Dear Dave,

Good night tonight at openstudioDc. It's always nice to listen and watch as strangers encounter my work. Of course I never know how much to interact, or I guess I mean I have to force myself to interact. I can be soooo shy. I feel so naked standing there. A few positive beats later, and I gain some confidence. Just wish I could get from there to there faster. Too many missed opportunities (maybe)?

Anyway, nice to hear when people recognize my work, and make quick and easy connections. Like tom goss just said over chips and salsa: you feel like all the work you've done is paying off.

Made a metro trek (with hexy) out to Arlington arts center today. Scoping out the gallerys in preparation for a '12 solo show proposal (regrettably due tomorrow). Excited to give it a try. Seems like the right step. But if course it was a struggle when I got back to write. What do I do? What's my theme?

After a thoughtful talk with caroline tonight, I realize I just need to stay basic-and true to myself. Beware of that Axis trap I fell into a few months ago. So hopefully I can work it all out tomorrow. It will be a challenge.

Tomorrow is Friday, then weekend, then July 4th. Last year at this time I was shooting naked (then briefed) sexy Peter. Year before I was deep with Dave K, who I miss!

What will this summer hold?? I feel like it's going to start again. I'
m excited to see where it leads.



Very hopeful about the few seeds Im planting-

This post was supposed to be posted Sunday, but apparently the SMS function on blogger only works occasionally.  Good to know! 


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Dear Dave,
Nice relaxing Sunday morning with hex.

Finished up two great prints yesterday--"roadside". Finally managed to draw and print the blue cornflower weeds I love do much. Maybe a bit too much like "branches" but I'm still very happy with them. 

Really down on myself for being unprepared for class (again). I should be all done with prep work by the time Saturday comes around. Must try harder! Printing time is so limited this summer. I really need to step it up.

Ok-time to call cord.

Out

dear dave,

had such a breakthrough night at Longview last night.  Very inspirational space, art, and crowd.  All very stimulating and exciting!!  Made me want to scrub up, spritz, put on a crisp shirt, and mingle.  And I loved the art, and framing.  Exciting to see work that inspires me....

THings picked up for me today, at least on the creative side.  Of course Im not ready to print tomorrow(!), but I have a few things in the pipeline that I'm happy with.  Just a matter of scaling them, picking good wood, etc.

I was so down on myself this morning.  Happy to have hopefully moved beyond that....

MUST GO NOW and let Remi out, and meet up with Hexy.  Such a beautiful night.

(hope mom & dad are doing ok on trip)

Until tomorrow at the corcoran....

dear dave,

already 5:30.

drawing a lot today, which is good and very necessary.  Not tons accomplished, but it will take awhile.  I need to settle into this.  I need new content.

Feeling discouraged lately.  It sucks.  But I pull myself out when I get down.  Trust in myself, and the future, and keep pushing forward.

THis is hard, what I'm doing.  Keep with it.

dear dave,

looking at advice blogs about selling art is mind-numbing.  There is so much information it's overwhelming.  I always get to that part that details something I've already thought about, but feared.  In the end, it's all about conquering fears.  Of rejection.  Insecurity.  Sometimes it seems like all of life can be boiled down to that.  So much of my behavior is driven by fear.  I hate that!

This morning I was stressed about getting art hung at Golriz's office.  Megan saved the day (last night) with her suggestion of the dog-theme.  Before then I was stumped.  I couldn't figure out what to bring.  What would look good together.  I'm a stickler for that.

All worked out great, with Hex's help.  We were surgical.  I will say that ZIPCAR minutes are some of the fastest minutes around.  The minute you get in that car time zips by!  I always end up doubling my estimate (and reservation).

Back at the studio, doing not much.  avoiding.  again.

dear dave,

finished up at the corcoran.  Hex's flamingo (via swish), Loyal (via comet), and Just Friends (a revised caption).  Happy that I managed to get them all accomplished.  Tuesday night sessions go so fast.  I'm always rushing at the end.  Hex took the pressure off, fixing dinner at home instead of our meet-up at chipotle.

summer has been sort of lost.  I keep going, but don't know where.  Contacts and communication has slowed to a trickle.  The perfect time to plan, think ahead, prepare.  I've said it many times before: I SUCK AT THAT.  I'm so of-the-moment.

Even tonight I couldn't prepare.  I was at my studio at 6:00, still working on positives.  I can't decide what to doooo - what to printttttt, what to drawwwwwww.  Frustrating!

I'm unsettled in this position.  I don't like it.  I waste time, and feel like shit about it.

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I'm going home to Hex.  I'll be happy watching tv with him.

dear dave,

monday over!  so so day.  trying to draw, and prepare for printing.  But I feel directionless right now.  I'm in a lull, thats for sure.

Less owls.

----

great fathers day at John and Brenda's.  Really fun to all be together, relaxed.  Another round of Chinese checkers.  Hex won!

Took remi to Rock creek, went to the farmers market, relaxed on the couch.  another typical Sunday.

-----

Applied to Options today.  Hopeful about that.

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anxious to hear back from _ _ _ _!

not much to report!

worked on new owl at corcoran today.

Happy it's weekend.

Very summer.  Hot sunny lazy days.

I'm off

dear dave,

corcoran last night was total bust!  I don't like what I did at all.

Creative rut (must end).

Will end.

Fun with Geran today.  Wish the trick photos were more successful - but it's all an experiment anyway.

He is really fun to shoot!

Off to gym.

Tomorrow another day

dear dave,

listening to Michael Jackson, at the corcoran, waiting for my screens to dry.  I really love these few songs off of History.  Reminds me of folding shirts at bsur.  Those packing days!

Now I'm on to songs that Erin gave me.  Equally good, and memorable.

Still feeling the emotional hangover from yesterday.  I can't push it along.  I just feel bad.

Had a very mediocre work day.  Happy to have Comet all finished up, and was really happy with the outcome.  Talked to Amy about further work for Speakeasy.  Fun!

I have a fun print I'm making tonight.  Should turn out really well.

I've wanted to make different moves lately, but nothing has been happening.  I'm working in the same creative vein.  I REALLY REALLY REALLY need to draw, but I'm not.  I want to make different work.

------

Shooting with Geran again tomorrow.  Unprepared like usual.  SHould be fun though.  He is a star.  And I'm excited to have new pictures to sprinkle into my website.  It's been lacking!

dear dave,

Today was the sad day we took Lucy to the vet to be put to sleep.  She was a great dog - always happy and needy.  I will really miss seeing her when I go to visit.

Favorite memories:  Picking her up when she was a puppy.  She couldn't stop panting.  We thought she was just over excited.  For 13 1/2 years she panted if she was the least bit excited.  So crazy.

Taking care of her during my parent's annual Florida vacation in February.  Usually the worst time of year to have an extra dog.  I remember her and Remi barreling down my wooden narrow steps on 10th St.  I would just meet them at the bottom.

She was always a handful.  Difficult to contain.  Running out of the house.  Stealing off the counter.  Constant health problems.  But she was the quintessential lab.  Always close by.  Craved attention.  And super sweet.

I feel so sad about letting her go.  Sad for my mother's loneliness.  Goodbye Ms. Lucy.

No good news about poor Lucy. She will have to be put to sleep tomorrow. Incredibly sad. All I can say.

dear dave,

yesterday was distressing.  I got an early call that Lucy wasn't doing so well, and all those memories of a dying Morgan came right back.

I got there around 1, and Lucy seemed just ok.  I washed her bed and cage, and gave her a good scrubbing in the sun, on the lawn, with the hose.

poor baby,  she is weak after having not eaten for a few days.  She just laid there, allowing me to do anything I wanted.  I scrubbed and scrubbed, and she was much cleaner after.

Hex and I spent the rest of the afternoon there, getting Chinese from Far East, and playing chinese checkers with Jimmy.  I drank way too much coke, and we also made another batch of strawberry shortcake.

It was all memorable.  Family time in Rockville.  But Lucy is not well, and that was the obvious overhanging cloud over us all.  you want to just hope that she'll spring back to health, but I don't see it happening.  My poor parents -- they do their best, but it's a big job to take care of an unhealthy 80 lb 14 year old dog.  They can't do everything for her.

She gets a blood test this afternoon.  We'll go from there...

Meanwhile, it hasn't been a great week work wise.  I keep meaning to do better, but it doesn't happen.  i hope this isn't a sign of things to come this summer.  I need to step up.

Dear Dave,
This is my first text post. So cool and convenient if it works. But doesn't exactly inspire me to post long form. Maybe better for twitter? Hmmm

Dear Dave,

Good and productive. Super hot. Shirts, ice tea, model cancellations. No Internet, comet revisions.

I put up my Branddave signs, and they look pretty snazzy.

No butler's this year. No time. But we did make strawberry shortcake tonight. Tasted great!!

Battling my creativity. Had a moment of terror today. But I got through it. Must stay positive, and work harder.

dear dave,

I'm at the corcoran tonight, first nighttime open studio for summer.  Of course I'm not so into being here now, but...

Today was mostly a wash-out, but a good chance to support my wonderful Hex.  We went downtown to get some tax questions worked out.  Their forms are sooooo convoluted.  I'm glad we took the time to figure it out properly.

anyway, when you combine that with yesterday (Internet out at the studio), it adds up to not much.

I did manage to redesign the exhibit wall, mail out a bunch of shirts, finish up Comet drawing, and collect some payments.  Wish I had made more shirts, and prepared for Thursday's shoot.  But these things always need to be last-minute.  It's the law.

Dear Dave,

Super sunny monday.  Funny how yesterday when I was in the studio, I was all about work.  Monday morning is a totally different story! Same amount to do, but my focus is so different.

Saturday was good.  I got all (most) the things done on my list, and managed to get a new print made start to finish.  Megan is back in class, which is fun.  We were bummed to see open studio hours cut waaaaay back, so I told her I'm going to have to be surgical in my printing.  Of course this made her laugh.  Really, the idea of me being surgical is pretty ridiculous.  But it's a goal.

I only have Tuesday nights, and all day Saturday at the corcoran.  Maybe sunday will be added.  So I'm sure I'll be bitching all summer (here) about that.  It really sucks, but is sort of understandable.  I've been super spoiled with all the time I've had.

On the other hand, it's kind of a relief.  I won't feel so guilty all the time, and under the gun to be constantly printing and preparing to print.

BUT, I need to be productive.  And keep this positive momentum going.

ok - maybe more later.

Dear Dave,

Turned into a busy logistical day. I took my remaining prints down at Axis, brought Gaggle over to Easel, and made a ton of shirts. Orders keep coming in, which is great. Awesome in fact.

Tomorrow corcoran starts, and as usual, I'm semi prepared.

It's all good though.

Oops-grill is ready, so it's time to go. Hex and I are grilling in the alley. So ghetto