This morning I photographed a friend's (and fellow blogger's) studio. It was really fun and a challenge, since I don't have much experience shooting interiors. I'm happy with the result overall -- I wanted to approach it as a learning experience.

More importantly, it was really fun to spend time with Thomas, who I found through blogging. I felt a really fast and easy connection with him, and it's so nice to have friends that inspire.

I'm really into his work, and I especially love how his entire environment is such a reflection of his persona. I was honored to be invited to photograph it for him.

Be sure to check out his blog: My White Shirt

Introducing Peter, the new face of branddave!

dear dave,

Holiday Friday. Always an interesting day. The weekend is ahead, and it feels special because it's a holiday. There is all this energy that surrounds it. People are anxious to leave town.

I remember when I was single, working at bsur. One year I just remember going home after work, feeling a mixture of calm and sadness, because I had no plans for the weekend. I was lonely, but at the same time content to just let the days unfold.

Things are SO different now. Better, more full and rewarding. Its really nice to have Hex, and to know he is there. Safe and comforting.

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Up and down this week. The momentum has been strange, and leads to big mood swings. Tuesday, after shooting with Peter, I was so high and full of positive energy. I felt like I could take on the world. Yesterday afternoon, I felt really different. Lost and unsure. Overall, Ive been feeling good though. I just tend to write only about the highs and lows.

I'm commited to the work I'm doing. I'm seeing all this through. Sometimes it's just helpful to say that, and write it down.

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Corcoran class starts next week after all. That's a good thing - gives me more time to prepare, but more importantly, work on other things. This session I'm going to have prints all lined up, ready to go. NO MORE FIDDLING. I have work to do!

dear dave,

too many irons in the fire? I'm starting to think so.

I'm going in way too many directions right now. I have so many ideas. And its ALWAYS fun to start something new. Not always such a blast seeing things thru.

Had a GREAT time with Peter last night. Think he is a major keeper. Plan to shoot him throughout the summer if he is as into it as I am.

Gearing up for Corcoran summer semester. Starts this saturday (holiday weekend), which is really strange. Hex and I found a lot of boards outside our building the other day. I feel a little overwhelmed contemplating them. I'm always nervous to gather materials without a definite plan for them. Its easy to loose track and purpose.

Im thinking about just keeping a few. Just the ones that excite me. Ha - because some boards really do excite me.

Delivering BRANCHES tonight. That's exciting. Sold over the weekend. Have the second one still.

Last week, in the midst of crazy days preparing for our open studio, Hex and I planted the yearly annuals in my parent's front yard. We went shopping first, and it was a challenge getting all the plants in the Miata. I wish I could have taken more pictures, but Hex was anxious to get going, understandably! What a trooper (he was surrounded chin high)!

Of course traffic was heavy, so the trip was even longer. But after a few hard hours of planting and mulching, the happiness on my parent's faces made it all worth it!

next print: brown flamingo

dear dave,

Just like Tom, I feel a little let down today after the weekend of open studios. It's a rush to show work. To hang it and organize it (and finish it). To have a captive audience, and to sell prints I have worked so hard (and silently) on. Its all this giant crap shoot. Nobody ever knows how anything they do will be received.

I feel great about my work, and showing it. But suddenly that's all over. Its been seen. Its instantly old news. Of course that is dramatically overstating it, but deep down, that's how I feel. Its time to work on the new again.

Of course its Monday, which is always hard to tackle. But so far so good today. I added a lot of prints to my site, and am really liking my general format. So glad Ive found a layout that works, that's manageable, and adapts to new work.

Ok - on to other things.

you know you've made it when you get tagged. Bastards.

I WANT

"BOY"
SALTLESS PRETZELS
JEAN JACKET
BOOK DEAL
GYM
BRIEFS

SUSHI
80'S
MULTIPLES
CASH

MARKERS
IPAD
APPLE GUM

MAGAZINES BACK
TEAL BACK
IRENE BACK

GREAT FALLS
MAINE
TAN

dear dave,

feeling antsy, almost waiting to go into this mad rush before the open studios.

Clearly my natural rhythm is to stall, then rush, unable to complete important last minute tasks because the clock runs out, only to blame myself for being such a bum, while simultaneously using the lack of time as a perfect scape goat for all my stacked up screw ups. Its a perfect little psycho drama. The games people play!

So here I am, typing a blog, when I should be doing 1,000 other things to get ready.

"I have time," I tell myself.

more Nate

Dear Dave,

Waiting on _____ to do ____ . Should be a lot of fun. I have nervous energy building up.

Spent the morning hanging art around the studio. Always very very fun! Finding those little moments of interaction, light, & space.

I've had a few frustrations along the way, but that's also part of the fun: compromising with yourself. Last night I was just positive the hallway was done, and there was no other "right" way other then continuing on down with "jake waters seeds." As soon as I unloaded it out of the closet I sold myself on the idea.

This morning I was sure that was a mistake, because I wanted to feature the new branches more prominently. I found a good alternative, but now the hallway is undone. I've become stymied about what to do with this little sliver of space. Its become the linchpin to my entire display.

How it shakes out is an open question. Stay tuned!

dear dave,

yesterday I had quick coffee with Erin, and realized how much I miss her. We had so many fun times working together - I really really loved it. I always felt so at ease with her, like she was some sort of cosmic combination of all my best girl friends over the years.

Good times Erin. You are the very best! I miss you!

(haha - I love the orange tray in the background. Never used for anything but junk we didnt know what to do with)

Casey, Nate & Jose

Funny - because I have a lot of photos that I took of these three guys last week that I like, but it's hard to put a collection together. Individual shots seem to work best.

Each was really fun. I LOVE taking pictures. Maybe I'll write a bit more about them later--maybe I won't. Sometimes it's nice just to have the experience, and not dissect it. But the process is interesting, and worth sharing.

We'll see...

dear dave

the past few days have been crazy. I'm not sure why, but I have felt so walled off with projects that are overwhelming, and to ambitious to finish quickly. Not sure how I got here, but tired of feeling this way.

Friday hex and I set off to make my desk.

Let me step back to Thursday. Thursday I set off to deliver Gaggle, and adjusted my ZIPCAR hours so I could use the truck for a trip toHome Depot, to buy stuff for the desk. I thought I had tons of time,but I was wrong because before I knew it, I only had 30 minutes to pay, load the truck, unload at the studio, and return it to the lot. Time had just dissolved away. And hurrying was tough, considering I was dealing with one HUGE slab of MDF, and another cut into 3 pieces, and lumber.

I made it on time, but the rushing pattern had been set, and the rest of the weekend, until now, was just one thing after another, rush rush rush.

Rush to make the desk, rush to take pictures, rush to meet up with friends for dinner, rush to get back to home depot, to get back to studio, to make second desk, to paint desk, to get back to hardware store, to repaint desk, to clean studio, to go out to party, to go to bed, to get back to corcoran, to make new print.

AHHHH - there is where things broke down. Print I was rushing to finish today, last day of semester, was sort of a bust. So that's it for now. I will have to make due with what I finished, and go from there.

GLAD this weekend is over. Looking forward to slowing down, and having some free time (in my head)

dear dave,

busy couple of days means no blogging!

Ive been rushing around taking pictures, sending emails about our MCA open studios, editing branddave.com, delivering Gaggle (!), "casting" new models, and working on the studio, and planning my last screen print. Its felt like a whirlwind, but all pretty good and fun.

Need to get back to work now. Hex and I plan to FINALLY install the workbench/desk I have been envisioning here for months now. Hopefully we can pull it off!

dear dave,

joined ZIPCAR! Ive been struggling with shuttling large boards to and from the corcoran, so this should make things much easier.
Their office in DC cracked me up -- very different then the image they project on the site. Really funny. Very silicone valley circa 2003.

Cloudy day, and rain likely, so I postponed shoot with Peter for next week. Shoot with Dave didnt work out yesterday either, so that was a bust. The shirt I made for him SUCKED, so maybe its a good thing. Have other shoots scheduled for later in the week. Hopefully everything works out without too much trouble.

Few more days of printing left. Feel stuck in this cycle.

Ha - enya is playing on my computer. I feel calm.

Shortbread biscuits for Mothers Day. Just slice in half, butter, pour on smashed up strawberries (sweetened with sugar), put the top on, add more strawberries, pour on some half & half, and ENJOY!




Flowers at the farmers market. I'm really enjoying our daily Sunday visit.




My wonderful Hex and Remi, enjoying the breezy day.

bits

dear dave,

I realized a few things, while I was taking a shower yesterday. Obvious things that should have been really clear to me awhile ago. So now my job is to make them happen, and see them through. They are a bit too personal to share here, although I would like to, and they have obvious branddave implications. Maybe over time.

-----

I'm getting a lot of new photo opportunities, but they all are not clearly fitting into any kind of artistic vision. I kind of want to take every chance that comes along, but quickly I worry about it all becoming a huge distraction. Where is all this going anyway? ANSWER: Its much more of a hobby thing. Maybe I can get that straight in my head, and resolved. And just enjoy it. That's what I want to do.

----

Managed to get some work done at the corcoran saturday. I feel enormous pressure to get things done before the studio show, and the corcoran closes. ITs always down to the wire. I like it that way.

------

I need to make peace with myself. The things I've chosen. The work I enjoy doing. The person I am. I will be so much happier (and secure!) when I can.

dear dave,

shitty mid morning led to ok afternoon. Nice feeling spending some money on myself.

I went to the mall and picked up a few things. Some VERY needed and utilitarian (vans), some frivolous (polka dot boxer shorts from J crew), one depressing (iphone cover, so I dont drop it anymore. I love my sleek condom-less iphone, but those days are over), and one expensive but practical and fun and retro (topsiders from J crew, just like I wore years ago).

I realized walking through the shiny, new, clean, modern, scented mall that I have been punishing myself for awhile now. I haven't allowed myself to spend a single cent, instead letting my entire wardrobe decay. Just like Clinton and Stacy say on What Not to Wear, how you dress reflects how you feel about yourself. Its time to buy some things. Of course I need to pay attention to my budget, but just allowing myself to have SOME budget is a step.

Cam | May 4, 2010

dear dave,

I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned this morning, and now my mouth is sore. Such a relief though. I have been avoiding going for way too long now, because I don't floss well, and it always leads to problems and scolding, and shame. I would much rather avoid all of that. But I VOWED to face my mountain of fear a few weeks ago, and today was the day I finally scheduled.

Its over, and I feel good.

-----
Past few days have been fun and productive. Had a really good time shooting pictures of Cam (photos coming), and a productive few days at the corcoran working on Bird Seed (above). Have no real time to write any further today. Too much to do, and I got a late start.

Happy Birthday Remi!!

What a great dog, in every way. Just the dog I wanted 8 years ago, when I picked her out at Belquest. What a terrific and cherished memory. There is nothing like picking out a puppy. They are all so incredibly cute, and it's so exciting knowing that one will be yours! All yours.

Branches, coming along. Still have a few leaves to add.

I saw a really geeky picture of him somewhere recently. Showed a completely different side.

He fascinates me. I really love his eyebrows

dear dave

monday
sort of rainy,
Dave K needed to study, so no shoot. Worked on some shirts, but its just as well.

Working on my new birdseed print, even as the branches is not yet done. Cant wait to finish that.

HUMID.

Will be interesting working here over the summer. An air conditioner might be mandatory, as everything is blowing everywhere with the window open.

Listening to Ryan Cabrera. Feeling ok

dear dave,

saturday morning, and Im back at the studio. All work!

Spent a lot of time on the site yesterday, only to quickly change course this morning. I really feel like I was going in the wrong direction with my drawing portfolio, and Im happy to have seen that clearly. That just means now I need to STOP working on that, and focus on printing stuff. Otherwise it will be 4 pm before I know it, and Ill still be here, convinced I just need 5 more minutes of tweaking.

Make a different choice!

Off for now.