Nice afternoon spent at Glenstone.  

So beautiful there today, the grounds almost out shown the artwork, almost!  The Pavilions were less than exciting.  I kept getting drawn outside with the amazing windows and center fountain space.  Walking into the library was magical, the floor goes from stone to wood, and becomes sort of bouncy.  The pew faces an amazing picture window, and it almost looks like a screen (how sad).  It's so clear, you almost feel like there is no barrier.  Also noted that when people would get up or sit down the pew would move, and was so reminded of church, and had this strange sensation of love and caring for my fellow "viewers". It just conjured all these feelings.

Walked down the path to the gallery building and stopped at the Patio rather than the Cafe, it was too crowded and expensive.  Got a coffee and soaked up the small crowd.

The gallery was much more fun to view, with work that I could linger over.  Note: love the lockers that you can use to store your coffee!!  Especially loved the Cy Twombly painting that was framed so beautifully by the doorway, and it was a revelation to turn the corner and see the Basquiat again !!!  What. a treat!  And then really loved "the closet"  - just fucking amazing !!  Memories of our closet forts and painting with bill & John.  The closet was always the curse, hot and confined.

Walked back around the loop and took the long way.  What a great choice!!  Loved the landscape and sunlight.  It was just amazing. 

2025 Wrap Up

HOLIDAYS IN REVIEW

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Shit show!  So classic how the "holiday season" shakes out.  I brace myself in October and think I'm in control, only to see November come and go, having gotten a lot done, but behind and with commissions and time going by, and then other things get in the way, and it just becomes a big mess.  

Anyway, this year I had jury Duty first, and knew I would be called, had a week trial, and got behind as a result, only to go to MI the following week, and more behind, only to get sick a week after returning, and having to recover in bed for 3–4 days.  

What a mess it all became. I didn't even get my standard sales email out, so orders coming in were S P A R E.  But even those I had trouble getting finished.  

Positives:  all worked out, I finished things that had to be finished, and I didn't stress out too much through it all.  I just rolled with the punches.  

Negatives; Sales were WAY DOWN.  So bad I don't even want to think about it.  

As years go by, and I experience year after year of what happens, I'm just resigned to think what happens was meant to be, and I don't have much control over any of it.

  

YEAR IN REVIEW

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Glad to be blogging again, and recording my thoughts and day to day.  It's mind-boggling how time goes by, and I totally forget where it's gone.  I will try my hardest to do try think NEW this upcoming year.  I read that is the way to slow time down, and it makes a lot of sense.

The past few years I have been so rigid with myself and routine, thinking this will keep my sane and in-line, protected.  I have been so sensitive to feeling UN-SAFE, and routine has been my medicine.  Grief and anxiety and depression have reared their ugly head, and had me in their grip. 

Things changed sometime in the summer.  I felt better, more in control, less worried about EVERYTHING, and less anxious about what could happen.  It's been a solid 6 months now of feeling much healthier mentally (and physically) and now I know I am ready to make positive changes.  

Different paths, routes, activities, thoughts, dreams, fantasies, tools, experiences, foods, and ways of seeing things and doing things.  I WANT CHANGE !!!!

Oops, back to year in review, Dave!

Let's see, it was a year of stagnation.  I drew so much less, and just stuck to "feeding" SM stores.  I came up with some new cards, and some new designs.  Postcard club moved along.  But really if I'm honest, I just have been stuck, not moving, not trying, and just seeing the negative in EVERYTHING. 

When I was in MI (what a great trip, a turning point), sitting with Bill & Anne watching tv, I could see how negative I was about everything.  It's poison, and so easy to just not see the poison in yourself.  

My negative thinking has led to stagnation, not wanting to draw, and not seeing possibilities.  To succeed with my work I have to ENJOY it, the process, and most important, I have to try, to do.  Not get on my computer and phone, listen to podcasts, find distractions, and give up.  Poison!

So at the end of the year I am in a position I am usually in - looking forward and being hopeful.  That new things will happen, and good things will come from them.  That I will find my way, meet new people, do new things, and have fun.  

That is and will always be most important:  That I find happiness in what I'm doing. 

 

2023 wrap up

 2021 wrap up

 2020 wrap up

 2019 wrap up

2018 Wrap up

2017 Wrap up 

2016 Wrap up

2015 Wrap up

2014 Wrap up

2013 Wrap up

2012 Wrap up

2011 Wrap up

2010 Wrap up

2009 Wrap up

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Messy xmas eve: I backed myself into a marketplace clusterfuck by posting the 2 dog crates that have been sitting at my studio for weeks.  I realized I could just renew old posts, saving me time on taking new pics and writing all the crap out again.  

Got instant DM's right away and it then became a competition of who would get here first.  Then all the FB watching started - - turning into this big stupid distraction, me trying not to miss messages and waiting waiting waiting for people to get here.

I opened one crate (that I hadn't before) and figured out that it's pretty broken, or needs zip ties to stay sturdy.  Big mess trying to figure out a fix, and of course MORE distraction trying to get it to work.  Quickly became obvious that I shouldn't be selling it.

Anyway, 4pm (my deadline that I gave) came and went, and no response.  Meanwhile, I made screens, and one just washed out terrible.  I think my emulsion is old, and not working properly.  Made another, and that one worked.  Mystery that I can't figure out.

Re loaded FB, and all these messages came in from 2 people that came and left.  Some glitch prevented the messages from coming through in real time, so I missed them.

The Free crate lady was still in the area, so she said she was on her way back, which led to another long, frustrating wait.  I finally just gave up and left it outside.  Took the other crate off marketplace.

What a total fiasco.

Made hex a last minute print, and shopped at safeway for stocking stuff.  7pm, and I’m going home.

Photo dump

Sherlock

Echo's shed of shame

Thanksgiving feast

 

December 23rd - that freaky creepy scary time when everybody flees real life and goes into this 2 week bubble where time has warped and slowed and sped up all at the same time.  We will reconstitute on the other side in the new year!

Creepy walk with the dogs - dark and quiet, empty streets and sidewalks.  I looked into decorated houses and apartments windows, with blinking xmas lights and I felt like such an outsider.  Longed for warm parties with hot food and loud conversations.  But unfortunately right now, that is a thing of the past, just like everything else seems to be.  I've shed so many things (unhappily).

Nutty holiday season : Jury Duty > MI > lost Thanksgiving Day spent sick and throwing up > Home fretting about sales / artwork > sick with Hex cold > recovery and design stress > now.

What's going to get done is done (except present for Hex) and all ahead.  Glad to have gotten through this period.

 

MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR challenge going forward:: that I always fail - - 

stay motivated, 

active, 

moving, 

creating.  

DO NOT SLUG !!  

 

We'll see. 

BLOG NEGLECT!

A whirlwind couple of weeks prevented me from taking the time to blog.  Jury Duty > trip to MI > then Xmas rush on orders. 

 

Jury duty so much fun.  I just knew I would be picked, and then relished the whole experience.  So frustrating while in it, but MI was a good palette cleanser.  I got so immersed in the details of the case, and so frustrated with the outcome - 2 v 10 ... hung jury.  Sleepless nights spent going over arguments or tactics I could use to try to convince the 2 dopey holdouts they were wrong!!  But in the end we just couldn't, and had to admit defeat.  So mad the victim had to be put through all this, without any conclusion.

 

oops, hex ready to be picked up.

 

to be continued ... 

 

 

ok day - week is sort of a fail production wise.  Would be a lot happier if I had more to show for it.  Maybe tomorrow I can knock it out of the park.

Working all week on these prints for SM, and they are all just ok.  I am stuck in a reprint rut for sure.  Some of these I have printed over and over.  

Totally uninspired to make new work, and these positives are all complete.  So fucking stupid - I hate spending $$$ on ink for one thing.  Anyway, that has been an ongoing project that I should finish tomorrow.

Went to BUZZ to drop holiday cards, and then old navy and Michaels.  Dave's little adventure.  

For a minute or less, I liked the idea of weekday shopping, giving me nostalgic memories of Rockville and childhood.  Then while I was in the store, especially Michaels, with all the holiday CRAP, I felt repulsed and like I just was in the WRONG place, and had to go go go !!!  Bad feelings / memories of Jimmy came to mind, so I rushed out after buying some paper for printing.  

Got a donut at Giant, which should have been at least good (not great), but it was terrible.  Turns out you really need to microwave them!  

I was tempted by the fried chicken at the hot bar, with memories of press check lunch breaks at G & G.  Such nostalgia.  EVERYTHING is a memory!!  But I figured it would be $$$ and not so good, so I went with the cheap shitty donut instead. 

Waiting to hear from Hex, who will be finished working soon.  Pick up at 18th & P. 

 

So this is a quick day rundown.

Made screens, and continue to work on my prints for SM.  Ordered cards, and painted some boards.  All uneventful.  Trying to find some creative juice!  Putting of drawing as usual, but the days go by and the vice tightens.  I always do this to myself.

Slipped up over the weekend with news reading, but back to ...

 

hex called - bye! 

ha ha I just keep sitting at my desk consumed into my screen, tweaking this and that on my site, and stalling going to the gym.  

All I do at the gym every night is sit in the sauna and steam, and shower.  Cardio has been a thing of the past, too lazy by the time 7pm comes around, and I really enjoy ending the day this way.  But its lazy, that's for sure.  

After COVID I just said fuck it - I can do what the fuck I want!

Anyway, positive day.  Started the prints, and got sort of uninspired as I went along.  I NEED TO DO NEW THINGS, not just reprint the same stuff.  The harder path but more rewarding for sure.

Midday my holiday cards arrived (early, yay!) so I realized it was best to shift gears, put off printing (happily) and prepare cards for GTown.  Made the trip over and think it was a good plan, and good to check in.  It's been way too long, out of fear, and convenience - parking is always a BITCH.  Got a good picture of what they need -- a good way to make a plan into action over the next few weeks.

Hoping to work over the weekend, we'll see how that goes.  Usually I just an instantly out of the mood, and just want to slug. But there is a lot to do !!

 

Good day!  Started early (for me) with hex and coffee at Firehook - ha, we can't stop calling it that.

Posted cards to site, and ran off to photograph Precipice print.  Mixed results.

Started big SM project of prints on wood.  Sort of fun feeling creative and free.  Made screens, so all set to print tomorrow.

Early evening walk with ladies after running out quickly for coke at gas station ($1.50 !!).  The sun was shining, the start of golden hour, and I realized I should be out with them THEN every day instead of walking in the sad dark.  So that will be my new plan!

Sold chairs finally on marketplace, and then was off to SMUM.  Metro was apocalyptic - filled to capacity, yet we kept stopping at super crowded stations and people kept squeezing in.  It was harrowing!!  I managed to find a set and all was better, but I was so isolated that I missed my stop.

UM good , a happy drop.  Then the gym, which was totally empty.  It's sad when it's like that.  Where is everybody??

Tomorrow > print.

- - - - - - 

Sitting in the sauna, my mind wandered to bsur, and all that bloomed out of that, and just now thinking about posting shot of Irene in my first tee design, and what came out of that!  

Jordy > bill and John > Adam > bsur > branddave.  Its a crazy progression, and IS SO FUCKING MAGICAL (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) how all that came from the tiny seed of creativity and spark of an idea that I put into motion with a series of actions.  All the people, products, $$$, happiness, (frustration) everything that flowed out of that one thing - that idea, that motion and action.  It's just so exciting to think about, all that I have done.  Its very powerful ! 

 

 Weird time(with govt shutdown)?  I don't know, it just seems like the streets are empty and holiday is not started.  Good election last night.  I am staying away from the news!  Glad about that discipline.

Working slow this week with stomach issues.  Monday was a full day of cheryl, and yesterday I printed for SM, and that was pretty much it.  Today I finished that (soooooo sloooooow) and finally got my nov postcard finished (redo of course) and Steve's cards finished up.  Creative energy very low.  I have drawn nothing lately.  For weeks.

Have a lot to do, so i'll keep on moving forward.  Hopefully stomach gets better over time, and I can gain some sort of momentum.  I need it! 

Quick post post-gym pre-getting the fuck out of here.

Week going by fast.  They will from now until Jan.  Worked on prints today, and prepping envelopes.  haha, that sounds pretty pathetic when I write it down.  Buckle down, Dave !!!

Started holiday cards too, and that could easily become a swamp.  

INSIGHT on my walk home from gym ::: DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME DESIGNING HOLIDAY CARDS, MAKING A PERFECT COLLECTION ETC - YOU DON'T SELL A LOT ANYMORE, AND YOUR TIME IS BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE!!

Good SM news which injected some spring in my step.  That and NSYNC Girlfriend/Gone.  Forgot about those!

ok time to leave for the night.  Tomorrow is another chance to make progress! 

INSANE Friday led to a relaxed weekend.  All worked out, but not at all how I expected.

Got a lot done friday amidst all the chaotic feelings - finished and shipped print + commission, and finally got out the SM UM/W with Totes, tees, and leftover Holiday cards from '24.  Needed to make these trips so bad, but they were sort of inconclusive.  Got a blah reception at W, disappointing actually.  I felt like yesterday's news.  Funny, not typical.  And UM was busy with an event, so I was sort of coming in with bad timing.

Anyway, HATE the card spinner W is using, so in the process of replacing that.  Such a strange selection in 2025.  But think I found one that will work.

The commission was well received, which makes me feel good.  Lots of angst!  Stayed out of the studio most of the weekend.  Stayed around the apt with Hexy and ladies.  Coffee, walks, tv - weather is turning.

No big trek to the woods, felt uninspired.  Haha, I always do now.

Back today and muddled Monday as usual.  Made some progress here and there.  Its a turn the page kind of time.  New projects, and things to buy - ugh.  Too much to buy. 

 

Productive day, even keeled, which is a nice change!

Finished tees for SM, made a new plan for P_ _ _ _ (devious) and finished prints on wood.  Adding the Branddave really helped the cat, and the Dog commission came out great.  Plain, but looks right that way.

MAJOR progress in my push to stay off fucking Drudge, and away from the Dow.  I am happily oblivious for almost 24 hours now about what happened today.  NICE !

Home to pizza - yay!! 

 

Rough start to the day with Emma waking Hex up early to walk, and the off-ness flowed throughout the day.

Made my screens for prints that are ordered, and figured out my wood dilemma pretty quickly.  

Printing for one went ok, wish the cake was a bit less messy, and I think I need to add a logo at the bottom to balance it all out.  It looks pretty plain as is.  

Made the choice to orient it a little higher on the wood, and of course that was not the right choice.  Now it looks a bit top-heavy.  I'm so picky about my work.  If I could, I would do it all over again.

Frustrated with FB Marketplace and extreme lack of movement on these great things I have up.  Where are the customers?????  I'm baffled.  At the same time the govt is shut now for weeks, no end in sight, and economic indicators are in the shithole.  2025 health insurance scares me.  Scares me.

Walking back from gym, after a nice serene sauna, and came to the OBVIOUS realization that I have have have have have to stop constantly checking Drudge, my one-stop site for "News" about the world ending.  It's been a slippery slope back into the moment by moment lust for info that I escaped after the FUCKING election, and it's just destroying my mental health.  It has to stop. 

Tomorrow is about printing shirts (arrived at Fed Ex) and finishing up these prints.