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About the Artist
I started to draw professionally in the spring of 1982. As
a self-taught artist, I developed my skills by reading books
about drawing and studying pen and ink drawings through books
and magazines. In my youth, I worked with my father during the
summers building houses, so I was naturally attracted to architecture.
Because of my knowledge of home construction, I am amazed by
the skill and craftsmanship of early carpenters.
All of my brothers entered in the trades. I was the lone brother
that took more interest in the visual element of home construction
over the physical labor of building. I used to watch my father,
with pencil in hand, lay out his plans for his spring projects.
That is when my love of drawing began. I remember designing my
own "future home" and showing it to my father. He would
look it over carefully, point out what was good and what would
not work. He would even laugh at a strangely designed roof or
room and inform me of its impracticality. My father died when
I was seventeen. He never knew that I was laying the groundwork
for a career in drawing. A career that would have me, at this
point in time, create over 7,000 drawings of Illinois architecture.
He will never know that I have published over 30 books of community
architecture throughout Illinois. He will never know that for
12 years I published a magazine, The Illinois Review.
One day I learned that Frank Lloyd Wright had penned over 20,000
original drawings. I set that as my goal. I have followed the
work of Southern Illinois artist, Roscoe Misselhorn. Early in
my career, his work inspired me to move forward. He was drawing
well into his 90s when he died. So, if I live as long, I have
a chance to reach the 20,000 plateau.
I love the act of discovery while driving though a community
to see what it has to offer. I hardly ever leave without finding
interesting architecture. I look at neighborhoods as my museum.
I am never disappointed and always find something somewhere to
compare to other communities. And, as always, I seek out the
unusual.
It is my hope that as you travel through your own community
and throughout your travels, you discover why I say, "Your
Community is My Museum."
David Alan Badger
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