Portraits by Ziggy, Buffalo, MN
Pencil portraits drawn from your favorite photo. A unique gift for weddings, graduations, or any special ocassion.
I'm Rick Ziegelmann, known to most as Ziggy.
My life as an artist began when I was five. On the first day of kindergarten all the children's mothers were there but mine, and I began to cry. In hopes of cheering me up, the teacher asked me to draw a bicycle on the blackboard. I'm sure all the praise I got from my new classmates was only so they wouldn't have to hear me cry, but it gave me the encouragement to draw. Many of my old teachers tell of how they'd turn over every assignment or test paper I turned in to see what I drew on the back. The school commissioned me to paint murals on the walls of the cafeteria. I guess it was their way of giving me a creative outlet so I could concentrate on the front side of my test papers.
Education
After high school, I studied art at Mankato State University, then Drafting and Technical Illustration at Willmar Area Technical Institute. I've taken several courses and seminars in airbrush techniques, watercolor painting, drawing caricatures, and computer graphics using software such as Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, AutoCad, and Pro-E Engineering.
Experience
From 1970-2003 I was employed full time as a Technical Illustrator, with a two-year break to play army. From 2004-2009 I was doing Cabinet Drafting. I was a General Draftsman in the U.S. Army where I created signs, posters, and various artworks for my battalion. I've been drawing cartoons and portraits professionally since my college days. My experience includes many years of computer graphics. I've worked on all three platforms: Macintosh, IBM, and UNIX. I've even had a chance to do some 3D modeling and 3D animation. I've done a little of everything from painting murals to painting yellow lines on a parking lot.
Future
I've been developing a technique in watercolor portraits. When I'm ready I'll be taking orders. If I can find the time I'll be creating animated .gif files. I'm also looking for the time to do more landscape painting. Does anyone know how to add hours to the day?
