"A few years ago I found a book that I made in grade school. It said, 'What do you want to be when you grow up? And so, I drew a picture of myself at an easel from the back view, painting a picture with a pallet and it said, 'When I grow up, I'd like to be an artist, because I like to droll.'" That's how it all started for local artist Dean Loucks.
Loucks grew up in Goshen and has been drawing and painting as long as he can remember. Many years ago, his passion became much more than a hobby. It became big business. And now, Loucks is known all over the world for painting...everything.
"You just a have to work hard every day and go after it," said Dean. Words of wisdom from a guy who's built quite a name for himself living that way.
Loucks paints everything from pianos to boats, motorcycles, tour buses of the stars, and some of the most expensive planes and helicopters in the world. A few of his clients include Randy Travis, the Florida Marlins, Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels band, and a lot more. But, it's tough to get him to brag about it. "I try to stay humble. It could all go away any day, you know."
Loucks says a piece of him goes into each and every project, and his personality doesn't let him sit still long. He's busy managing a shop that employs 17 in Elkhart and recently opened Dean's Place, a Fine Art Gallery showcasing his work in Granger.
Loucks doesn't have any formal art training. "This is just practice? Years of it?" he says, "I really try not to look at anybody else's art. People go 'Oh, this is this artist and that artist' and no it's not to be anything other than, I'm afraid of, I don't want to be influenced."
Now, whether Dean's project is huge like a boats or smaller like one of his paintings, make no mistake about it, it's just a different size canvas for what is truly, a work of art.
And the artwork and even paint colors appear different depending upon where you are standing. He owns the company TAOD - The Art of Design. And they also custom paint all of the Liberty coach pravo motor homes.
"When it comes through us, that's artwork. It's not a paint job."
They spend about 1500 hours on each bus. As you can imagine, this kind of thing isn't cheap.
This artwork rings up at about 150-thousand dollars.
Loucks says his success hasn't been about luck, but a lot of hard work. "I think every opportunity is a spot where the door could open and I've always tried to at least go in to that opportunity and look around and see if it's something that could continue and grow."
Surprisingly, Loucks says he never looks back to appreciate what he's accomplished. He's too busy focusing on "What's next?"
"I'm never where I wanted to be so it's the journey. A work in progress? Yeah, I can just see it's always gonna be that way. I've learned to accept it."
One project we know Loucks is starting soon is a huge project for an area school. The Plymouth Community School District commissioned him to create the huge 3-D sculpture for a modern high-tech addition to their school.
