T minus 4 days

Friday I mailed out the postcards and went by the gallery to drop some off. That night I worked on sculptures and the big drawing.

Saturday I did just a few little things - bpth Fri and Sat I had a huge work-project I was trying to finish.

Yesterday I got some drawing done, and when the grandparent baby-wranglers arrived I framed half the stuff. Last night, more work-project, but I finished it (and the world will have its LOST trading cards....)

Getting close now!

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 7 days, T minus 8 days, T minus 9 days, T minus 10 days, T minus 11 days, T minus 14 days, T minus 15 days, T minus 16 days, T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 7 days

Last night I got nothing done because of work stuff. Today I mailed off postcards and went by the gallery. Leah, the director, had her baby yesterday!

This weekend I'll be pushing as hard as I can on two fronts - a project for my job thats due Monday, and on framing work for the show.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 8 days, T minus 9 days, T minus 10 days, T minus 11 days, T minus 14 days, T minus 15 days, T minus 16 days, T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 8 days

You can tell I'm super busy because, as one faithful reader has noted, my posts are getting shorter and shorter.

Yesterday the cards arrived - they are great and Modern Postcard is the best. 2.5 days from upload of files to printed pieces in my hands. Today I checked at the post office for postage requirements and stamped and labeled them. Tomorrow they go out into the world.

Last night, more on big drawing and sculptures.

My computer died this AM and I spent all day fixing it but it's alive again - with a day lost. I have a huge work project due Monday so I'll be designing trading cards with one hand while framing art with the other this weekend.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 9 days, T minus 10 days, T minus 11 days, T minus 14 days, T minus 15 days, T minus 16 days, T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 9 days

Last night I worked more on the big drawing and on some sculptures. I also finished my mailing list and printed labels because my postcards are being delivered today. Hopefully I'll mail them tomorrow.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 10 days, T minus 11 days, T minus 14 days, T minus 15 days, T minus 16 days, T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 10 days

Still a little sick. Yesterday I ordered the new card - it should be here Thursday to mail out Friday. Last night I worked on the big drawing and some sculptures.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 11 days, T minus 14 days, T minus 15 days, T minus 16 days, T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 11 days

Friday I went down to the gallery and picked up some of the posters. They're good, but of course I'm being picky and might have done a few things differently. I do design stuff all day and I probably should have insisted on designing this thing myself - it's not bad, it's just a little off from what I would have done. Also, the sample I saw was matte and this ended up being glossy.

So over the weekend I decided to do and additional postcard for the show. I have a big mailing list and would only have a few extra posters if I used those, so I'm going to send out the postcard when I get it later this week.

This weekend didn't go as well as I expected - Violet, her Mom and I all got sick. I did finish my mailing list, work on the big drawing (which is in danger of being over-worked now) and finished 2 sculptures, so a lot did get done. I decided o hold off on framing until I finish a big project at work - so later this week and this weekend. Because I was feeling bad I didn't poster last night - I might try to go sometime this week.

I can't believe this thing is 11 days away - I feel so unprepared...

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 14 days, T minus 15 days, T minus 16 days, T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 14 days

Last night I finished a sculpture. This AM moreon the big guy.

Got a call from Leah at the gallery - the invite poster is done and I can pick it up to send it out. I'm too busy today but will get it tomorrow to try to send out Monday.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 15 days, T minus 16 days, T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 15 days

Little done again last night - I had to catch up on job-work. This AM more big drawing. Sunday we're importing grandparent baby-wranglers to watch Princess Violet so I can get a whole day to work.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 16 days, T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 16 days

Last night - not much because of some family issues. This AM - more on the big drawing which is coming together. Also more work on the mail list.

The gallery has updated their website, see my page here and the (quite flattering) press blurb here. I need to have them revise the image they're using because the crop isn't correct. Hopefully I'll have the invite posters at the end of this week.

My frames arrived yesterday - I'll open them up and start framing this weekend.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 17 days, T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 17 days

TDOTC Poster 2 (digital conglomeration of several drawings)

See the first poster here.

Here's the poster I hung up Sunday night. No police this time, but a hobo asked me for a dollar and another guy asked me what the poster represented. I gave him the show opening info and he asked if there was a cover charge - I said no.

Last night I did one more little collage and then edited the herd of small stuff down. I have around 100 really good ones and a couple dozen more that need a little work. I also worked more on my mailing list for the invite. This AM I added more to the big drawing.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 18 days, T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 18 days

Friday night I got more small drawings together. Saturday I made a fast trip to DC to pick up my work from the Boundless show and one drawing from Burton Marinkovitch (and I saw some beautiful Sean Scully prints there). So now all the driving trips are over. Saturday night I made more small drawings.

Yesterday, more smalls - I'm one away from the critical mass I need before I edit them down and revise. I also started the big drawing, glueing big hunks of other drawings onto the paper. That's a huge relief to see it taking shape. And I began making my mailing list for the invite that hopefully will be ready later this week - I want all the lebels ready to go when I get the posters.

Last night I snuck around and hung more posters - more on that (and images + PDFs) tomorrow.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 21 days, T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 21 days

Past 2 nights - more small work. I almost have a critical mass of them, then I'll cull the herd and see where I am.

Yesterday I bought a new piece of HUGE paper and this AM I put it up. Hopefully I'll start re-making the big piece tonight.

Tomorrow I make a lightning trip north to DC to pick up work from Boundless and a drawing from Burton Marinkovitch Fine Art that I need for the show. Sunday I start the final push of getting work done...

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 23 days, T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

sbook 29

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This post is part of a series documenting my current sketchbook.
Earlier entries: sbook001, sbook002, sbook003, sbook004, sbook005, sbook006, sbook007, sbook008, sbook009, sbook010, sbook011, sbook012, sbook013, sbook014, sbook015, sbook016, sbook017, sbook018, sbook019, sbook020, sbook021, sbook022, sbook023, sbook024, sbook025, sbook026, sbook027, sbook028.

T minus 23 days

Went downtown to drop off an image disk at the gallery and saw that some of the posters were still up (see this post for PDFs of the poster). The ETA of the official gallery posters is late next week.

Yesterday I drew more small work and rearranged the studio so I could start working on the big drawing. Today so far more small work drawn - I plan to do more of them until Sunday, the edit them down again and do more. Those edited out become fodder for more work - chopped up and collaged.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 25 days, T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 25 days

TDOTC Poster 1 (detail of Driving by a grave (for D.D.))

Sunday night I snuck out and stapled up posters all over the Downtown Mall of C'ville. The poster is the image at the top of this post - it's a detail of a drawing that's up at Boundless Yoga in DC right now. Follow the links to download either an 11 x 17 pdf or an 8.5 x 11 pdf for printing yourself. (Update - I took the PDFs down)

I made xerox 11 x 17 posters and went around putting them up. Ususally I'm pretty sneaky but a cop saw me and came over - I thought I was in trouble. He just told me that they'll all be ripped down Moday morning and I should just hang them in the bulletin-board areas. I did that, but saw some old flyers up from weeks ago, so I stopped believing him and hung the rest of my posters all over. I'll be heading downtown tomorrow so I'll be able to see if he was lying.

On the posters is a sock-puppet email. I'm not sure how I'll reply if anyone writes to that email after seeing the posters. The plan is 3 more poster-drops before the show - every Sunday night.

Saturday I delivered some work to ADA Gallery in Richmond and that night I got more small stuff made and tweaked some of the larger pencils.

Sunday I did a lot - more small stuff drawn and I finally ordered all my frames. That was nerve-wracking. Wife, Violet and I also went to get some opening clothes for me - I bought my first suit-jacket in years.

PS Thanks to Shawn at Size Matters of a link to this series.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 28 days, T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

4 months old!

T minus 28 days

Gulping propane, 5.5 x 5.5, 2005

Last night I worked on some larger pencils in prep for ordering frames on Monday (that slipped a week). This AM got some more small things made. I also have the design for the first weekly street poster - I'll post it as a PDF next week after I slap it up all over town.

Tonight - openings if Violet is doing well, then more drawing after wife and kid go to sleep. So far the theme music for working on the show late night is all Arcade Fire, Archers of Loaf and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.


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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 29 days, T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 29 days

More drawing on small stuff last night and this morning. In order to make the huge grid I want I need to do a bunch more of them, both pencils and collages. Next week I'll finish the big drawing and then continue with sculptures the week after.

I also need to start printing the street-posters I want to do. The gallery is printing the "real" posters, but I want to do something more. Once a week for the four weeks before the show starts I plan to hang flyers all over town, similar to what I did earlier this year, only in color. So this Sunday (the easiest day to sneak around town) I'll staple and tape up about 50 little posters I print here. Leah told me I couldn't put any gallery info on them because they'd get in trouble with the city, so I'm going to use a sock-puppet yahoo email on the posters and see what happens. Last time the only response I got was a city worker giving me hell for taping something to a light pole.

I'll show the posters here, maybe I'll have them as PDF downloads if anyone wants them.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 30 days, T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

T minus 30 days

Met with Leah at the gallery yesterday and decided on the above image for a folded 11 x 17 poster as the announcement for the show (we'll use a crop of it - the real thing is 13.75 x 16 in.). Their regular designer (who's done some great work for them) will be scanning and color-correcting - it's nice to have someone else take care of the stuff I do all day at work. I need to get them some promo images later this week.

I also did some measuring of the gallery walls to figure out how many frames I need. I'll sit down tonight and make the final order.

This AM I did a couple small pencils and a couple small collages. Finally finishing things is the hardest part for me - I always want to keep messing with things. I guarantee I'll be drawing and erasing when the work is up on the walls in the gallery...

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 32 days, T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

Kimmelman in Slate

A weeklong email correspondance began today between Stephen Metcalf and Michael Kimmelman (chief art critic for the New York Times) about Kimmelman's recent book The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa. It already seems interesting, here's a quote from the book:

The idea behind The Accidental Masterpiece, the one that popped into my head at some point, is pretty simple. It is not that I should write a book of art history or criticism, exactly, or dwell on the accomplishments of the greatest or my favorite painters, sculptors, and photographers. Nor is it that all art is salutary. A day of looking at bad art can be long and dark. Instead, it is that—whether the example is the life of an artist as lofty as Bonnard or the passion of the lightbulb enthusiast Dr. Hicks—art provides us with clues about how to live our own life more fully. Put differently, this book is, in part, about how creating, collecting, and even just appreciating art can make living a daily masterpiece.

I added the emphasis. They'll be kicking this back and forth all week...

T minus 32 days

Spent the weekend getting organized for the final month before the show. At this point there's a ton of non-art making work to be done - publicity stuff, framing, etc. I was worried about forgetting things that I needed to do so I took some time to write down everything I could think of and organizing it.

I've played around with a few designs for the poster - I got word form Leah that it's a go - and need to decide with her what we want to use. Luckily I have some Photoshop skillz and have a lot of work scanned in already. So far I have one version that's just a pencil drawing and two others that are digital conglomerations of drawings and collages.

I alos printed a bunch of books last week and this past weekend. I plan to have books at the gallery for sale and they take a while to make so I'm getting those together slowly.

As for actual art-making, I've been mostly fooling with the stuff that will be framed. Once I visit the gallery and make a few measurements this week I'll know how many frames to order, but since I have a large series of drawings that are the same size I can order frames before I'm totally set on what's in the show.

Up this week - a visit to the gallery to hammer out the poster, ordering frames and a lot of work on small drawings and collages.

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This is a post in series counting down to my solo show True Defenders of the Craft at Second Street Gallery. See previous posts: T minus 35 days, T minus 37 days, T minus 38 days, T minus 43 days, T minus 44 days, T minus 46 days, T minus 49 days, T minus 51 days, T minus 54 days,T minus 55 days,T minus 56 days, T minus 57 days.

Hurricane Relief Scheme

Donate $25 to Hurricane Katrina relief and I'll draw you anything you want.
Jump to this post for details.