| Some are only familiar with his Mission Style | | | | was Ivan's responsibility to support them both, |
| furniture, the beautiful, classic and breathtaking | | | | and instead of pounding the pavement like most |
| pieces of art that his wife describes as "Solid. Big | | | | of us would have, he turned to what he knew: |
| welds and warmly functional." Others have seen | | | | welding. He used those welding skills learned on |
| his art adorning buildings and public areas in their | | | | the cattle ranches to make and sell steel gates |
| towns, but really don't have any idea who he is. | | | | and other functional objects. He didn't think he |
| Many have a best-selling one-of-a-kind Menorah or | | | | couldn't make a living at it . . . he just did what he |
| wine rack, and some are lucky enough to have a | | | | knew best. |
| marble sculpting - or maybe have seen one | | | | And that's how it began. Ivan soon began |
| displayed in an office or a friend's home. That's | | | | experimenting with creativity in steel welding, and |
| too bad. | | | | discovered he was really good at it. He also |
| Yes, that's right: it's too bad. Too bad that's all | | | | discovered marble sculpture, and began hand |
| they know about him, just too bad they don't | | | | crafting marble pieces. He began making delightful |
| know more, because they're missing a lot! Don't | | | | cutout creatures and figures for his Menorahs, |
| be taken in by just one of his artistic facets - | | | | candleholders and wine racks. And they all sold. His |
| Ivan McLean's creativity is too diversified to | | | | family and business both flourished: Ivan and |
| classify simply. Artist, creator, marble sculptor, | | | | Michelle welcomed two daughters and two |
| metal worker extraordinaire - these are just | | | | business partners (Cedanna Design Group and the |
| some of his hats, his areas of expertise. But | | | | Delia Studio) into their lives - and nothing's been |
| neither his expertise nor his experience happened | | | | the same since. |
| overnight. | | | | Today Ivan's portfolio includes welded metal |
| How did he get so talented? How did he get to | | | | designs, sculptures and other works of art - |
| be a successful artist, churning out one-of-a-kind | | | | created with knock-your-socks-off colors, straight |
| works of art? Well, he didn't exactly follow the | | | | lines, creative swirls, angles, curls and circles. His |
| same life path as most of us. While we've been | | | | line of hand crafted works of art has greatly |
| working away at getting through college, getting | | | | expanded over the years, and now includes |
| the "right" job and making a living, Ivan's life may | | | | Menorahs, wine racks, tables, beds, tables, coat |
| have begun like most, but it took a little bit | | | | hooks and racks, umbrella stands, bookshelves, |
| different direction. | | | | end tables, CD towers - styled anywhere from |
| It all began in high school when he worked part | | | | funky to traditional. |
| time on cattle ranches and learned how to weld | | | | One of the reasons Ivan McLean's work is popular |
| with a blowtorch. When it was time to decide | | | | is because his chosen media - steel and marble - |
| what to do after school, he may have thought it | | | | are durable: they last forever. Period. No breaking, |
| was the ranching that motivated him forward, | | | | falling apart or replacing batteries. That means |
| first to Cal Tech for a degree in Farm | | | | they're durable and functional - heirloom quality |
| Management, then to the Philippines via the Peace | | | | works of art to pass down to the kids. |
| Corp and on to Australia where he worked a | | | | What's the moral of the Ivan McLean success |
| large sheep ranch. | | | | story? Live just a little differently, and then just |
| But it wasn't the ranching that motivated him - it | | | | do what you're good at. Oh, and it helps to |
| was the welding that pulled him forward. You see, | | | | experience mucking out a barn or two along the |
| when Ivan returned to the States from Australia | | | | way! |
| his future wife Michelle wanted to finish college. It | | | | |