My Life

I grew up in Oskaloosa, Iowa and graduated from Oskaloosa High School with a love for art, drafting and design. I also had a passion for reading and would often read various car magazines and related books about them.

My Education

I attended William Penn College and studied Drafting and Industrial Arts for 2 years and ICS - International Correspondence Schools - in which I received an Associate Degree in Engineering and Design in 1971.

My Career

I was fortunate to acquire my skills while working for several manufacturing companies in Iowa before I started HDA - Herb Dixon & Associates, Inc in 1983. Among them:
  • Ideal Mfg Company
    • Recreational Vehicle Products
    • Design Drafting and Technical Illustration
  • Winnebago Industries
    • RV Motorhomes, Campers
    • Design Engineering, Illustration, Renderings
  • AMF Lawn & Garden
    • Lawn Equipment + Sno-blowers
    • Technical Illustration, Graphics, Renderings
  • Erickson Displays
    • P.O.P. Displays, Graphics
    • Design, Concept Renderings, Management
Each of these companies allowed me to develop my artistic skills and rendering style in some capacity. I worked for these four companies for 14 years from 1969 - thru - 1983.

24/7 Career

I started Herb Dixon & Associates in May, 1983 with 2 clients and moved on to free-lance for several advertising agencies as an illustrator. During this time I did conceptual renderings for Freeman Exhibits in Des Moines which led me to The Nimlok Company in Niles, Illinois, a modular display and exhibit company and I became their Iowa distributor in 1988 and I sold the business in December, 2009. Since March, 2010, I have been developing marker illustrations of rare, and vintage muscle cars, and race car originals. I sell Fine Art prints from these which are for sale on the website in several sizes. I also work in some product design and concept drawings of new products.

Personal

I am married to Lorna, we have one child, Amy, who graduated from Iowa State in 2010. I have loved cars since I saw my first Corvette in 1956. My brother built street rods when I was around 12...Black 40’ Ford Tudor sedan, 46’ Merc Flathead mill, laker side pipes, 2 carbs!

Mentors

  • Ron Ringgenberg
    • Chief Engineer
    • Ideal Mfg Company
    • Great Engineer, Amazing Golfer
  • Henry Gregor Felsen
    • Creative Writer
    • Hot Rod, Street Rod, Ragtop, etc.
    • What a great, humble man!