wrapping up

it’s great to wrap up a project.

usually, this means a debrief and selection of project images. often, there is a site shoot later, but we almost always take some initial photos. sometimes i think it is the only way we can get a little perspective. the camera separates us from the work and allows a disassociation that is pretty informative. we both take shots as we see things differently – i mean literally more than metaphorically.

it’s also great to have a definitive halt in process. it doesn’t mean every detail or concept was perfectly executed. at some point, it’s just done and you have to stop. you get to step back and look around.

love the process when it’s happening, but you’ve got to love the end.

temptation

our neighbor, a master woodworker, is closing his studio of 27 years.

he’s been working on scaling down for the past couple of years and periodically brings us some cool objects, books or materials that he uncovers. needless to say, he has a lot to uncover after 27 years. so everything is going at a great price or even free. oh, the temptation. not only is it a great price – the spiritual energy could never be matched.

we promised each other, after the last time we moved our studio, that we would keep our acquisitions to a minimum. we reiterated our agreement on our way over the first day to help him move some materials and dig some hardwood out from the bottom of a stack. beautiful california walnut. we couldn’t resist.

and he told us to look around. . . .and then, the japanese planes. had to have a few. and we agreed that was it.

the next day we went over to see how it was going and came away empty handed. good job. there were lots of things we could have hoarded.

the next day we took him lunch and saw the boxes of cool fasteners. why not. and a dremmel attachment and some great, deep reach clamps that are no longer made . . and the hammers. i was weak. i took them all. yes, let it be known. i have a weakness for hammers and mallets. think what you will. i don’t care.

so much for editing.

well actually, a few years ago we would have taken it all. so i guess we have come a certain distance. we also have some great materials and tools from one of the finest artists in the west coast.

and i have used one of the hammers several times this week. ha.

lazy saturday

it has been a hectic week.

we had a deadline and couple of meetings at the studio with clients. it’s good to have meetings here because it makes us keep the studio in a presentable order. we’re not big slobs, but you know how easy it is to make a big mess when you are working.

so today is a lazy saturday. we will still work, but we don’t set the alarm and sleep late. we then take the luxury of enjoying our coffee and getting a very slow start. we’ll probably still put in 8-10 hours. somehow, it seems more civilized this way – slow start, no calls and the city has a slow, quiet feel.

today is the perfect lazy saturday as the fog is in. maybe it won’t lift all day.

daily edit

at first, collaboration was a fight to lead and to edit.

today, both collaborators were equally edited and edited the other. now is seems the trade off is almost a constant edit. life has become a collaboration.

i definitely think we hone the best artistic choices and dailogue this way. but it has become natural, repeated throughout the day, week, month, without a second thought.

will we be dependent on the process?