brian drake presents Fame'82

370 DAYS LATER

I’m sure you’ve all had a lovely summer. 100 hours ago it was 104° here in Los Angeles. It really truly has been the long hot summer. Maybe most of you were at the Carlton Beach Club… I’m kidding. Nobody goes to Cannes anymore. Paul Weller reference aside, It’s been the busiest summer I’ve had in a decade. Hot or otherwise.

Above, I am looking more like a game show host than painter. I’m standing in front of the latest and most likely, last effort under construction for 2024. I am attempting to make an introduction video for a show that I’m currently in. I don’t know exactly what I’m doing in this photo, but whatever. And yeah, I put on 10 pounds in these 370 days. I blame it on central coast wine country. You can read about my expanding waist line in and new found obsession in this post.

Last Year, Same Time
As I wrote 12 months ago, in this post, I had a lot of plans on the horizon and for the most part I was able to get to them… Except for the limited edition prints, I just haven’t had time. Below is a recap 12 months and 5 days later.

Prints Pt. 2
Nothing. Not even a comp or idea.

In The Paint Pt. 2
Not only is the 2nd series complete, all but one, are traveling the US at shows. I have started the 3rd series, but can write here, that it will be a long time to meet the same production I did last year.

MashUp Pt. 2
I had some success with creating old TonePoems and making a video installation. The exercise was useful and led me in a new direction, with the Lunch Box series. No. They are not directly related, but sometimes thats how the creative mind works. Think of it as doors opening and closing, based on glimpses of ideas and feelings that pass in a moments time. If you see it or feel it enough to move, it may be worth exploring. But, the only way to know, is to do it.

The Film Wave Pt. 2
I was able to capture some deeply personal items and in medium format and will try the same shoot in LF this fall. Other than that, I have not done much with photography this year.

Plans Pt. 2
A few weeks ago, I did a show recap and now I find myself in two more shows for the fall. It looks like nothing’s going to slow down any time soon. Currently every single 2024 series 2 BBN painting, that I have chosen to submit, has been selected for display at various institutions around the country. Several have taken a jury award.

Like last year, I won’t write about a lot of future plans and while 12 months ago, I hinted at things to come, with some success …today, there’s no way I can do that. Things are moving too fast. Maybe in the next 370 days I can get to those prints. Maybe I can expand the dimensional objets around the Lunch Box series. Maybe something I can’t possibly think of will move me in new directions. Hell …maybe I can get rid of this 10 pounds? Or, if I am making predictions, maybe I just lean in and become fat Brian again? It’s not like you are waiting for me to lose those 10 pounds to buy that painting you had your eye on :) Whatever happens, I will post it here in another 370 days or so.