I enjoy the images in your gallery, they always have so much going on in them.

This is so visually exciting and satisfying. The figure is an anchor for the composition, with its clarity steadying the many less defined elements. A triumph, Chip!

Very cool and different image it forces the eye to look all over rather than to stay focused on just one or two spots

I think the concept of layering is absolutely perfectly conceived for your art, Chip; no matter what you layer, it all forms the substrate of what you carve your creativity out of. Perhaps you should call it Extreme Multimedia, it's a definite artform!

This is so beautiful and i can really see alot of layers in this. I is always very exciting to play with layers in this way and sometimes beautiful things appeare, such as this.

EXCELLENT WORK!

Thank you so much for mentioning me in relation to your work! I'm honored. I do remember mentioning Calvino to you, but I assumed you'd already read some of his works, since he seems right up your alley. You've read so much more than I have, so if I can turn you on to one author, I'm a happy camper. (Esp Calvino.) When you get to "Invisible Cities," you'll see it's one snapshot after the next, a pile-on of variations on the city-of-the-mind; and I don't know how you can't smile when you read them. Because you've been doing that for years...Calvino would've called you brother. Of the other works you mentioned, I read all of "If On a Winter's Night..." and only part of "Difficult Loves": I'll have to go back and re-read the photographer tale, as it was a while ago. But I'm thrilled you're discovering him---he strikes me as a Chip writer, so have a great time! Re the 6-blend thing, I've been doing that for fun for a while (so has helle, though she doesn't keep count, lol), and so have you, even if not with 6. I never thought it would become a 'thing' here. With artists like Tara, it has to take off, because she takes to those things with total ease. But so have you. (And btw, if you do 5, no one'll arrest you. 7's ok too, according to the manual. I did one with 100---it's in my gallery somewhere---but trust me: After about 10, the whole "blend" thing goes out the window. But I had the fantasy that if everyone downloaded it and soaked it for a day, all the layers would separate and they'd have my last 100 images sitting in their sink.) Anyway, I think the 6-blend idea only added a variation to what you've been doing for a long time. Yeah, this image may not have to do with Calvino directly, but it's right up his alley. I'd like to say I know all the architectural sights in your image: But I can't be sure; and that's a real Chip trait. They're blended just so, so they'll be a bit mysterious. You marinated them just the right amount of time, let's say. And I agree with Andrea that the man anchors the piece; and I agree with Denise about how blends are a perfect medium for you. And your moving camera made all kinds of zig-zags---made of light---to pull the composition together. I love how the lower structure morphs into that higher tower---center. And the building on the right, and that tall red shaft, are balanced by that green mass on the left: It's like a big sheet of bubble wrap mixed with green slime. (Btw, "Green Slime" was one of the worst movies since the Renaissance---so bad, it knocks "Planet 9 From Outer Space" right off the list. The Slime may be the worst monster ever put on film. When we asked a theater if it was still playing, the guy broke into hysterics. When we asked, "why are you laughing?" he said: "I've SEEN it.") And there's an iron bridge in your image, on the 'green' side. Love how you take these heavy Chicago images and mix them with people and lights. In fact, there's an almost 'Christmas' feel to the image. And beyond that, the man appears to be wearing an ancient Egyptian skirt! Right along with sandals and a Nike t-shirt. It's a Chip image, intense as all get-out, illumined, with mysterious reaches we can't see entirely, with intense dark and light, and the sense of many worlds intermingling. Calvino would've been totally at home. Which brings me to your idea of 6 layers of writing. Calvino's layered, in a way, and I'm sure you know more such authors than I do. (Another Italian, Dino Buzzati, does such writing. And Borges. And others.) But you've been layering tales and settings for some time now. But if you decided to actually LAYER---as in a sentence from one tale in the middle of a sentence from another, or some variation---go for it! I'd love to see the results. A patchwork quilt made of bits of several tales. (Then we can add the water and watch it separate...) The wild American composer, Charles Ives, wrote a symphony with football songs mixed in, like they were playing next door and wafting through the window. Why not with writing? Thank you for associating me with this. I love the image. And I love that you're reading Calvino. In "Invisible Cities," there's a tale (if I recall) about a city made of dirt. Solid dirt. And every so often---if you listen closely---you can hear a "slam!"---A door slams shut, down there. That's the whole chapter. Who---of anyone who knows your work---could read those snapshots and not think of you? (Add your amazingly sensitive characters and exquisite meetings in the night, and we have a glimpse into your universe.) Enjoy. An old Hindu tale says a man lost his son: The next day he's tilling the soil. His wife says, "you're son died, and you work?" And he says: "Last night I dreamt I lost 1000 sons. So tell me: Which one is real?" She was silent. "Ok," he said, "so I till the soil..." Wonderful work, Chip.

Woot! Nice! First of all, I love the image. The balance, the blending ... it's got everything I expect from you. Cute guy in sandals: check. Spin-and-jiggle: check. Chicago architecture: check. Hidden meanings which will all be revealed at some point: check. Something vaguely alien and squishy: check. And do you know, your jiggle thing adds backgammon to the image. Did you see it? I think that's the sort of thing that takes another set of eyes to make the art complete. You did it, somebody else sees it, and the seeing adds another layer to the composition. Interactive art at its best. :) Your dedication to Mark, the interaction between you two about authors and connection and the "pulling out" of themes and ideas and styles ... it's wonderful! I'm SO glad to have gotten here after Mark saw this and commented. It adds a richness to my experience that wouldn't have been there otherwise. Brilliant stuff! What a rush! :)

Let me add my Wow to Tara's Woot:) There is so much here. Six layers are relatively easy to decipher, but then layers upon layers as I read your notes and Mark's comment. Holy cow. My simplistic view of things rarely sees beyond two or three layers. You, Mark and Tara are really stirring up things around here. And all for the better. I'm inspired...not to do anything yet...but to keep looking and reading! Great piece to add to the puzzle.

excellent job and good reading!! Calvino is... WOW!!

I have no clue what this is about, but I like it. Gives a feel of a hot summer night in a city.. perhaps an upscale high rise residential area. I used to live in such an area and loved walking at night.. It had a special feeling that nowhere else had. A calm excitement, a friendly and bright feeling. You gave created that feel here.