Reflect, Renew, Revamp

     So here it goes - 2012. Finally. 2011 and I weren't necessarily the best of friends, but I guess you could say we weren't total enemies either. I'm not sure whether I could describe this past year in a single word, but I definitely know it wasn't average. Lots of ups, plenty of downs, and here I go, with the first blog post of the New Year.

 I was fortunate enough to have had such amazing experiences...from working as an apprentice of sorts for Denver Post Cartoonist, Ed Stein, to getting the rare chance to meet, work, and be taught by accomplished Denver artist Lawrence Argent, to sharing another amazing season as a cross country coach (now CHSAA-certified) for the Wheat Ridge Farmers - it's been a whirlwind. I entered into my first professional art exhibition at the Colorado Photographic Center this past December, and although I was not lucky enough to get in, it was a pretty big milestone for me. The series was called "Nevermore" after a poem by Edgar Allen Poe, and it centered around 10 images all documenting ravens. I suppose it's funny the way things seem to work out for you...because it was never intended to be a series about ravens in the first place. I set out, with my camera in hand, still trying to figure out how and what my film rolls were going to be about. I took to the nature trails and shot various images of ducks and birds, but it didn't ever seem to be enough. On top of things, the early sunset meant that it got bitterly cold, pretty quickly, and I decided to give up and head back to the parking lot where I had left my car earlier in the day. I'd like to say this was an exaggeration, but I assure you it isn't... I was opening the door to get in when, what I'm estimating, was about 150 ravens flew over my head and landed directly behind me in the parking lot. I was completely stunned, whipped out my camera, and shot roll upon roll of film. Surprisingly, all of the birds seemed to cooperate and let me get pretty close to them. The guy on the fence kept eyeing me while I continually snapped his picture, and I was fortunate enough to have snagged the capture you see now the right, where we shared a brief exchange.

     I wasn't able to run for the Pioneers this past season...art and life had finally caught up to me and I needed to take a year to focus on that. It was beginning to get tough having to hang around after class to make practice each day, get caught in 5:30 traffic, and get started on schoolwork around 8:00 each night. Then there's that thing called sleep. We aren't good friends... more like acquaintances.
     Coaching became a big part of athletics for me again this year. I became officially CHSAA certified this season, and am now an employee of the Jeffco School District. To say that I love it, would be a major understatement. On one hand, it's great to be involved in something that has been such a major part of my life since my freshman year of high school, but at the same time, I love seeing things from a different perspective as a coach. There is so much responsibility and work involved that it certainly keeps me on my feet (no pun intended). I haven't had a perfect training schedule this year, but towards mid September I was looking to do a half marathon at the end of October. Unfortunately, I ended up getting sick for the entire month and decided that the $100 race fee wasn't worth a crappy time for my first half. Needless to say, I haven't given up on that goal... there are plenty of half marathons scheduled for the upcoming spring season, and I'm looking into racing one up in Fort Collins in May.

     I feel like this past year has been a huge change for me. Looking back, I've lost a lot of friends...some close, some not so close, but I've also met a lot of fantastic people and became closer with a lot of others. I'd rather say there wasn't any downfall or disappointment, but I think sometimes I get caught up in things so much that it's hard to keep up with everyone.
   
     I definitely had a rocking holiday in Denver with the family. My mom took on the task of hosting and cooking for 23 people. And there's really no kind of holiday like a Finamore holiday. We were able to somehow scarf down 3 pounds of homemade pasta as a family...not to mention all of the gingerbread, pizzelle, and spritz cookies. Definitely a very Italian holiday. On Christmas Eve we cramped the entire family into my Grandparent's shabby North Denver home and enjoyed a traditional, Italian 7-fish dinner complete with squid, baclava, shrimp, smelts, anchovies, and a bunch of pasta, wine, and goodies. It's funny to think that I've never actually had a traditional holiday dinner... I have no idea what a holiday ham tastes like, and while we do make turkey for Thanksgiving, it's usually followed by homemade raviolis, sausages, and meatballs. I definitely remember as a little kid, coming to school with squid for lunch and getting a bunch of weird reactions from all of my friends. I'm not sure why someone wouldn't want to trade squid tentacles for a Snack Pack...but I'll take it.
     In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing what this year has to offer. My horoscope describes exactly what I'm hoping this next year will be for me - filled with nonstop action...just the way I like it. And it also says I'll either get married or find love. I'll take either one of those. Please and thank you.

Back On Track.

     This past month has been quite a whirlwind for me. Lots of ups, plenty of downs, and it's been tough for me to find time to come back on here and  finally get things going again. For starters, I'm old. I turned 20 years old two weeks ago today, and needless to say I still can't believe I've made it where I am now. I've had a lot of support from everyone...whether it's in art, coaching, school, or just life in general. And that's pretty cool. So if you're reading this, pat yourself on the back...you did a good job. Keep it up.

     I've been working with Ed Stein for a little over a month now, and I'm beginning to get the hang of comic strip drawing. So far, I've helped him make over 30 "Freshly Squeezed" strips for print in the Denver Post and a few other newspapers and websites. Ed and I have become great friends since he first invited me to his studio near the end of summer. We actually have more in common than I thought... Ed knows a good majority of my professors because he's a DU alum, so he knows exactly what my life is like at the moment, trying to balance a huge amount of art projects. He's such rad guy. It's always neat to get the chance to draw and talk baseball with him, but sometimes it's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I'm working with a very well-known artist. Even though we've only worked for a few weeks together, I've learned a lot from him. He says I think too much about what I'm doing... Two weeks ago, he gave me one of the hardest Sunday strips to add color to because it was a drawing of a messy room. I think he kind of did it on purpose...he knows I strive for perfection and I tend to worry about finding the perfect color combo before I can move on with finishing things. I remember every time I would pause for a minute, Ed would turn around from his desk and say "Don't think...just do it. Art shouldn't be about thinking. If it doesn't look right, we can fix it. Use your instinct...you know what you're doing. Trust that." I've gotta keep that in mind for the future... Anyway, the first strip that I got to work on is due to be published sometime this week or early next week...maybe even on Sunday. I'll keep everyone posted.
     Speaking of art...notice anything different? Yep... I'm doing photography now. Black and white, film photography. It's a totally new realm for me. I'm literally clueless... but I'm getting the hang of it. I developed my first photo this morning, and even though the subject matter is pretty amateur, I'm pretty proud of myself. Photo is a lot harder than it looks...I'm used to being able to control how things are going to turn out with drawing...but photography is completely different. You've gotta find your own composition.
      Anyway, things are finally back on track (no pun intended....well...alright, maybe). I'm trying to take more time for myself...I don't think I do that enough. Sometimes it's nice to slow down and just appreciate things. 'Til next time!

I See What You Mean.

      It's been a bit of a crazy last few weeks for me, with Cross Country, work, and school well underway. We're on the quarter system at DU, so we actually end summer later than most colleges and this Monday marked the first day of classes for all of us. While I'm kind of looking forward to new classes and a new school year, I'm pretty bummed to see summer go. I was lucky enough to score a job that I really loved, and lived out the jam-packed vacation I had planned for back in May. I feel like I always say that I'm going to have a lot going on, but this school year, it's going to be even more relevant as I'll be working two jobs as well as juggling two major art classes, coaching, and (hopefully) concentrating on my second Cross Country season with DU...not to mention trying to squeeze in a social life. I guess that's just how college is supposed to work...you pay to have no free time. Well I guess there's the benefit of an education in there too. Maybe.
       Although it has its benefits, living off campus does have some repercussions when it comes to being able to hang out with friends. I feel like I spent a good chunk of time away from campus last year...and that's something that is going to certainly change for the better this fall...and beyond. What better way to kick off the first week of school then dinner with one of your best friends? Apparently, Andrea and I got a huge case of deja vu when we realized that we were eating out a the same restaurant, and talking about the same things as we did exactly one year ago today, which makes things either a huge coincidence, or we've been warped back in time to the year 2010...still freshman. I hope not.
     All of my professors are fantastic, but I'm especially psyched to be taught sculpture by a very well known artist named Lawrence Argent. In case you're not familiar with Lawrence's work, he is the artist behind the Convention Center's "I See What You Mean" otherwise known to everyone in Denver as the "Big Blue Bear." Actually, Lawrence is gearing up to leave for California where his latest piece, a giant red rabbit, is being installed into the Sacramento airport. Lawrence actually made both of this pieces using the machines in our art department...the same ones that I have the privilege of gaining access to, which is very, very awesome. I'm not too sure why I seem to have been running into some pretty well-known art people lately...maybe it's a coincidence...maybe not. In fact, just a few weeks ago, I was at the First Friday art walk with some friends when we ran into Colorado photographer John Fielder, and were lucky enough to strike a conversation with him about his work.
   
 

Stein.

     I don't normally post two blogs in one day, but today is a special, once-in-a-lifetime occasion. At DU, our art department professors often email students with art-related job opportunities and internships on and around campus. This morning, I was checking my inbox and noticed that I had an email that was forwarded to me by one of my instructors, saying that Denver Post editorial cartoonist, Ed Stein, was looking for someone to be his production assistant and help to ink, color, and prep drawings for publishing. I've been a fan of Ed's since I was little, and while I thought it was a cool opportunity, I sent a quick reply asking for more information about the job...after all, I'm going to have a totally full schedule with cross country, school, and my graphic design job...it would be tough to balance it all. I had just sent the email and was walking downstairs when my phone rang, and low and behold, it was Ed himself. I've been invited to his studio tomorrow around 11:00 to talk about possibly becoming an apprentice of sorts for him. I'm so psyched! It's not totally set in stone yet, seeing as I'd have to work out a few things with next quarter, but if I can somehow manage it, this will definitely be the biggest thing that has ever happened to me as an artist. We'll see what happens!

Zoom! Pop!

     Well if you hadn't heard on the news lately, yesterday marked the final stage of the US Pro Cycling Challenge as it rolled through Golden and Wheat Ridge to finally come to a close in downtown Denver. The race is the first of its kind to take place on American soil, and hit pretty close to home...like 2 blocks close to home. I was able to catch the race as it came down 32nd Avenue and I have to say it was probably one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed in my life. Last summer, I was plagued with a few cross country injuries that kept me from running for a few weeks but I was able to keep my base training by bike riding up to Lookout Mountain in Golden, and ever since then I've picked up cycling as sort of a second sport.

     So after I checked out the race, I threw my bike into the car and hit up the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt trail. The plan was to get about 15 miles out (which did happen, by the way) but more than one thing went wrong, and needless to say, it wasn't a very fun Sunday. I've been having troubles with my iPod lately and right as I was heading back, I felt my back tire begin to bounce and discovered that I had punctured the rubber... completely. So there I was...15 miles away from my car, in the middle of the forest with a dead iPod which meant I had no indication of what time it was. I guess it's one of those situations that you see always happening to other people, but you never think it's going to happen to you. Well it did. Big time. I had to walk back the entire way with a dead iPod in my pocket and a busted back tire. Maybe it's finally time to get new wheels... yeah. I think I'm gonna look into that...

Hickory Dickory Dock.

     In addition to being a journal of sorts, my blog is also going to serve as a means of sharing some of my artwork with the world. Those of you who know me as an artist, can understand that it's often hard for me to be completely satisfied with my work once it's finished. I tend to look for flaws rather than see it as a completed work of art and I always feel like I can do better. About three months ago, I was lazing around my house when the old nursery rhyme, Hickory Dickory Dock, suddenly popped into my head. Immediately, I saw it not as a textual piece, but rather as a visual image...and I knew I had to make it come to life. And while my art has always had a keen focus on realism, I felt I needed to step it up a notch...and attempt to make something that was photorealistic. I'm too often consumed by deadlines...and it tends to take a bit of a toll on my work, as I hurry to get things finished. I asked myself..."What if I had an unlimited amount of time to complete a drawing? What would happen? How would it turn out?"

      This piece combines a few elements that are normal characteristics of my work...but adds a few new twists. The mantle clock is an antique that dates back to around the early 1940's. I remember wondering how a tiny mouse could have the strength or ability to climb up a giant grandfather clock. So I decided to downsize it. You know...more mouse-friendly. It's tough to determine from the image, but it seems to be from an old clock company called T.H. Sallon in London.
     The poem itself, was written back in the 1700's, and while it's story revolves around the element of time, the poem itself seems to withstand it. I wanted to convey that same sort of survival and chose to use an antique (an object that also withstands this test) within the piece.
     This piece is titled "Hickory Dickory Dock" is approximately 24 1/2" x 14".

Down By Six.

     Well...days at camp have finally come to an end, and while most of the kids are off to school this week, I've still got a month left of summer...and I intend to use it to the fullest extent. I spent a majority of my day yesterday doing something I do best: hopping on trains and running around Downtown Denver. Most of you know what happens when I get into the city...it's usually hard to keep up. Sometimes I even have a hard time catching up to myself. Maybe it's the runner in me, but I tend to just make direct beelines to places. I guess that's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, I was on a highly important mission - to grab a spot in line at Coors Field before all of the Rockpile tickets were picked over for the 6:40 Rockies/Dodgers game.

     DU was nice enough to pay for our seats, to celebrate our last day of work for the summer, and we needed a total of 15 tickets to get everyone in as a group. Needless to say, I was a bit concerned at first that they would all be gone by the time I arrived, but luckily my friend Joel and I were able to grab wristbands that would grant us 4 a piece...which left only 7 seats to go. I always love the people you tend to meet at Rockies games, and we got lucky after one of the guys behind us made a deal that he would buy us the remaining seats if we payed for his $1.00 senior discount. Sold.
     Rocks ended up losing pretty badly, but despite the rain, it was actually a really fun game to go to. I've never actually sat in the Rockpile before, and to be honest, the seats aren't too shabby for being around 4 bucks each...even if they don't have awnings, or cup holders, or snack guys, or real seats, or nearby gift shops, or Dinger visits, or a great view of home plate. It's worth 4 bucks.

     In addition to being able to hang out with a majority of the PASS Camp crew for one last time before we all spread out for the school year, my friend and fellow coach Jaceson, got the chance to take his son, Seth, to his first ever Major League game. I'm pretty sure Seth was more interested in his snacks than what was going on down on the field, but who could blame him? We're all tired of seeing the Rockies lose. It reminded me of when my dad used to take me to games as a kid. He'd always buy me Cracker Jacks. I'm sure I probably ruined a few good games for him by making him wait in line for an hour so that I could get my hat signed by Dinger. What's worse was that I was usually on the verge of tears by the time I got near him because he was so darn intimidating... but I wasn't scared...nope...not at all. We actually got to go together again, earlier this year on Fathers Day and I got the honor of meeting Dinger's dad. How many people can say they've done that?!