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ABOUT LAMBERTO
I actually began my career very early in life when a question
was posed to me in grade school: "What would you like to be when
you grow up?" It wasn't a hard question for a kid who constantly
got scolded for doodling in his notebooks during class. Thankfully,
my early art skills were recognized by an art teacher who took
an interest in a scrawny kid who liked to draw. This teacher would
often pull me out of other classes to work on large-scale art
projects for the school, such as a tile mosaic for the gym, full-blown
chalkboard illustrations for the Christmas season, and posters
for the art room and school events. Encouragement from this teacher
and the confidence that resulted was all it took for me to decide
to study art and become an illustrator.
Years later, while looking at a college bulletin board of job
postings, I saw an interesting position advertised: "Artist with
some photography experience needed for local newspaper." Without
even knowing what a portfolio was, I showed up for an interview
with all sorts of artwork, from paintings and lithographs to pottery
and even some jewelry. For some reason, which amazes me even now,
I was hired immediately even though the job had already been offered
to someone else. Thus began my career in illustration and publications.
Since then, I have worked at quite a few newspapers as an illustrator
and illustration director. My work also has been seen worldwide
in publications such as The Washington Post, The San Jose Mercury
News, Harcourt Brace College Publishers, The Dallas Morning News,
The Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Boston Globe
and Arte Publico Press. I have also been fortunate enough to receive
some awards for illustration, design and photography, including
Print Regional Design Annual, Communication Arts, the Society
of Illustrators in Los Angeles, The Society of Newspaper Design,
the Headliners and The Associated Press. I was also named a contributor
in a Pulitzer Prize winning series for the San Jose Mercury News
entitled "The Hidden Billions," about the fall of Filipino leader
Ferdinand Marcus and his wife, Imelda.
ABOUT MY ART
I work in several styles using an array of techniques, notably
scratchboard, dry-brush painting, and, most recently, found objects
that I collect from flea markets and trash cans. This body of
sculptural art will be part of a special show that will be exhibited
later in 2005.
Most recently I was fortunate enough to be involved in the Walt
Disney Company's "75 InspEARations" campaign that celebrated Mickey
Mouse's 75th anniversary. Seventy-five people from around the
United States were selected to design their unique interpretation
of Mickey. Unbeknownst to me, most of the other participants were
celebrities, actors and musicians, such as Ben Affleck, John Travolta,
Tom Hanks, Andy Garcia, Jamie Lee Curtis, Shaquille O'Neal and
Sir Elton John. I call my version of Mickey Mouse "El Mickey,"
and he has a decidedly Tex-Mex flair. Through the magic of Mickey,
"75 InspEARations" brought "El Mickey" and me a lot of attention
from the media and television, radio and print and perhaps because
"El Mickey" has both Latino and Texan appeal, or maybe because
my participation in the campaign begged the question: "How in
the heck did this guy end up in such good company?" Whatever the
reason, I feel very lucky to have been a part of such a monumental
celebration; Mickey Mouse probably will not celebrate another
big anniversary for another 25 years.
Until then, I'll keep producing art, playing music and, in the
process, re-inventing myself as often as possible.
ABOUT MY STUDIO
I work and live in Southlake, Texas. The majority of my clients
are located in or around the North Texas or Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW)
area. Although my work has been distributed all over the World.
I can work anywhere on the globe just contact
me here for details.
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