Two Year Anniversary Tomorrow!

On April 28th, 2009 at 7:40AM it will have been two years since I quit smoking. I'm not sure why we attach such importance to anniversary dates, but for what it's worth I feel better, even with the extra few pounds that a return to appetite brought me. Not to mention that 730 days times $4.00 per day equals $2,920.

Last week I got a new computer - I had just outgrown the old laptop I used to create much of my artwork. The results from the increase in computing power are dramatic, an order of magnitude above where I was before. Rendering a moderate quality image (that is, creating a file on disk from what's on the screen) could take as long as twelve hours with the old unit. With the new computer, a screamin' processor and gobs of RAM shorten that time to about 30 minutes for extremely high resolution images at really big sizes (36" x 48").

I've posted a couple of recent images for your enjoyment. When you have a moment, I've put a fairly comprehensive digital art gallery on Flickr as well, at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ChrisLombardiArt

As always, there's lots of recent stuff on http://www.DeviantArt.com/ChrisLombardi if you have any extra time. That site gets a LOT of images posted up, so I wouldn't visit without my AV software at full strength. Additionally, as well meaning as they might be, the folks at Deviant Art.com are either niave, or chose to ignore their advertisers whose banner ads try to re-direct your browser (which personally pisses me off).

Have a great week!

Chris Lombardi

Smoke-free in Denver, CO

Showing at Hooked on Colfax

My wife and I like to support locally owned and operated businesses whenever we can, and I really love it when businesses take the extra effort to strengthen their ties to the community around them.

This Saturday night, 4-11-2009, we're having an art show opening at Hooked On Colfax coffee shop, at 3215 East Colfax Ave in Denver (one block west of the BlueBird Theater). The opening runs from 7:00 to 10:00 PM, and there'll be locally generated live music, along with beverages for those who might be thirsty.

I always feel honored to be asked to show my art, and for this show I'll be in the company of some pretty cool Denver artists:

Brian Bernazard, whose work can be found at http://www.homecollectiv.com/bernazard-bio.html and other places on the web, James Yeast IV, see picasaweb.google.com/JamesthefourthArt, and Seth Klekamp, whose website I can't seem to locate but his work is easy enough to find on Google.

As the new kid in town, I feel pretty honored to be showing with these guys!

I've posted up my artwork for this show on my website, at http://www.ChrisLombardiArt.com/Hooked_on_Colfax_Show

Please drop in on the opening if you have a chance! The show will be running through April if you can't make the opening, stop in and support Scott and Malissa Spero if you are in the neighborhood.

As promised, some recent art for your reflection:

It occurs to me that the act of creating art isn't really all that important.

The value is in the potential that the willingness to create art unlocks.

The nakedness of the truth about yourself when another's eyes are cast on your work.

When your art is hung in public, you cannot hide.

Hmm....

Here's some art to enjoy, from the past few days...

The Value of Mentoring

Sometimes I really hate framing. I made the mistake - again - of picking up a couple of cheap frames at a store (not naming names) better known for scrapping supplies and seasonal housewife arts-n-crafts. Just getting a few pieces ready for a small art showing (more about that later), and needed a two of 11x14" frames, maybe an hours worth of work? Wrong!

They say you get what you pay for - I guess that getting kicked in the back of my head costs $24.99... Maybe sitting down to write for a while is a better idea than continuing to experience that kicking sensation.

When I decided to get into the art business, I had the good fortune of finding a mentor, who has many years of experience as a professional artist. This has put me miles ahead of any self-induced learning curve, with sage advice on representation, pricing and selling my own work. and feedback about what looks good and what looks better.

One of the things I've grown to appreciate while running my own businesses has been the value of mentoring. I've mentored others as well, in other lines of work, and like to think I understand that it's not all about me, and that I can't get through this world on my own. The value of mentoring is in the giving, far more than in the receiving.

OK, enough philosophy, it's my bedtime. Here's today's pic, called 1096: