WHAT does an engineer do in his downtime at the end of the day to unwind? For Mark Hooper, it is tinkering with odd projects and building clocks.
What began as a gift for Andrew Hooper to celebrate 20 years of service for Jmar Engineering has turned into part hobby and part passion for Mark. Caught in a bit of uncertainty whilst looking for the anniversary gift, Mark stumbled upon an overpriced clock of poor design and knew he could make something better.
The finished product couldn’t have worked out better.
“This is what I love, my hobby is engineering. Seeing how something works and trying to replicate it and improve on it,” said Mark about making the clocks.
“Since I first walked into technical school and looked at the machinery and smelled the oil, I’ve always looked at a piece of steel or plastic or aluminium, whatever it might be, and seen the part within.”
Since that first clock, Mark has made 25 for various people over the last few years, including promotional gifts for some of Jmar’s biggest clients with custom-made brand logos. Before he reached out into his more artistic side and began designing clocks with an Indigenous flair. Mark commissioned Sam Walker Wilson of BNYM Indigenous Designs to decorate and complement his craftsmanship.
Company logos and Aboriginal imagery are just the tip of the iceberg of what Mark can create with his clocks. His ability to design something unique for individual tastes can make them a perfect gift for any special occasion.
