Memorial Plaque help

[GavJ]

Hi, looking for some artistic assistance here, I have been involved in fabrication for 35 yrs initially as a coppersmith, now Im hands off but my man cave is well equipped to keep my hand in.

I work for a Fire Protection Company (sprinklers) and we recently lost one of our fitters after a battle with Cancer. Ronnie was with the company over 20 yrs and was a Gem, so much so that our Managing Director announced on Friday that the training center we are building will be named in his honour. We will ask his widow to officially open it early next year. I'm assuming the MD will get a plaque made but I am thinking of doing a sign / ornament of some sort to mount on the wall incorporating his memory.

Here's the problem, Artistic I am not !!!

Ronnie was like me (and a lot of forum members here) always recycling stuff from work sites, so I want to use some related items, bit of what I can find..... possibly old tools etc

Looking for inspiration guys (& girls) I know most of you wont know our industry or Ronnie, anyone done something similar? Not too intricate but suitable for a guy in his Garage with a plasma cutter, mig welder and a small lathe to build...

Thanks

 

[cumbriasteve]

My initial suggestion is something with humour, much nicer to remember a person by something that makes you smile.

 

[GavJ]

Good point Steve, he certainly did have a sense of humour.....

 

[addjunkie]

Some kind of orniment made with old brass sprinkler valve, and heads with fusible bulbs replaced by LEDs...could end up potentially tacky though.

 

[cumbriasteve]

All I can think of at the moment is a figure standing under a sprinkler as if it was unplanned the water would come through, not knowing the work/individual I can't work out how to make it personal though.

 

[GavJ]

if anyone has a silhouette of a guy in overalls, hard hat? etc either in cad or pdf I can print off for a template and plasma out... I also have a sheet of copper which may be handy for some detail polished up.

Im thinking of something quite big to mount on the factory wall (inside) so intricate detail will be lost.

Definitely need some inspiration here ....

 

[chunkolini]

Go on google images and look for clipart images of the subject or vector images. There are usually loads to chose from, print onto an acetate (or trace and use a projector to scale it up. Primitive but effective. Buy any letters in, hand cut lettering usually looks pretty poor.
Maybe ask the guys family for input, that always goes down well.

 

[GavJ]

Thanks Chunkolini, I would like to ask the family, his brother & two sons work with us but I don't want anyone to know until I'm sure i can produce something worthwhile.

Thinking today, I'm thinking maybe his initials with some sprinkler pipe with sprinkler heads in a sun shape, a bit like an emblem?