www.harrydmichael.com |
Theme Parks and Corporate Environments |
||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
 Universal
Studios Islands of Adventure |
|||||||||||||||||
 The
Flying Unicorn presentation seen here was painted by me with automotive
base paints onto a canvas textured 1/4 inch thick curved fiberglass sheet.
The sheet was premolded into the shape of an inflated sail.
The designs were done by Lucas Studios in California and commissioned by
Islands of Adventure in Orlando Florida. Scenic Productions in Gainesville
contracted to produce over thirty signage projects for this attraction
over the course of six months. This particular piece is about
35 feet high and is built to withstand the rigors of Florida weather and
theme park visitors. |
 |
||||||||||||||||
 |
Seen here are three plaques, examples of exterior signage which appear along the trails at this ride. These were painted with automotive colors but had to resemble watercolors, painstakingly detailed to fit the specifications of the Universal Studios art directors. Substrates included fiberglass, wood and PVC. These hang on trees and are built to be vandal-proof. They will not weather nearly as much as signs built for normal commercial use. | ||||||||||||||||
| This is the aluminum front entrance sign, which is mounted to a fiberglass tree. The panels were silk screened in up to six different colors, then attached to 1/4 inch thick aluminum shields . The shields were then bent to fit the shape of the outer frame, with false rivets and such. |
 |
||||||||||||||||
 |
Here is an example of a ride restriction sign. These are over eight feet long, with fiberglass vines wrapped around them. They are also aluminum, with an aging effect for the medieval look. The copy had to exactly match the blueprints. The colors and registration had to be flawless and there was no room for any deviation. | ||||||||||||||||
| Here is another ride restriction sign, seen as visitors enter the Flying Unicorn ride. This is a sculpted four foot wide plaque with a bas relief unicorn, done in automotive paint. Many changes were made to this sign before it was installed, but in the end it exactly met the client's specifications and they were very happy with it. Kids love it too! |
 |
||||||||||||||||
 |
Here is a kiosk tent, which functions as a waiting platform for hundreds of visitors waiting to enter the ride. All of the sunbrella fabric and signage were done by me and my graphics department at Scenic Productions in Gainesville. | ||||||||||||||||
| Unversal
Studios Seuss Landing |
|||||||||||||||||
| I did 92 different signs for Universal Studios Seuss Landing in Orlando. These are fiberglass molded signs with either silkscreening or vinyl, with all automotive colors. They are done in different shapes, sizes and variations. This was a very challenging project. Sign Business magazine did a feature article on this project which you may read here. |
 |
||||||||||||||||
 |
The Moose Juice Menu Board was one of my favorites because it is totally organic. There is not a straight line on it anywhere. | ||||||||||||||||
| The Wait Time Clock is deceptively simple. It is built to withstand even the strongest vandals. It is built with 1/4 inch thick steel throughout and coated with automotive paint. |
 |
||||||||||||||||
 |
The Spotted Atrocious is one of four panels. These are organic curved
signs which are eight feet in length. They are held to the walls
by giant spikes, and may be seen in the Carousel Cafeteria on Seuss
Island, Universal Orlando.
|
||||||||||||||||
| Poseidon's
Fury and Triceratops Encounter |
|||||||||||||||||
| Seen here is the exterior entrance sign for Poseidon's Fury. The fiberglass letter sculpture was done in Gainesville and made to look like rock. It was sprayed with waterpoof exterior automotive clear coat. |
 |
||||||||||||||||
 |
Here is the entrance sign for Triceratops Encounter at Jurassic Park, and is another example of bas relief. Fiberglass is used to emulate bone texture, and paint is applied to make everything look very old. This was produced in one piece at Scenic Productions. | ||||||||||||||||
| Busch Gardens Tampa Montu Inverted Roller Coaster | |||||||||||||||||
Here is the front entrance sign to the
Montu Inverted Roller Coaster at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.
This 12 foot high fiberglass rock was built with bas relief of an Egyptian
sun god, with the "Montu" panel mounted over the front. Additionally,
my team produced all of the ride restriction and height requirement signage,
as well as all of the other signage at this facillity.
|
 |
||||||||||||||||
| Busch
Gardens Williamsburg Alpengeist Inverted Roller Coaster |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
Pictured here is the front entrance to Alpengeist at
Busch Gardens, Williamsburg Virginia, one day before it's public opening.
I especially like the look when the sunlight hits the high gloss clearcoat over the white "icicle" letters---they look like they are actually melting. I also did the "Ski School" on the antiqued pine panel to the right. Note the one foot of fake snow hanging over the soffit. We didn't plan on having that in the way. Below is a little tour of how this project took shape...... |
||||||||||||||||
| From Conception to Production to Installation | |||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
| To Top | |||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
