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