dear dave,

not much to report.  Had the entire day to work without very many distractions.  I guess I was productive...

but need to be more so.

November is going to be huge...and I need to prepare. Must keep that in mind.

Tried to set up a few more models for next week.  That is such a huge fun distraction.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE taking pictures, and finding guys to shoot.  Clearly that should be my full time job, because I really love it.

Anyway, have a few really great ones, and I'm trying to figure out how to fit them in to a busy schedule.  The light isn't what it used to be.  Days are getting shorter.  And I really need to concentrate on printing.

But I swear, that is my favorite thing to do...

Busy day. Realized I got the open studio schedule screwed up, and Wednesdays were out afterall. Still managed to prepare my next prints. Maybe a second chance to improve them. Screens all set.

Made some shirts. Getting underwear orders, and im trying to keep up with deadlines. Reminds me a lot of early days at bsur.

Saw Erin for a second. That was nice.

Rain will cancel shoot with Dave tomorrow. Just as good--I can concentrate on more pressing things. Sales!

Over and out

dear dave,

I'm being more productive, which feels good. The structure of the corcoran studio helps. I HAVE to be productive in order to have a successful November/December. Everything seems to be building up to that.

I went out to Baltimore today to check out Red Tree, and see the space I'll be working with. Such a great store. I'm so excited to be a part of it - and have high hopes. Think my work will fit like a glove.

Opening is November 5th, which is shaping up to be a super challenging weekend.  MCA open studios Saturday & Sunday, and volunteering Friday.  We'll see how it all shakes out.  I'm concerned!

Made it out to PERFECTO also, which felt like a major major accomplishment. Of course I got lost getting there. Baltimore VEXES me. I always go the wrong way when I'm going around the stadium. Always get flushed onto 95, with NO possibility to correct. There are NO exits.

 Luckily my phone was working well and easily, so I made it back without too much extra trouble. Went through some crazy and run down neighborhoods. Really really cool, but terribly depressed. Buildings were killer though.

I'm happy to get those prints back, but feel a little disappointed that they have been there for so long without any sales inquiries.  Oh well.

So I'm back finishing up things for tomorrows prints,and other stuff. There is a lot to do!

New print!

Ahhhh! I am so frustrated by new blogger tools.  I want my old formating back!

It takes me 100 tries before I can get the text positioned right.  GRRRRRRRR

Anyway, successful day at the corcoran today (and saturday).  Awesome new open studio hours means plenty of time to make prints this fall.  That's really great.  I am going to be a production machine.

Super frustrated by new students today, in my way.  I need to be patient, and chill.

Half price burgers tonight!  I need to let Remi out before meeting Hexy at 8, so I'm off.

Branddave underwear!

http://www.branddave.com/freehand/underwear.html

branddave hoodies!

http://www.branddave.com/freehand/mens_2.html

wow -

It's been a few solid hours in front of the computer, updating my site, and I still don't feel done.  One thing easily leads to another.

Its like reorganizing a closet.  First you have to take everything out.  Then when you're not quite done, you run out of time, and need to shove everything back in!

I don't feel completely done, but still accomplished a lot.  Tomorrow is another Corcoran day.  Back on track.  Feel good about that...

New stuff added!

PRINTS

SHIRTS

good weekend!

Koscinski is back! Awesome!

I had to put my air conditioner BACK into the window this morning. Looking at the forecast over the next few days (90's), I realized I would be miserable. It took 5 minutes, and I'm so much happier.

I brought Remi to work this morning. She gets SOOOO excited when I grab her leash as I'm walking out the door. She looks at me while laying on the couch, wondering if this morning will be the morning that she is invited to come. It's cute and sad --breaks my heart every time.

For her first year I brought her to work everyday at bsur, and she would sleep in a cage under my desk. I'd play with her in the park at lunch, teaching her to sit and stay and come.

Such good memories! The little alley behind Smith & Hawkin's, tennis ball fetch in the hallway, getting busted by the bitchy Georgetown lady because I dared to use her hose to cool Remi off. Poor girl, she would get so over-heated!

ANYWAY- it's nice to have her here with me, laying on the floor, content. This is the life I want.

http://www.branddave.com/freehand/portfolio.html

updated my PORTFOLIO page - I rather like it!

[U] I rather hate that I said : I rather like...

dear dave,

I'm fucking up a lot lately! I don't know what is going on. I guess I'm just not paying close enough attention when I'm doing things...none of it adds up to HUGE mistakes, but still. It's getting me down!

It's super hot today, after a few solid weeks of cooler weather. So happy I decided to take the air conditioner out of my window YESTERDAY! I get to enjoy the sweltering heat one last time. (Good day to wear boxers also -- blah!)

I'm working on odds and ends. Had a great time editing pics of austin from last week. Moved on to my shots of peter from friday, and I'm not feeling most of them. Lots of problems, and not so good underwear. Which leads me in to no mans land--reshoot? Probably not.

Excited to shoot with Dave K again tomorrow. Can't decide if I should meet up with him in Tenley, and go to our old stomping grounds. Probably will, since it's on my mind. We'll see.

Photos: 2 of Austin that I especially like.

dear dave,

today is a lazy day, getting back into groove.

returned Lucy to my parents home last Friday, but forgot her meds, so I trekked back today to return them.

Got back late last night after a whirlwind 3 day weekend in Bridgehampton and NYC. Of course it was really really nice to get away, and I'm sorry that the last day was so stressful. Probably best not to dwell too much on that!

Highlights: spending relaxing time with Hex, playing badminton. Evita Saturday night. Shopping around town with Daniel. Really nice dinner Saturday night. It's always good for the soul to get out of town, away from routines. Cliche, but it makes average life exciting again.

Shot new pics with Peter last Friday, after a few weeks off. Really wish I could make it every week, because it's so much fun, and I always feel so inspired afterwards. I'll need to go some updates on the underwear site, and add in thermals to branddave. Fall is fast approaching!

What more to say? Not sure. Think things will be more back to normal tomorrow. anxious to get back to the Corcoran, and up and running on printing again!

Dear Dave,

So shooting with Austin yesterday was really fun. An incredibly nice guy, with a great smile (and aspiring actor).

It's really interesting to see how these shoots work. They typically follow a similar pattern: rough start followed by great finish. We get into a groove, and everything clicks, and the shots really come out so much better.

Somewhere along the way (after he put on the pirate shirt), he just started to shine. I guess he became more comfortable in front of the camera. Whatever it was - I'm really happy with the results. A fun moment in time.

I'm kind of bummed that I ended up using my same background spot, but it seems to work well each time. really strange.

Anyway, weekend at the Hamptons is fast approaching. There are things to do!

More shots of Austin HERE

I have been in a red mood lately.

Here early this morning, and wasting time.

Chicken with the girls tonight, and shoot with Austin later.

My time is best spent preparing for the future, and crossing my fingers!

Made some edits to my photography portfolio today, including adding a few of the nudes back in. Think it's a good move.

Have plans to shoot with Austin tomorrow. Really looking forward to it!

dear dave,

I've been a little blog neglectful the past few days. I've been in a pissy mood, and that's not so interesting to record.

Caramel show is up and running. I'm happy with it and really really like the space. I never know what the reaction will be about my work. I don't have much control.

(just deleted an entire paragraph that was just here about trying to get people to the show, and how to sell work more effectively)

I always come this conclusion: so much is out of my control. Yet I keep thinking it's not, and beat myself up over it.

I should change this...make work that's more like that...start printing on paper...focus on commissions...draw better...try harder...be better.

-------

All I can do is make the work, set up as many shows as possible, make a website, promote these things, and hope for the best.

And maybe get a job.

Not such a great day. Blah! Photos are from last year, for 4903 show

dear dave,

anxious all morning about hanging the show at caramel. Just got everything over there via Terry the Tocoma Pickup (zipcar), and feel a little more calm.

I don't know where all this stage fright comes from. Its a drag! I know everything will work out well, and the show will be a success. The space is really great, full of big squares of wall space. Should be fun hanging this afternoon.

------

Poor remi ate a huge container of uncooked rice, so she is with me at the studio today, vomiting occasionally. It's not a pretty sight. I'm thinking the worst is over. We'll see!

dear dave,

preparing for the show coming up friday. have a list, but keep going off of it! haha - typical. so typical!

Excited to get things set-up. Today is hump day - the day that I get the bulk of things done. Let's see how I do!

haircut
white wine
white briefs
t-shirts
artists statement
brief samples
saturday print!

UPDATE 4:34

haircut DONE
white wine DONE
white briefs DONE
t-shirts
artists statement
brief samples
saturday print!

happy bird print

dear dave,

it's always fun to look back at pictures and journals and sketchbooks - and think about the time and place that I was in when I was creating them. I have had a strong desire to connect to the past lately. To think about things I've done, and feel the sense of comfort that I felt back then.

It's easy to gloss over all the problems. I ALWAYS look back with rose colored glasses.

I'm happy the world is back to work today. I was feeling so antsy during the long stretch of August, when everybody and everything was stuck in neutral. Feels like things are back on track, and feels good.

pictures from the past: self portrait at 4903, and the wonderful hillside park

dear dave,

We had a great BBQ for dad last night. I felt proud that Hex and I easily pulled it off. Arrived at 5, sit down dinner by 6:30, all cleaned up, back at home at 9.

I'm here at the studio - but so reluctant about it! I don't know why--feels like a Sunday, and that I should be enjoying my time off. But Hex is busy with chores, and I don't have much to do. All my little weekend things were accomplished over the weekend.

So I'm here, doing a little of this and that. Cleaning out old photos, and found the one above, a picture I took of a magazine this winter. I'm a frustrated photographer lately. I am so inspired to take more pictures, but don't have the right guys to shoot. And I keep telling myself that it's too much of a distraction, and I need to focus on money making.

Listening to Dan Savage podcasts, and I'm loving it!

Winterberry II (vertical)


Winterberry II (horizontal)

This is my 1,200th post!! Wow - that's cool! Above are two prints in the work for this fall. To preview more, visit here.

snake man (bad angle)

I LOVE this desk! Brilliant!!

Not much to report this morning.

Getting thru my list.
Changed up my homepage.
Working on finishing up prints for Caramel.
Bummed about Mid-City Cafe.
Excited about Red Tree.
Disappointed with Bing!

Not much else.

dear dave -

Praying for a break in the heat. The sun is just relentless. I know in January I will be desperate for some sun. But now, I'm over it!

Had a good day. Replaces Gaggle with Jake at Easel - and think it's a good fit. I was really torn about what to hang next. And it's always a project with the boards. But it turned out pretty easy, and looks good.

Of course for one board I marked the wall for the nail, then proceeded to try and hang the board on the mark, forgetting about the nail completely. Idiot.

My studio walls are empty and pocked with screws and nails. All my prints are down, sold or waiting to be hung someplace else.

I'm in transition.

photo: Jake Waters Seeds @ Easel