Yes, technology does move at the speed of light. In the design business specifically, it is so sophisticated that we can create an interior model and create a virtual walkthrough of the entire space, even before construction begins. And our renderings have become so photo real, people think they’re actually…real.
But when we’re beginning the process of taking a raw space and transforming it into an entirely new experience (whether hotel, restaurant, retail or workplace), there’s nothing like old school pencil and paper.
Many of our Shea-ites, led by David Shea’s teaching, have the unique ability to walk into a space and immediately envision how it should lay out to get maximum impact. And many pull out a notepad or sketchbook and start sketching it out. For so many projects, that initial sketch is revisited toward the end and it’s always amazing how close we end up getting. Sketching is such a great way to engage your instincts and hone your observations, and we love the artform it becomes.
The love of sketching comes directly from David, Owner and Founder. He’s spent many years traveling the world and sketching things he sees, from the smallest unique details of a window or a doorway to the most iconic examples of architecture and design.
His collection of sketches inspired us to start sharing them almost 20 years ago in our custom holiday cards, always done the old school way: printed, hand-signed and mailed. His continued sketching from his travels allows us to continue this beloved tradition.
2022 is our 19th year in this tradition, and we figured, what better time to share the entire collection. Consider this a sneak peek of our upcoming holiday card coming your way.
Happy Holidays and happy sketching.
2004 St. Patrick’s Cathedral, County Cork, Ireland
2005 Traditional Georgian Doorway, Bath, England
2006 Italian Countryside
2007 French Countryside
2008 Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
2009 Purmamarca, Argentina
2010 Machu Picchu, Peru
2011 St. Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square, Moscow, Russia
2012 Bonnieux, France
2013 Bagan, Burma
2014 Franschhoek, South Africa
2015 Alberobello, Puglia, Italy
2016 Angkor Thom, The North Gate, Cambodia
2017 Paro Taktsang (The Tiger’s Nest), Bhutan
2018 Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
2019 Eiffel Tower, Paris
2020 Minnesota
2021 Parthenon at the Acropolis, Greece
2022 La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain