Hello again friends and good day to you wherever you are. I’m back from my post site launch weekend break with a small art update for you today. There is currently a small stack of art projects on my desk here so, assuming I don’t fall ill with the dreaded flu which is now making the rounds in Colorado, I should have several more of these to share in the coming weeks. Today I give you a first look at a portrait I’ve named: “Mr. Lazzaro”, an image that portrays my colleague and good friend Chris Lazarro.
When asked how he wanted to be portrayed in this image Chris was unsure. He and I share the gene responsible for an insatiable thirst for knowledge which can make it hard to commit to one archetype. People with this gene are rarely satisfied with knowing how to do one type of job or skill and instead constantly find themselves in the student role as they continue to learn and grow. Chris, however, has been fortunate enough to be gifted with a natural affinity for teaching as well. I can vouch for this having taken his Introduction to VB.NET 2005 course at Drury University back in 2005. He is a skilled craftsman, master programmer, and analytical problem solver coupled with a light-hearted inner gamer, outdoorsman, husband, and good friend. With that in mind, I decided to take on his online avatar request with broad sweeping strokes by focusing most of my energy on finding a pose that communicated the core of who he is while using a few simple props to illustrate the individual parts of the whole person. Some of these props are already visible: The laptop computer, the stack of books, the crude circle on top of the books which will eventually become an apple (the fruit of knowledge). With more detail I’ll be able to hint at other aspects of his character as well. Perhaps a logo on the lid of his laptop, or his t-shirt for one of his favorite online games? Maybe I’ll add the key-chord for his sea-doo on top of the books as well and a wedding ring will most certainly be needed.
Well there you have it friends, my first art project update here on the new site. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. As a side note to any IE users viewing the site: I am aware that there are a few CSS issues with IE currently. I will strive to have these fixed this week. Thank you for your patience!