Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 9, 1 September 1994 — Graphic artist designs future for himself and his family [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Graphic artist designs future for himself and his family

bv Patrick Johnston Clarence Pestano ean draw. He also knows how to work. For the past six years the Hilo native has been taking the time to develop his artistic skills and get into the graphic design business. No schools, no courses, just hard work and persistence. His efforts are beginning to pay off. This year, Pestano received a loan from the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund whieh enabled him to purchase a f u 1 1 range of computer and graphics equipment for his company, King's Creation and Design. The equipment - a computer, scanner, printer and plotter - will help him save time and expand his business. Pestano works out of his Hilo home where he lives with his wife and three sons. He produces business signs, designs for motor bikes, boats and cars, and banners for churches, celebrations and grand openings. Before buying the equipment Pestano was doing most of his work by hand. Now he creates the image on the eomputer then sends it to the plotter - a kind of specialty printer - whieh puts the newly created design on durable vinyl that ean be placed on a car,

sign or banner. With his new equipment he ean also create logos for business cards and letterheads. Pestano listens carefully to what his clients want but is not afraid to put himself into his art. "I try to do a job that is going to give me a good reference. I try to put something good into it so it ean become my symbol." Pestano supports his business with a job at the Hilo-based Hawai'i TribuneHerald but wants to one day make his company self-sup-porting. He hopes his added capabilities

will help him land clients, large trucking companies being one example, that will

produce a more steady flow of ineome. "When you create one sign it will probably last for six or seven years. On the other

hand, logos on a fleet of vans undergo a lot more wear and tear and need to be replaced

more regularly." After an initial failure, Pestano survived the lengthy revolving loan fund applieation process. "The first time I applied I dropped out because the paperwork was such a headache," he says. D 1 1 1 L rx \ r n i t na»*

l»lu iil- guvt 11 aiiL»iiit>i auui. "I thought if anyone was going to help me it would be OHA." The second time around he received help from Alu Like, who helped him develop a business plan. And he was more serious the second time. "I was thinking about what would happen if I lost my job at the Hawai'i Tribune-Herald. ... I wanted to have my own business." Pestano says King's Creations is a family business

and he wants his sons be a part of it. He points out that even now they are starting to draw and are picking up ideas from watching their father. His wife Deissery helps the business by doing some of the basic computer work and lay-

UUl. "My family relationship is important to me so I'm looking at turning this business into something my kids ean do in the future," Pestano says, adding, "It's more worthwhile putting time into something you and your family will benefit from." Clarence Pestano ean be reached in Hilo at 959-2713. For information about the OHA Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund eall 594-1888.

Pestano shows off a motorcycle design; (left) at work with his new equipment. Photo by Patrick Johnston