In order to ensure the accuracy of his models, Gene has traveled to each and every landmark and location. He sketches and photographs the real site in detail, and researches its history. When you visit his web site, and view the models he has completed over the last 10 years, you will be struck by the amount of traveling (and personal expense) that must have occurred. Indeed, viewing the catalog of works is like an armchair tour of the world.
No piece is ever duplicated, and no mass-production techniques are used. A combination of materials including wood, Sculpey, and styrene are painted by hand to match the original Landmark. Some pieces contain over 3,000 pieces, and take one to three months to complete. When all is painted, the final step is to secure the miniature to a wooden base inside its own protective plexiglass cube. The example which appears on the home page of Gene's web site, the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC, contains 604 windows with 10 separate pieces to a window, 171 columns with 9 parts each, and 45 major stairways; it took the artist six months to complete! At best, he can complete only 10 to 12 models a year, working seven days a week, ten hours a day.
He has exhibited widely in the Los Angeles area since 1970, in group shows as well as in one-man exhibitions. His paintings and graphics are included in the permanent collections of The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Palm Springs Desert Museum, Container Corporation of America, Atlantic Richfield Corporation, The Northrop Corporation, Home Savings, and The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was to discover this web site, and to begin a correspondence with Gene Gill. He is unassuming and charming, and quite willing to accept payment plans for the purchase of his models. Which is very good to know, because they are not inexpensive! Current prices range from $800 to $6000. His immense achievement of all 21 California Missions has recently sold as a set (price not listed) although the individual missions were priced at $600 each. Every one of the buildings from Washington, DC, including the White House, the U.S. Capitol building, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, have already sold.
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