colored following the instructions to "Color Casper True Blue!"; 2) Several CD-Rs packed with Beatles & Queen "mash-ups" plus other Fab-related remixes/remakes/remodels.

  - notdan

PS: For those who may think its weird to visit Dan, I could name at least one Hollywood actor with a recurring role in a current SMASH comedy TV series who has an open invitation for anybody who regularly posts to his web forum to come out and stay over at his LA-area home with his wife and family (schedule permitting!)

PPS: Back to Kirby and valuables, Henry - how much do you think it would cost to get Dan one or both of King Solomon's Frogs so he could travel time, reunite the Beatles and Frankenstein and bring about the Great Tribulation as he has so long and carefully planned?

[Braxton Pendleton]

I have a very good idea for a painting. Why don't you comission Dan's friend Kimya Dawson to paint him a picture? I spent a bit of time together with the two of them and know that they get along swimingly. They're admirers of each others music and Dan would probably love one of her paintings.
(kimyadawson.com)

[Poonhead]

I couldn't get any of her art to load.

[Henry Long]

"...Back to Kirby and valuables, Henry - how much do you think it would cost to get Dan one or both of King Solomon's Frogs so he could travel time, reunite the Beatles and Frankenstein and bring about the Great Tribulation as he has so long and carefully planned?"

Bring about? I thought it was already happening...

[duckykramp]

I have the turntable and receiver here for him whenever he wants it.

[gina164]

Hi, All -

GREAT IDEAS!

I have to go with getting Dan a print, or original, that WE pick out...only because I realized since my last post that his state of mind is too unpredictable for me to feel OK about planning a trip around taking him shopping...

SO - I checked out your ideas...


Kimya's paintings are interesting...I can see how Dan would enjoy owning one...

... but if they are good friends, perhaps she can paint him a pic ?
In any case, I do not feel there is time for 'commissioning"...

I VERY MUCH like the Lennon print (with John's head in a lifesaver, taken during the filming of "Help")...from this link from Henry:

http://showcaseeditions.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_John_Lennon_during_filming_Help_336.html

It is signed by the photographer - something Dan would be sure to enjoy pointing out with pride, from my knowledge of him...

IF we can agree of this print - I want to order it ASAP!
The site says shipping takes about 10 days, Internationally...
 
I'd have time to buy a nice mat and frame from a do-it-yourself frame store (of which there are MANY in the SF bay area)...and it would stay in our price range...

... and perhaps we could add an extra mat at the bottom with a small statement of appreciation from his on-line fans, or some sort of thing like that written on it, to distinguish it as having come from his on-line fan forum? Maybe,  something like this:

To Dan, congrats on your new home!
With gratitude and love,
Your on-line fan forum

What do ya think gang?

There are 11 of us who contributed...including myself...

The signed print and shipping converts to $156.67.

The framing and matting will most probably NOT bring us to $378,
BUT...if we pick this one, we can also afford some NEW art supplies for him , or an artist case?

Ducky has the turntable and receiver...I will coordinate with her about picking those up on my way to Waller...And, I am also still bringing to him a new roll-up piano  that will also be from all of us (bought from Sharper Image) and the cute "I'm a homeowner" teddy bear...
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SO......Does this all sound good, then, for his housewarming gifts?

The signed print of the photo of John Lennon - framed ...perhaps in a 'cool' black modern frame, with a colorful acid-free outer mat (an aqua blue?) and a white acid-free off-white or cream-colored inner mat - with our thank you written onto the bottom... (in other words, no colors too dreary or too bright, but complimentary to the photo...)...

The Roll-up piano

The turntable and receiver

Art supplies - ideas, please....

The Teddy bear with t-shirt that reads, "I'm a homeowner!"

**************************************************

I'll give this thread until the end of the weekend, for the other 10 contributors to agree or not...

If the majority who reply by then say, "It's Ok to go for it!", I'll order the signed print of Lennon Sunday evening.

Hope this finds you all well,
Gina

[duckykramp]

Sounds good to me!

[Poonhead]

Yup.

[dbeefy]

me too , although it's gone Sunday night now ...

[Henry Long]

Go for it!

Being a professional picture framer for 18 years, I have to suggest having the print professionally done, but I understand time is an issue. Are there any frame shops around Waller? Maybe someone there, contacted early, can make it happen for you as a "rush" order of 2 days or so. It's really worth a try.

I also like the idea of the note, or a window in the mat stating where the print came from, etc. A little brass plaque can be inscribed and added to the wooden frame easily enough (CONGRATULATIONS FROM YOUR FANS AT THE OFFICIAL DANIEL JOHNSTON WEB FORUM) and fairly cheaply (under 20 bucks)

Art supplies...yeah, watercolor markers, pencils, papers, small flat file paper holder?

Extra cash left over? Take him out for dinner! A GOOD one! (Healthy)

Gina-
Did you get the etched photos? Also, email me privately about my "special" request.

For all interested...Emma and I got married to Daniel's "Love Defined" on January 13th, then went to London for 5 days and had a wonderful honeymoon. I wore Daniel t-shirts to alot of the places we went. No comment. Anyway, I can't wait to go again. If I can ever figure out how to post an image here, I'll drop one in from the trip!

[gina164]

Ok - Sounds as if the majority of the 11 'of us' are going to be ok with the signed print of the photo of John Lennon:

Those agreeing, thus far:
Me
Henry
Dbeefy
Poonhead
Ducky

That makes 5 of 11...

and, I THINK Cheddarcat will be ok with this plan...

IF SO, that makes 6 of 11 - a majority vote...

but...the other 6 contributors have either not yet caught up with this thread or are abstaining to vote...

JUST IN CASE Cheddar and the other 5 want to say "No-go" on the Lennon pic, I will wait 2 more days to try to get a true majority vote - that will be until the end of THIS weekend  [BTW, sorry for that confusion, dbeefy et al- I meant to say 'end of the week' on Jan 30th...but, typo-ed in 'weekend'...]

OK  - so there's the  final 'voting plan'...

About custom framing...I WILL try to have it framed professionally... I am not, however, 'hot' on a 'brass plaque' idea, Henry - I like the thought of our message inside the framing, and hand-written...

If a majority now chime in with 'brass plaque only,' I'll do it that way, though...

About your pic etchings...yep, got them...thanks - interesting stuff!...I've been meaning to send an e-mail...but, life has been VERY busy - I haven't even cashed your check yet, as you must have realized by now...I'll share more, in time, about my big changes...

About your special request - I haven't been feeling 'that good' about it...sorry...still, if time and circumstances are such that it would work out fine, I will try -

Now...

I want to send my "CONGRATS" to you and Emma!!!!
I am very happy for you both, Henry!

All you need is LOVE
Gina