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SUMP COFFEE

2012-02-08T14:18:00.000-08:00

I am always happy to see new progressive and positive things popping up in our city. A city that is often lagging behind, occasionally has little gems pop up contrasting the Midwest stereotypes. This one being Sump Coffee on South Jefferson, just past Cherokee Street.

Scott, the owner who recently relocated here from New York, brings his coffee chemistry skill set and aficionado knowledge with him. He also brought his bad ass beard. Realizing he couldn't get what he considered to be a properly crafted cup of coffee in Saint Louis, he decided to establish "third wave" coffee culture here in South Saint Louis.

We popped in over lunch break a couple of weeks ago. My brain is still recovering from absorbing some of what he taught us about the science of creating a proper cup of coffee. I realized on this trip that I had been drinking nothing but burned coffee for the majority of my life. Coming here reminded me a lot of my first trip to wine country. ZOOM, right over my head! None the less, this is the best coffee I've ever tasted and I will try to retain more information about the process and ingredients on my next visit.

Some of his methods look a bit like a scene on Breaking Bad.

He keeps things pretty fresh as he is constantly importing new roasters and monitoring his inventory shelf life to allow you a different experience each time you visit. He'll be sure to tell you why. I had no idea how man variables can affect the flavor of the bean in the growing stage.

I decided this will be my new mid week decompression trip. Great environment with super cool decor. Most of which was recycled from pieces of the shop in the rehabing stage. Old wood that came from the floor and walls was converted into tables and the coffee bar's textured accents.

Scott takes his time and has a mellow demeanor, which thankfully becomes contagious the longer you hang out there.

Pop in. This place is great, but be sure you allow yourself time to hang out and enjoy the experience. This isn't Starbucks.

Photos by the girlfriend... Monica Heitz

ATX culture

2012-02-04T15:57:00.000-08:00

Stumbled upon this great video of traditional tattoo, sign painting, and etc in Austin. That reminds me, I never finished my project with Sean. Sean??? Hit me up.

21 Helmets

2012-02-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

I would love to partake in one of these. Perhaps Flying Tiger would want to sponsor a Saint Louis show.

The Addys

2012-02-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Moose is taking home quite a few Addys this year. Including our Sapporo Translation/Tradition campaign. My stomach hurt for days after our Wasabi Eating contest at the shoot.

At some point I will go through the footage of all of us downing Wasabi and crying our eyes out. In the meantime, watch our model do it. It was a fantastic time. Skip to 2:18...

2012-02-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

Local story about my friends over at Sleepy Kitty. Love them folks.

Matt Leines

2012-01-28T15:33:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing his work popping up more and more lately. Really digging it. I love his formulaic line work combined with the loose "cartoony" illustration style. Feels contemporary, but slightly indigenous.

See more at Matt's site

Hello Mr. kitty face. I bought a t-shirt with you on it.

Deus Fuel

2012-01-24T07:17:00.001-08:00

Portlandia Not Funny... Sorry

2012-01-22T18:51:00.000-08:00

I feel obligated to follow up on my previous blog post, recommending friends watch Portlandia. I am not exactly sure what is going on this season, but it appears to be adopting the bad joke/poor characterization stuck on repeat format of Saturday Night Live. It's been "Saturday Night Lived." Oh well. We'll always have last season.

Instead, watch what I can only assume to be a student film about a man obsessed with his dying hamster. Appears to be shot on 35mm and is just dandy to watch. It's a better use of your time at this point.

Coachella 2012

2012-01-10T07:30:00.001-08:00

Another epic year for Coachella, another poorly designed poster/flyer. None the less, this line up is amazing. The majority of my circulated playlist is on here, plus more. Wish I could make it again this year.

New Portlandia

2012-01-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

New Portlandia starts this week on IFC. In many ways this show filled the void in my heart, left behind by the end of Flight of the Concords.

I just found out today that female lead Carrie Brownstein is former co-singer of Sleater-Kinney. I still remember trying to get into her show as a teenager and it being sold out at the door. Leaving disappointed, we wound up across town at a terrible Dead Head cover band. Suck. Corin Tucker also has a fairly new project going that sounds just like Sleater-Kinney.

Anyway, watch Portlandia. Put a bird on it.

2012

2012-01-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

One year ago today, after a solid snow filled Holiday we were met with a surprise 60 degree first day of 2011. This warm day caused an early morning somewhat destructive tornado. Sirens went off all morning, most of which we slept through. When all of that excitement was over, we headed out to remedy seasonal depression and hike through the muddy trails of Castle Wood.

I believe it this moment that I realized 2011 was going to be a cup half full type of a year. I realized I finally had someone to share the same desire to get back to nature, explore, be creative, and encourage each other's productivity professionally and personally.

After a couple of "dud" years, 2011 was finally a healthy happy year for me. Mentally and physically this year was more positive and consistently productive than things have been in quite some time.

Through out this year of turning my downtime into creative exploration, art, nature, and traveling to new places, I managed to stay happy and healthy. For the first time in a long time, I haven't had a cold, no chronic sinus infections, and no seasonal depression. This year every weekend was a new reason to get out and do something productive with our time. Things change when your best friend becomes your love interest.

Exploring Seattle

Revisiting Gatlinburg for the first time since I was 8 and hiking the Appalachians. Watching my Aunt and Uncle get married and hunting for salamanders of course.

Riding in this 200 plus person moped rally scratch together a culturally relevant client video. Just part of the job duties this past year.

Turning 31 in Chicago and visiting our long lost Chicago friends.

Riding motorcycles with two of my best friends through the deserts of Nevada, California, and back to Nevada.

Hiking to the hidden beaches of Lake Tahoe. Getting frowned at for taking photos like this one, by all of the basking naked people.

Finding this mysterious snake filled canyon in Southern Missouri and making it back alive.

And finally, falling in love with ATX.

This is a fairly decent round up of highlights from 2011. It would not be right to leave out the weekly critter chasing, getting kicked out of a city park for catching frogs, motorcycle trips, art shows, analog photography, random road trips, and exploring vacant urban structures. Grandma beats cancer once again, little brother gets a house, mom and dad get their basement back.

Several years ago life became difficult for me. Things beyond my control were changing and life was not easy. Since then, year after year everything began sliding back into place. In 2011, I can safely say things were in place and I will remember it as being a balanced year for me. My career, my personal life, and everything in between made sense for the first time in a long time.

Our 2012 has holds big, but obtainable goals that are slowly but surely going to put into motion. Happy New Year. Hello 2012. It might be the end of modern civilization, but I would much rather go out on a high note!

New year photo by Mike Cassimatis

Consider me Jealous

2011-12-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn based designer Mark Pernice took the hilarity of Apple Photobooth to a whole other level. Working with sculptor Christian Hanson he brought the 2d into the 4d. Awesomely gross and hilarious.

I've certainly wasted more time than I should admit on Apple Photobooth. I have looked down at the watch and realized that I have been making faces into a computer for over an hour. An hour spent by myself. Flash back to my childhood, practicing ridiculous faces in the mirror before bed time.

My salute to Arnold.

Rubber Johnny

Romance

Triclopse?

Got a little obsessed with doing the eye thing. Time well spent.

Wowsers

2011-12-20T11:57:00.001-08:00

Target: Inside the Bullseye

2011-12-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

I caught most of this on MSNBC last night and it is really inspiring. It highlights targets strategy on innovation, good design, and targeting influencers. It is super inspiring and at the same time frustrating. What a great mass brand saved by good design and creativity.

Target: Inside the Bullseye

I am going to try and catch the rest this weekend, but I am blown away with their brand teams passion for maintaining relevance and continued innovation while still marketing to the masses. Some of the little things they did along the way to get where they are now are really clever. If only more large brands were willing to take chances and pioneer creativity.

Deus Coolest brand ever?

2011-12-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

I hereby nominate Deus as being the coolest anything of anything of all time.

Open publication - Free publishing - More twin fin

Thinking out loud...

2011-12-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

This video is really making me miss the warmer weather. Perhaps a motorcycle trip through Europe is in order. I'll schedule this right away.

I love how silent all of the streets are in this video. I might consider waking up early on the weekends to have the city streets to myself.

Since my triumph isn't getting much use these days, I would like to mount it to the wall above my desk. This F1 apartment seems to have the right idea.

The folks at I LOVE DUST have have a nice wall mount set up for their bikes. I need a wall mount that can support a 900cc motorcycle. Dragging my bike up the steps might be a challenge. I'm up for it.

Speaking of rad spaces... I don't know exactly what Candy Black is, but I wish my apartment looked exactly like this.

Back to having a winning F1 car in your living room. F1 is coming to the states. I am really happy that the most elite form of racing in the world is finally making it to our shores. To top that off, it is coming to my favorite city. I suppose I will be making the trip to Austin for one more in reason in 2012. Here is a video of Red Bull driving their F1 in the sand for no reason what so ever.

Now... for no reason what so ever, a cat addicted to watermelon.

the end.

I love Deer Tick

2011-12-05T09:48:00.001-08:00

Why don't ya marry em?

Members of Deer Tick, Los Lobos, and Black Lips got together to make this great ""Christmas In A Chinese Restaurant" song and it is awesome! I am not the festive type, but this is my kind of xmas music. I really love this band.

Diamond Rugs - Christmas In A Chinese Restaurant by Partisan Records

Their new video looks like one of the funnest video shoots ever. Reminds me of some familiar situations in the past.

Hey Deer Tick! Come back to Saint Louis soon!

More side projects

2011-11-30T18:48:00.001-08:00

This holiday time off finally allowed me to start some side projects. In addition to THIS HOLLOW CITY, I began a new documentary project for a friend Sean at Tower Classic Tattoo. I've been having a little trouble moving on this as our schedules won't seem to line up. Thankfully this past Sunday we actually made some first steps in shooting. (sans microphone)

Check out the 35mm photos that Monica took while I was shooting. Shooting while shooting. Her photos are here.

THIS HOLLOW CITY

2011-11-28T21:39:00.001-08:00

Please check out this new project that Monica and I are working on. I have been talking about it for some time now, and we finally found a reason to do it as you can read about here...

Then please check out the rest of our dangerous little explorations as THISHOLLOWCITY

Travelin... Tired...

2011-11-22T00:22:00.001-08:00

I'm laying in Bed in the W Hollywood, wishing I had a little more energy. I think this is what my night is going to equate to. I flew in early early Sunday and had a long long long chilly work day. I did meet a lot of good folks these two days and shot with a really good guy, Chris Craymer.

Miami Tyler looking a little more like LA Tyler

LA was 40 degreesish which I was not really expecting, but at least the sun was shinning brightly today. I have never been to Malibu, other than seeing the mountains peeking over the horizon from Santa Monica, but I got a good taste of Malibu hills today. After getting lost detouring I did have a second to pull over and remember why California is the prettiest place on earth. Which I would have brought my other lens.

Please ignore my annoying comment.

The drive to Malibu really made me wish I could once again take in Highway 1, which is still the most beautiful place I've ever been or seen. Wish we had a little down time, but I am anxious to get home and get back to all of that important life real life stuff that has been going on.

Famous Fiction

2011-11-20T10:27:00.001-08:00

Monica and I both were invited to submit to the Famous Fiction show this year at Mad Art. I have been the last three years and it is always one of my favorite Illustrator/artist group shows in Saint Louis.

This years them was Family Feud. Pick 2 famous families, one in television and one in movies or books. Dan Zettwoch puts this show on every year and hand picks the artists. Dan is seriously one of the most talented illustrators I know. I love his stuff and his shows always have a huge turn out.

The families that I Chose were the Bundies and th McAllisters. (Home alone, if you aren't at least 20 years or older.

I decided to change up my style a little bit. I went to Seattle over the summer and was reminded how much I love totem poles. That in combination with watching the entire first season of Twin Peaks, I completely forgot how amazing their graphic elements and color pallet looks... oddly contemporary.

After googling hundreds of images of facial styles and etc, I began to try and blend a bit of their iconic elements with my every day illustration style. I hadn't painted in years, so I decided to draw out the faces by hand and then come back with very watered down acrylics and finish them up.

Given that the authentic Native American totem poles are carved and so incredibly dynamic, I decided to paint on wood and go back, giving myself some healthy Carpal tunnel syndrome, wood cut around the shape of the faces.

Al Bundy

Kevin McAllister

Peggy and Bud.

Monica's piece's were pretty big hits.

Simultaneously cute and a little morbid at the same time. It's nice working towards a show with my crime partner like this. It's cold outside now and transitioning from chasing critters through hiking trails, to staying indoors working on art together isn't so bad.

Maybe I will get some photos from the show on here later. My plane is about to land and the image upload rate isn't going so well at the moment.

These photos are stolen from BRIAN YAP.

Speaking of Brian Yap, Adobe is giving my talented friend some good press these days.

2011-11-20T10:21:00.001-08:00

I have been having a little trouble finding time to blog lately. Things have been a little above average crazy. However, I am sitting on a flight right now with a moderately slow WIFI that I am going to take advantage of. Image upload hasn't been too friendly, but you can't really complain about flying 35k feet above the earth's surface and still be playing on the internet.

I recently got a Loyal Dean longboard for the office.

I've been wanting to see one of these in person ever since they started popping up on design blogs. They're beautiful. These folks are serious about craftsmanship. All of these patterns are created from weaving multiple layers of recycled wood together in a hand cut, hand pressed format.

These boards are sooooo fun that I had to take Noodle for a spin. It isn't hard to get going really fast.

I was a skater most of my life, so my balance isn't terrible, but my brother makes it look like he has been longboarding for the last 20 years. He still skates every day so that helps a little bit.

Head over to Loyal Dean and check them out. Dino is a real nice dude.

Henry Darger Birthday Tattoo

2011-11-20T09:40:00.001-08:00

If you aren't familiar with the Folk Artsist Henry Darger, then view the video posted below. I wasn't that familiar until a couple of years ago.

My girlfriend has had a half sleeve of Henry Darger's fantasy water color work. She is obviously a huge fan.

She's been talking about finishing her sleeve for quite some time now. The fascination of his story and his ability to produce odd little cute things has Monica written all over it.

Monica didn't really know what she wanted for her b-day, so I told her to start looking through the Darger book for new characters for your sleeve, because that is your bday present.

Once she had these guys all picked out, she brought this to Luke at Allstar in Saint Louis. He made them all a little more tattoable, with out losing their free flowing watercolor and sketchy outline characteristics that everyone loves.

Her Favorite of all of this stuff is his silly little Mustache Kitty. Mustache kitty is an interesting fellow, fully of love and craving kisses from everyone.

Monica will be writing a blog about this if you want to jump over to MISSMONIKER. She is in the process of completely revamping her blog, but when she does you can assure she will have a very informative, grammatically proper blog post all about her love for Darger and her love for her new tattoo.

Bear Simulator

2011-11-18T07:20:00.001-08:00

Gaming has been redefined

It's better in the Wind Short Film

2011-11-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

Scott Toepfer's project is finally out and free to watch on vimeo. Super rad. Hoping to work with him on a project this winter. This film reminds me so much of riding the salt flats at Saint Joe's in my late teens and early 20's. Riding with all of my old motocross friends. Camping and living life. I miss having a crew of buddies to ride with. Breaking spokes and chains, covered in sand and dirt.

This video is incredibly aspirational for anyone who loves the ride.

Salt Flats

2011-10-18T09:40:00.001-07:00

A bit of a cheese factor in the dialogue here, but awesome none the less.

MACHINE

2011-10-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of videos like this out there. Seems like the HD video component with SLR cameras has opened the door for cool documentary videos like this one. I'm cool with that if these rad things keep popping up. I love the Moto Guzzi he set up in this video.

On a related note, I have been getting a lot of bounces from Salt Lake city Craigslist to my blog. I found out why. Someone is selling the Moped that we launched from Sapporo and Motomatic. Check it out... Buy it if you can get yourself to Salt Lake.

MOPED

Really hoping to see some of these popping up on Tumblr and flickr soon. All 7 have been awarded via Facebook.

A BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

2011-10-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

It's a weekend of new Henry Darger tattoos and Robo hamsters. Oh and Kitty cat mustache.

FALL

2011-10-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

It's fall. Might as well accept it. As much as I hate transitioning into winter, the weather has been consecutively motorcycle friendly for the past 8 days. No need to even consider driving a car this past week.

LOGOLOUNGE 6 (better late than never)

2011-10-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I am a little late posting this, but I had a logo accepted in LogoLounge again this year. I never did get around to a copy of last year. I had a lil kitty cat logo and a Moose accepted in some special edition logolounge... thing??? Not sure where I can find that, but I should probably look into that.

This logo was a project for Bacardi that eventually formed into the current launch of Oak Heart. GIGANTIC launch from Bacardi. This logo and project was started two years before it was finally launched mid last month.

What's great about AUSTIN?!?

2011-09-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

What is great about Austin? Well, pretty much everything. Rather than type something explaining why, just watch the video below. Crystal clear blue springs that run through the city and country side. A perfect blend of nature and city life. This city is full of great music, venues, rad people, bad ass motorcycles, mopeds, killer signage, killer design... Austin is Southwest Texican eclectic cutlure, and a general laid back attitude. Stopped by AUSTIN MOPEDS and chatted with those rad dudes. Pretty healthy moped scene down there. As well as a lot of really killer triumphs and vintage cafe racers all over town.

I met a lot of rad people in Austin. Reconnected with a couple of my long lost skater friends. Of all the people we met, this guy here was one of the raddest dudes in town. I also met these guys. Gulf Coast Toads. Solid find since we don't have these in Missouri. We rented a spot from a photographer/film maker named Andrew Shapter. Staying here really gives you an insider feel for living in Austin, South Congress area. The inside of this place, (formerly a photography studio) feels like Pee Wees playhouse southwest themed. Down the hill you wouldn't guess your are blocks from a urban city dwelling. Foxes and other critters sneak into the yard early morning to drink from the fountain as it is one of the only water sources in the area. This place kind of feels like camping. Speaking of Draught, although the fire is now under control, it is unbelievably dry and hot, still in the middle of September. Dried up lake Lake Travis was pretty warm and sunny. Too much for a hang over and too much for polaroid film. I must have a distant relative that made these Here's this guy. I laid under these giant wind chimes in a hammock. I really don't know the last time I was that relaxed. A little piece of home in the Austin Chronicle. This is our vacation TMZ photo. I forgot to mention that we met a pig that lives in an aquarium

I do travel a lot, however there aren't many trips where you spend a week in a city and feel like you could just leave your possessions and responsibilities behind you. Carry on with a never ending vacation and just don't look back. I have been here two other times for SXSW interactive and a Fader/Vice magazine party I had worked on. However, I never really got to dive into what was great about Austin until now. Beyond staying in a hotel and going to parties, there is a lot more to offer here. I can't wait to make it back. Hopeful for an extended perhaps permanent vacation sometime in my future.

2011-09-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

Watch this killer video my friends Brian Cummings and Lil John put together for my two other homies Jake and Paul. Then step on over to http://shootpaul.com/ and have the best time ever shooting these guys with a robotic paintball gun. I am planning on being a guest Minion at some point. Probably when these guys can't walk anymore.

OAK HEART

2011-09-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

Kind of surprised I haven't blogged about this yet, but my team and I have been working on a lot of the launch pieces behind this program. We recently did this motion piece with 90 degrees west for the official launch. Keep your eyes open for this to be playing in bars around the US and Canada, plus this product tastes REALLY good! My famous bartender arm wound up in this video. So far my arm has been in Bud Light, and Oak heart spots. Oh and one Sapporo ad. My arm is developing a bit of an ego with all the celebrity and I can't hardly stand to be around it any more.

END OF SUMMER

2011-09-06T17:56:00.000-07:00

I really dread this time of year. It is already getting dark earlier. So painful just thinking about being cooped up in doors with freezing toes. No wildlife, sloppy salt snow sludge covering everything. Getting dark before 7 o'clock and everything is gray. Needless to say, I don't really look forward to fall as it brings winter along with it. At any rate, I have been trying to get outside and do as much as possible lately.

Fortunately, having a partner in crime this summer who loves the out doors as much as I do has really kept me busy with chasing wild life, hiking, exploring, and taking pictures. Much more productive summer than recent years of throwing away money and time in bars about 4 nights per week.

I have been researching new places I haven't been on webernet looking for some cool glades or somewhere to see some reptiles and amphibians that I don't get anywhere else in Missouri. Yeah, geeking out about catching lizards, snakes, frogs, and everything in between. "Herpin," as they call it.

So I read some things about this place called Cathedral Canyon. Everything I read was really cool, but I really could't seem to find anything stating where the hell this place was. I did find this Message Board that made me pretty excited to go there. After digging around for a while, I discovered this is sort of a rarely populated trail called "Lower Rock Creek" and it opens up to Cathedral Canyon. Once I finally put this together I was able to locate somewhat sketchy directions on two message boards. Enough to google street view and see what I was getting in to. Found this video and read this info that stated the area had "collared lizards, cotton mouths, black bears," and etc, so lets go!
Directions I had minus the detour weren't too bad until we got to the second "concrete bridge" and was supposed to turn onto the "rough road'" if you can really call it a road. Monica: "That's the road right there." Me: "That is a trail not a road" Monica: "It says it is a road" Me: "No way in hell is this a road"

I swear this was literally tighter than some of the trails I used to ride motocross on. That and the giant boulders weren't too easy on my truck. I now have permanent scratches on both sides from front to back as if my truck had been keyed. NOTE: if you ever go here and have a vehicle you care about, park outside of the "rough road." I finally decided not to drive any further when my truck couldn't make it under this downed tree. When we got out, Monica found all these guys which we are pretty sure were used to murder a human before someone out this way ate them. She is now turning them into a necklace. The upside was that I immediately made friends with this guy. He was a pretty chill dude. From here we took off, hoping we knew where the hell we were going. We knew we were supposed to land at a pipe gate and the first trail would be located behind it. When we got to it, we managed to take a path that actually was not a path, but rather a dried up creek bed. After about 20 minutes of hiking this thing, I realized this did not seem right. When we got back, we saw a lightly traveled dirt path going South West that looked a little more promising. Considering I was armed with only a compass and no maps or trail blazer, I was a little nervous. Two hours from home out in the middle of nowhere I don't know where the hell I am going and wasn't exactly sure I was in the right place. I love hiking, but I am by no means a boy scout. we are the king and queen of almost prepared.

So after we made it to the dirt path, we hiked a good 45 minutes or longer, through lots of areas that didn't look like they get a ton of foot traffic and covered with downed trees. This leaves us scratching our heads as to if we are going the right way or not. Really sketchy, but I had programmed the GPS longe lat of my truck into magellan, so if all else fails, follow the arrow. Just when we thought we should maybe head back and just drive to Marble Creek, the terrain changes to unique rocky glades and the trees opened up to this awesome looking thing. Stoked that we found it. I was expecting to hear rushing water as all the photos I have found showed clear blue rushing water much like the shut ins. Not here! Nothing. An absolute erie silence. Just us and nature... and the wind picking up once and a while.
I marked our path entrance ads not to get lost, but we were eager to dig around in this place. As soon as we hit the canyon, there are 5 lined skinks, fence lizards, and multiple other skinks running all over the place. The rock walls were so rad and the rocks were covered in all sorts of random... stuff. When we got down to the bottom of the canyon and started hiking around, Monica almost steps directly on what I overlooked as a HUGE fat coiled up cotton mouth. So awesome looking. I have never in my 31 years seen one in person. here he is in this dried up canyon, coiled up like as if he wanted his picture taken. Sadly I couldn't get my camera out in time to snap it before he slithered under a rock.

Fortunately, I did see plenty more, but none of them in quite the photogenic setting. This guy was so robust, he was about the size of Monica's forearm. They are probably in heaven when this canyon is dry like this. Tiny pools of water that are filled with fish that have no where to run. Stoked to see these guys, but very paranoid after seeing them and almost stepping on them. From then on we were a little overly cautious. Monica wins the prize for spotting these. I read that they sometimes have enough venom to kill a man 5 times over. Not good when you are miles away from your truck and dont know exactly where you are.

I did however meet some nice folks like this guy. Midland Water snake. I like them though they are pretty common and I was really hoping that this trip would introduce me to some HOGNOSE SNAKE'S, ROUGH GREEN SNAKES, and believe it or not I wanted to see a wild Timber Rattle Snake as i have yet to spot one in the wild. met this small midland at the Shut In's two weeks ago. I named him bitey.
I wish i knew a little more about rocks, but this billion year old igneous rock is beautiful. I suppose in the spring, when this canyon is full there is no option but to walk or swim in the water. We had to take a lot of detours through tall weeds and thorns. sketchy pebble covered climb...We found a lot of friends on the way back. You know what happens sometimes when you try and capture a skink and you think you have him trapped, wiggling in your hand? Sometimes you capture the skinks tail and discover that is what is wiggling in your hand. Sometimes this happens over and over on your way back. Pretty good use of our time on a holiday. My goal is to come back and do the entire 7 miles, but it will probably be a while what with the move and the trip to Austin. Oh... and work. I plan on making it back though, as I had some specific "herping" goals this year that were not met. I will probably squeeze in some good castle wood trips before everyone goes into hibernation. If you want to find the place, (which i recommend) look for lower rock creek. Cathedral Canyon is just part of the voyage.

GOLD LEAF

2011-08-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

I finally saw this for the first time ever. Continuing my obsession with traditional sign makers. This gold leaf process looks so amazing. So therapeutic.

WORLDS GREATEST BACHELOR PARTY

2011-08-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

I have done the party thing. Strippers, and hookers your friend left in your room as a joke. Real life Hang Over. All that jazz. As much as I love making a weekend in Vegas take 8 years off my life, I I'm kind of past it and they are all sort of blurred together these days.

My friend Ricky is getting married next month and we wanted to make a trip that toned down the partying for something that stands out in the memory bank. These guys and I basically have our friendship based on our love for motorcycles since we were teenagers. Why not ride across the desert from Cali, to Nevada, back to Cali and more Nevada?

When rented some bikes from this place out west. Unfortunately, there was a limited selection of bikes to choose from, but so I wound up picking this cruiser. They were on the sport touring bikes, which weren't a real problem until I drug my foot petal trying to keep up with them down a windy mountain road. I guess my paranoia kicked in, because I just couldn't keep up at that point. Harley's aren't the best for hugging corners. I would like to have been on my own bike and running a little faster through those deadly drop offs.

Insert Wild Hogs reference joke here....

Lake Tahoe is one of the most Epic places I have visited. Right up there next to Big Sur. Tahoe, with it's crystal clear water, rock formations, beautiful mountains and vast desert landscapes. Hard to believe that there are things in this world that really look like this. When you wind around a corner and the whole landscape opens up, you really have to get out of your car or off your bike to ingest everything that is in front of you.

You can see clearly 18' to the bottom of the lake.

a couple of the days we hiked down to some of the beaches. Beaches that were covered in naked people sunning themselves on rocks. We made it down to the water pretty often, yet never managed to get in. It's unfortunate, but it never really worked out. Not sure three clothed dudes would have been accepted swimming. I don't know that the locals enjoyed our picture taking either.

This is it for now. I have a load of video that I still need to go through and cut together. Maybe that will be a bonus wedding gift.

Joplin Recovery

2011-08-29T12:50:00.001-07:00

I blogged my poster submission not long ago, for the Joplin disaster recovery. To our wonderful surprise, we raised 15k in poster sales. Below you can see an awkward interview with myself and a few others for channel 5 news.

NEWS STORY

Com Arts also did a little write up on the project. Thanks to everyone who bought our posters. I couldn't be more happy that the outcome was so good! Good luck to all those rebuilding their lives in Joplin!

MOOSE RIDE CLUB

2011-08-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

What if Moose had a Ride Club. So far there are a few of us.

me heart Castlewood

2011-08-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

Only about 15 minutes from down town is miles of trails, bluffs, this muddy/sandy river and a plethora of lizards.

I am told two people drowned here last week. The floods just finally went down for the first time all summer. The only time I visited sans flood this year was winter, New Years day, POST TORNADO HIKE...

Saint Louis isn't so bad. In the summer that is.

Happy weekend

2011-07-22T17:11:00.001-07:00

Just a couple weeks away from Mountain Desert motorcycle trip. Unfortunately, no more Triumphs. I think we are riding Harley's which is a little out of my style realm, but will be super fun none the less. Hopefully it cools off enough this weekend, that I can ride with out being stuck to my gas tank.

here is another video from It's Better In The Wind. I am facebook friends with this guy now and he is certainly livin that California lifestyle that we all wish we had.

Ducati Puma Len and Ride

2011-07-22T13:14:00.001-07:00

Pretty cool marketing partner. Sweet videos too. All about being creative lifestyle advocate's. I am always behind that.

Miami Down Time

2011-07-15T16:19:00.001-07:00

Not much time to blog lately. I got back and got busy, plus my nights have been backing up files and doing all the shit I put off for the last 7 years. Yeah, 7 years of being unprepared for worst cases scenarios.

Anywho... Where was I? Miami? Yeah, I went there. For 5 long working days. Stayed one extra day and hung out with my friend Tyler and my client/friend Billy to see all this cool shit. This Haitian area of Miami is gold mine of affordable art spaces and a thriving art community. So rad. Wish i could have stayed for the art walk.

I am kind of taken back by the street art scene in Miami. I think I saw more here than I ever have in Wooster or Brooklyn.

^^^lo-fi rap video being shot ^^^

wall of mustache

SCOTT THE CREATOR^^ Nice enough to let me take a photo

Yeah, I got to do this too until my flight.

L. Gotta go. More later...

Blue Seattle

2011-07-11T15:42:00.000-07:00

Seattle was beautiful as expected. I am in love with mountains and blue skies. I don't so much enjoy the fact that it was 60 degrees with a wind chill, but none the less it was a solid trip to the PNW.

We went to Twin Peaks cafe. Funny that I just started watching it again on Netflix. Still holds up really well. David Lynch you awesome weirdo.

Day two, we drove 3 hours to The Gorge. Did not really think that it would be 3 hours. Worth it, but it Did Not allow for much down time. It is amazing how you can travel around one state and have such vast differences in landscapes and climates. Seattle reminds me a lot of being in San Fran.

Beautiful city. Really. Surrounded by puffy white clouds and giant blue skies. Always hard coming back to dirty old Saint Louis after being somewhere like this. The color pallets of all the houses and the buildings just kind of says "hey. We are Seattle. We care what our city looks like."

Look at this type on the front of this block of businesses. Do you realize how much I appreciate this being a graphic designer? I would get my haircut here just based on how beautiful this is.

So many shops were like this. You can tell one place or one person consistently did each one of them.

30 Minutes before I ate the best sandwich of my life.

We stayed the majority of the trip with Monica's brother. This is our view.

Room mate. Room mate eats his own poo. As opposed to some room mates who eat other people's poo.

On day 4, we hike 4 hours into a mountain. Guess who doesn't hike mountains regularly? Yeah, but at the top there are small children as well as old people. Meanwhile, the tendon in my left knee has not been the same.

Ewok village

This was waiting for us at the top.

Though I feel like there was a lack in wildlife sightings, I mus say... Seattle has some great mountain dwelling slugs. Monica made the the decision to touch this raisin looking slug.

Who's this guy?

Poof! Our love affair with blue skies, green mountains, and poofy clouds is over. Back to the mid west. Oh well. At least it's summer. At least I have a jet pack. And a pretty girl to enjoy it with.

Miami Rain

2011-07-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

Yuck. I am here for the week, which would be awesome, but everything currently looks like this. Hopefully things clear so I can enjoy any down time i can find. Odd that there is a clear as day forecast back home. Piss.

Week of rain in paradise. Oh well. Working from my hotel room isn't so bad for right now. Hopefully I can get down to that beach thing that is so nice here. If I were on my own time I would be sneaking down to the everglades. That new Swamp Wars show has me wanting to catch exotic dangerous snakes down here.

Seattle

2011-06-21T15:55:00.001-07:00

Heading back to the North West tomorrow, for the second time ever. Happy to be visiting when the weather doesn't have this in it's forecast. Made for some beautiful photos, but that is about it. Bad first impression of Portland last fall.

However, I am pretty stoked about Seattle. When i was knee deep in the grunge days as a preteen then teen, I dreamed of visiting. See photo circa 1993ish...

Should be rad. Mountains, art, beautiful print shops, salamanders... etc. I plan on climbing a mountain and leaving my phone off. Stress has been a little blahhh.

Bonus Random GOPRO from yesterday

Pretty Great

2011-06-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Laughing really hard at this one. Reminds me of an old coworker (Matt Reedy) Hovering over my machine, ball busting in this same manor.

BROKEN MOTEL

2011-06-17T19:53:00.001-07:00

While I still haven't managed to get the rest of my fav GATLINBURG photos up on here, I did manage to finally upload photos of this awesome beat up motel we decided to explore. Look at the colors! Heart them!

We happened on to this driving up into the Smokies. Had to get out and walk around. Met a nice fat bull frog in the old pool. Some time soon I will put some video together of our trip. Maybe before we head off to Seattle next week.

WIN THIS GAWD DAMN MOPED

2011-06-06T15:12:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been getting a ton of search engine hits for "Sapporo Moped, win Sapporo Moped, win a moped, and etc."

Thought it good of me to link you to the contest I worked on. Here you go...

WIN THE DAMN MOPED

Send some good photos in. There are about 100 entries so far. 7 mopeds will be given away in different regions. Minus California and Oregon, but if you live there you probably know a way around the laws in Cali that you can't win something over a dollar. (maybe use a family members address. Just sayin. I don't know the law.)

So that is it. My last moped post for a while now. Back to my real life.

Please upload some super cool photos. I would love to see some super rad photos win this contest. Good luck folks.

Deus Customs

2011-06-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

I forget about this company from time to time. Gawd I love their stuff. As well as their identity. How hard would it be to move myself to Australia and have Dues as my client? Will someone please make this happen? Figure out all the red tape for me please...

Need a creative director/designer/photographer who loves motorcycles? Plus herpetology.... Damn you Australia.

Seriously rad company. Go check out their site. It is worth a visit. DUES and DUES TUMBLR

While you are at it, check this shit out that makes me want even more to be a Aussie

LOVERSLANDBLOG

On a completely unrelated note, crammed into this blog is this video with a terrible song. Mute it. Watch it. It's worth it. Holy shit.

DONATE!

2011-06-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

Please buy my or someone I work with's poster design. All money goes towards the disaster in Joplin. Thanks so much!

LINK TO POSTER STORE HERE

Two color, with transparent ink. Silk Screen on french paper.

Thanks so much!

Pin Ups n Stuff

2011-06-03T15:49:00.001-07:00

I don't normally shoot anything with a flash, backdrop, or any of that "pro" photographer stuff. Generally I don't really try and market myself for that sort of thing. I am sort of a natural light, shoot what is in front of me type of a guy. Small hobby and that is about it.

However, I just did a little side favor/gig for my friend Ouida's friends bachelorette pin up party. Say that three times fast. (Run-on sentences are my specialty.)

Usually, the thought of being involved in a bachelorette party would normally make me want to go into hiding.

It Actually turned out to be purty damn fun. Photos turned out nice. Buncha drunk girls having fun on camera look pretty awesome. It was pretty fun to get back in town and do a lil side gig. Not sure if these all fall into the relm of Pin Up, but they are pretty damn fun none the less. Hope you guys like them Ouida!

Hair: Denny Fiske

Make Up: Alex Yeftich

Anyway, here are a few shots I liked. I will throw some more on here when i finally get caught up on blogging. Busy busy.

This one has some sloppy background cleaning. It's friday. I will fix it next week. :)

Go mom!

SAPPORO MOPED SUMMER

2011-05-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

I just had the pleasure of hanging out in California with Motomatic while they were building 25 Sapporo Mopeds. I have been working on the Sapporo Summer Promotion with some folks here at Moose for a few months now. Sapporo is launching these mopeds to win in a Facebook Photo Contest. Starts this Memorial day. So if you want to win one of these, take some killer photos this weekend and you have a good chance.

In the meantime, please watch these videos I put together. I brought my 60d with me to California and put together this little documentary. Got to roll with the Land Squids and they even loaned me a 70mph moped.

Please take a few minutes and watch the video documentary. Please pass it on as well. Put together on a teeny tiny budget, shot with my canon and assembled over the last week and a half. Hopefully you can see how much passion the guys put into the project.

I soaked up some California sun and rolled with the Land Squids for a few days. Not a bad gig!

Thanks to Sapporo for embracing creativity and subculture. 25 of these custom mopeds are being created. You also have the chance to win your own.

Visit facebook.com/sapporousa to win this in a photo contest. Begining May 30. Launches This Monday!

Out West

2011-05-24T15:19:00.001-07:00

It's no secret, I wish that I was spending my days riding motorcycles out West. I post a damn blog entry a several times a month dreaming about rollin through the desert, camping out, climbing mountains, and living life.

I just stumbled on this guys road trip photography/documentary/video blog. Sign me up for one of these trips. I saw the flyer on here for a ride to the Salton Sea. So rad. If any of my friends who read this want to take a 4 day trip with me out west, rent some bikes and scramble for some seedy motels... hit me up. I am serious.

Love the photography on this site, plus all the bikes. New Triumph Modern Classics. My bike. Norton... which BTW, the new modern classic Norton is fucking Solid as shit!

Love that they used this black angels song. It must be a very edit friendly song as I gravitated towards it a couple weeks ago. HERE

I also came about this video. So great. Here is this dude's ride blog.

Not sure where they are located. I only speak piss poor English. French? Italian? Mexican? Canadian language?

I am pretty happy spring is here an I have a fully functioning bike. If this rain ever slows I'll be putting some racking up some serious road trip miles. I'm also happy some of my close homies are getting vintage bikes. Lets get the hell out of the city for a while and head towards some rolling Ozark hills.

Someday, I do hope that I am sitting on a motorcycle in some obscure European country looking up at a giant natural wonder with a big smile on my face. I miss the days of camping out at Flat river and riding through all the miles and miles of hills and salt flats with about 8 of my friends. Sigh....

Photo stolen from DERESTRICTED

Gatlinburg

2011-05-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Someday, when there is less going on at work and at home... This will be my Gatlinburg travel blog. In the meantime, please look at these photos from myself and Monica.

Monica: Canon AE-1

I'm on a plane

2011-05-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

And I am blogging. The future is cool. This will be a half blog all about my trip to Sacramento. The other half, about how the entire city smells like flowers will come later.

Spent the week hanging out with the MOTOMATIC dudes. Super cool California folks who build some of the raddest vintage custom mopeds that you will ever see. Dudes cool enough to hook us up with two mopeds that will go 70 mph for the day. Nice way to spend a work trip.

Met a lot of good folks from the Land Squids. Shame I was so tired I couldn't make it to Karaoke that night. These layovers after a full work day kill me. That is my excuse. I'm sticking with it. Not that I am getting old and no longer exercise. Not that eating pizza 4 days a week has anything to do with it.

Back in town just in time to turn around and visit Gatlinburg. May is going to be a pretty good month.

Battery dying now. Just enough juice to piece this video together and post this blog. The end.

I have a blog

2011-04-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

And thank you for visiting. My average rate of visitors is about 7 to 15 per day. Not sure what happened yesterday, but my silk screen post received 265 new visitors in 30 minutes. Thanks to whoever dropped it on stubleupon.com.

I guess this means I should start proof reading my blog entries. I usually do this when I have a few minutes of downtime, and wind up with a blogpost constructed by a five year old.

So, thanks. Ink covered thumbs up to you. Made me feel somewhat interesting for a minute there. :)

MOPED URBAN EXPLORATION

2011-04-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

Climbing into a abandoned building inhabited by very friendly homeless people you say? Sure. Why not. I was a little put off by the mystery liquid that the man was dumping all over the steps as we approached the stairs. Peepee if I had to guess. Never the less, Wednesday was pretty fun.

Homeless man was actually very nice. Lots of people come in there to take photos, so besides that he smells like an anus, and poured his human waste in our walkway, he was a perfect gentleman.

Little freaked out to know what was slung all over our backs. I am just going to assume the worst. Bum shit, asbestos, peepee, and rain water. Look for this to pop up in a project I am working on this summer.

Some parts of St Louis look surprisingly unlike St Louis. Imagine if all these buildings were thriving businesses, rather than abandoned ghost buildings filled with squatters. Looks kind of Like a mini Dumbo or Bushwick. PS. there was a rap video being filmed a couple blocks away. It was probably a local youtube stl rapper... rapping on youtube.

Mopeds are getting lots of attention on my blog these days. I need to pay a little attention to my triumph, or it's probably going to leave me. So, while I am on the subject, check this out. What a wonderful trove of vintage moped images.

ARTCRANK 2011

2011-04-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

I will officially write my blog about this later, but in the mean time, please check out my printing video and new print. For sale at Art Crank 2011, at ATOMIC COWBOY 05.12.11 – 05.14.11.

Art Crank 2011 BBOR62 from Rob Brooks on Vimeo.

Really hoping to sell this year. I skipped last year, but was pretty into it this round. Had a little trouble printing the dot pattern. As you can see, I had to go over it multiple times with each run. I love silk screening, but have not done it very many times. I learn a little more each time I do it.

Fortunately the good folks at ALL ALONG, are there to give me a hand or any tips. Had the studio pretty well to myself all of Saturday.

HINT HINT ART CRANK

2011-04-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Here is another hint for my poster. I know what you are thinking. Why is Jake so cute in this photo? Why is he so dashing. What the hell is he doing? What kind of food does he like? Why is he dressed that way? He always dresses that way.

I am actually enjoying putting this together. Stoked to be printing at All Along Press tomorrow. Burning my screens right as I type this blog. Thank God for Cherokee street. Our city would be pretty terrible with out it!

I think Jake should die his mustache black. If you agree, leave a comment. Try not to leave too many comments, because I already get so many on my blog. So many comments.

decisions...

FRAWGS!!!

2011-04-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Spring is upon us! With that said, why waste any time, that could be used for catching frogs and making best friends with them? Yeah, Monica and I spent our entire warm sunday wondering around Castlewood collecting new friends.

So we allowed these guys and some baby tadpoles, an exclusive get away to a 10 gallon paradise. All inclusive get away, with non stop crickets, and a beautiful view as seen below...

Who wouldn't want to live here? Frazetta... Swamp of sadness... Alf... need I say more?

Since her and I are completely obsessed with Frogs and herpetology in general, we are offering this bed and breakfast to all reptiles and amphibians throughout the summer.

We've devised a point system for catching critters.

Toads: 5 points

Tadpoles: 10 points

Frogs: 20 points

Tree Frogs: 25 points

Turtles: 25 points

snakes: 25 points

Lizards: 50 points

Hellbender: 1000 points (I have wanted to find one in the wild since I was 5. Still never seen one.)

So anyway, today is the day that these frogs and tadpoles are being evicted. It's been a really nice time. They are great tenants, but we have to keep the flow moving. We can't let this summer pass us by and thus we are left with hardly any points at all. How could we look ourselves in the mirror after that?

Look at this face... he thinks I'm his mommy...

What it do?

Laugh it up fuzzball.

Infants are cute. You would think that ANNE GEDDES took this photo.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

2011-04-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

WHAAATAAA Tough guy!

ART CRANK

2011-04-21T13:03:00.001-07:00

I am doing it again this year. Skipped last year, but it has grown quite a bit since then. I am stoked to be selected.

Here is a detailed preview of what I am working on. Hope you really like it.

Come to Atomic next month and PLEASE buy one. I spent way too much on materials this time. Again. I will give you kisses. On the mouth. And the cheek. Maybe not kisses, but I will high five you. If your hands are clean.

ARTCRANK™ + A Poster Party for Bike People from ARTCRANK™ on Vimeo.

Opening is 05/12/2011 at Atomic Cowboy.

Last time is HERE

Coachella sniff sniff

2011-04-16T18:22:00.001-07:00

One year ago today, I was standing in the desert with two great friends watching my favorite bands, soaking up the california sun, falling in love with mountains... and sort of putting my head back together. Things seem so different now. I thought for sure I would have moved away by now.

Sadface that I am not there this year, but given the events that preceded Coachella, how much I needed that therapy, it wouldn't have been the same. That experience was pretty important for pulling me out of a depressed comma.

Seeing Fever Ray live while over half the folks were watching Jay Z, was the right decision. I will probably never have that chance again. What a amazing time.

Maybe someone else is climbing mountains with their best friend, experiencing the desert right now, repairing their damaged spirit just as I did.

Things are good these days. I don't have much to complain about. More traveling will come soon enough. Just wish i wasn't sick and the weather would stay warm.

Jake

2011-04-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post this photo of Jakes nipples. One is pierced. Really thought it was blog worthy. Oh and btw, he has really great tattoos.

Love N Tattoos

2011-04-14T12:02:00.001-07:00

Lil busy to properly blog lately, but wanted to throw a few images on here of my friends Julia and Drace. Baby is about to greet us any minute now. Love these guys. Took these down on the north side of Broadway and in Lafayette Park.

Thousands of photos to go through. These two are going to be rad rad parents.

Another Two Wheel blog post

2011-04-08T14:47:00.001-07:00

My blog is being taken over by mopeds, motorcycles, and things of two wheel nature. What can I say. It's that time of year.

Here are some videos to enjoy.

I think the above is my favorite thing I have seen in a while. I really love cafe racers. Funny how ergonomics have changed so much for race bikes. Cafe racers are so damn cool looking, yet so uncomfortable.

This dude is like "A beautiful Mind." Seems a little whacked out. Which is awesome. Love how this was shot.

I follow these guys on Blogger. The 4Q blog is always a great rep for motorcycle culture, bobbers and choppers in northern California. Also full of ironic kitch from 70's easy rider and motorcycle gangs.

Judging by this dick Bike, those dudes don't take life too serious.

Oh to live in California and ride motorcycles. Some day. These shows look pretty damn fantastic. There are some shows coming up around here for vintage bikes. One of the days is right when I leave for Sacramento. Bummer. However, if you are in STL, check this out, this weekend... BIKE SHOW

Those folks have some serious bikes.

Nashville MOPEDS MO PROBLEMS!

2011-04-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

Nashville was so rad. I haven't been to that city in years, let alone for a big fat awesome Moped Rally.

Our drive down with two mopeds in the back of our oversized white van gave us all a bit of a head ache/gas fume high. Didn't think that one out too well. Back windows don't open. Doh! Breathing in fumes for close to 5 hours is pretty good for you, I think...

Finally made it to Nashville, checked into the hotel, got food, went turbo down to the Rally, barely mad it to the night ride. Glad I did though. So much fun rollin with 200 mopeds, taking over the street, causing a ruckus and having a shit ton of fun. Props to the DEADPEDS for putting all this together.

Now... the look on everyones faces as a pack of Mopeds roll through, block intersections, and invade everything is pretty priceless. I would say about 90% amazed and entertained and another 2% that is just pissed off to be stuck in traffic. I am just sorry that I didn't get into this subculture a little sooner. Years ago the STL crew used to roll by my old house. The sound of a swarm of bees buzzing by made me so jealous.

For some reason this trip reminds me of the motocross days. Road trips across the country to parks, tracks, etc. Covered in oil, smelling like gas, etc. I haven't really had this kind of fun since those days.

met a lot of rad people too.

Yup. That's right. Sapporo is making Mopeds. Sneak peak. You can win yourself one of these in late May, here... Really loving this client. I went over 60 miles on this guy and still had over half a tank. Only put a gallon in to begin with. Wowsers.

Check out the folks doing it for us while you are at it. MOTOMATIC knows their shit.

I have a ton of good video and GOPRO camera footage that I will cut together, but you probably won't see it for a while. I literally recorded all 60 miles of this ride on the second day. Below is a peek at how rad it is. Nashville is beautiful. 10 minutes out of down town looks like heaven. 10 minutes out of STL looks like a war zone. Blah. Oh well.

This blog is a work in progress. Check back soon, but in the mean time, I gotta give credit on the 35mm photos to this lil cutie, Miss MONIKER

I think 2011 is year of the Moped for me. Well... and a really purty triumph bonneville.

MOPED DUCK QUACK

2011-03-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the day! All set up with a GoPro.

Check out our Moped vs. Triumph Bonnie. 900cc vs. 50cc. So close.

Another Mike Giant Blog

2011-03-31T08:43:00.000-07:00

Neighbors S.F. documentary series finally released their full videos. I love how laid back he is and so damn talented. Sans ego and just awesome. I always have nostalgic love for all the 80s skate graphics I grew up with, thanks to Mike.

•••DEADPED WEEKEND•••

2011-03-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

Hope this weekend looks a lot like this. See you soon Nashville!

San Francisco Gender Bender Moped Rally 2008 from quinn Terentieff on Vimeo.

FINISH THIS!

2011-03-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

Why am I having so much trouble finishing these two projects? I go a few days, full bore, work work work, then nothing. I keep staring at them wondering if I will ever do anything about them. A month has gone by and still nothing. Instead, I'll just blog about them and wish for some motivation. Piss.

BUSY + TRIUMPH + MOPED ARMY

2011-03-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

WAAAAY lotso shit going on lately.

I got this thang and I am purty damn happy about it.

I am ready for a little trip like this... Trying to skateboard more. My body doesn't want me to do anything anymore. Tendonitis shattered my chances of bringing that hobby back the right way. Damn body building. Gah. Gray beard. Being old and in 30's now. WTF is this shit? Stop it!

PS. Watch this. It is fucking beautiful. I could watch this over and over and over. In fact, I think I will. Random A.D.D. blog post. Turbo A.D.D. blogpost.

Lots of exciting things in the works. Ready for ARTCRANK

A few other rad things for client, warmer weather coming, couple little probono gigs. I will be a busy boy.

Heading to Nashville this weekend for my first MOPED Rally. Should be a pisser.

I haven't rode with any moped gangs. Should be rad. I like the flyer from THE DEADPEDS

Might have to throw a kit on that bitch! Need to THROW A KIT ON THAT BITCH!

DO THIS THING!

Now where was I on that chicago blog... Oh yeah, kittens.

CHICAGO BDAY

2011-03-16T17:20:00.001-07:00

I'm back. I'm sick. I turned another year older.

Blog to follow.

DONATE

2011-03-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

The country responsible for so much inspiration through out my life needs your help! Please take a minute and DONATE. Help keep Japan on track. Innovation, inspiration, and tradition should always synonymous with Japan and it's culture.

Akira changed my life in the late 80s. It could come out today and still be completely relevant. Only in Japan! :)

Models and stuff

2011-03-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

At the 1:04 mark of this video, you see my recommended casting option from
my last photoshoot. our client went with someone else... sadface. However, she sure
lights up well on camera.

I am and always have been indifferent about this band, but this video is super nice
and full of pretty altish girls, doing stuff. Stuff like rolling around and sexily looking
at the camera. Sexily is a word.

Worth a watch, if you like alternative looking pretty females that do stuff.

This band is cool and all, but I was sort of put off by an interview with them,
and their record label owner, Fred Durst (try not to chuckle). He talked of how
they "had a hard time deciding how to make the band sound." Like a boy band?
I dunno. I still own their first album.

Maybe they "wanna fucking tear you apart," Fred. "How bout your fucking face," Fred!

DOGS N DOGS

2011-03-07T14:03:00.001-08:00

No Mardi Gras for me this year, but I will gladly take a Soulard Dog Parade.

Look at these awesome things. He looks grumpy. Probably because his legs are
so short. Seriously, this is like seeing a lil person Mike Tyson. Pittbull's with tiny legs
are so damn funny.

Look at this.

How about this...

These dudes

These chicks

Snappy dresser

How about this thing?

How about drink testing last Friday?

How about an obscure end to a blog about dogs?

Brixton

2011-03-07T12:36:00.001-08:00

Brixton, (my favorite hat company) sure knows how to drive me to their web site with
a rad rad mood video. "Must... buy... hats."

MIAMI UPGRADE

2011-02-26T19:00:00.000-08:00

A two and a half day work trip felt a little more like a week. Long days, with no downtime,
but I can't say I mind summertime temperatures in mid February.

I managed to land a sweet sonofabitchin room upgrade to the Mayfair, due to a "confidential emergency,"
at the Westin. I suppose there was a Drug Cartel sawing off someone's leg in my room the night
before. I believe the boat show plus Food and Wine caused a shortage in hotel availability.

This room was about the size of my apartment. Hot damn.

MIAMI TYLER and his little dog have a lovely view. Props to Tyler and Willow. If you have
blonde hair and wear lots of make up, please look out for Mr. Miami Tyler cruising Lincoln
in his flip flops with some swagger.

hehehe lil Willow

Fancy Pants LA blog

2011-02-26T15:53:00.000-08:00

LA shoot left me with a little downtime to wonder round and thaw out. This coming and going 80° to 10° is really making me have bi-polar temperature seasonal depression disorder. Haven't been traveling as much lately and I miss it.

This photo just happened to snap as the elevator door opened with two security guards inside. Snap! Instant rap video.

I am really digging the new W Hollywood. One thing about my clients, they take care of us on fancy pants hotels. This pwns W Westwood.

Hello Mr. Brainwash

KATSUYA

This was in from Japan, same day we were eating it. This place is no joke.

Miami Tyler prefers plastic blondes

Back to work.

Constant Need to Explore

2011-02-23T12:35:00.000-08:00

Warm day in February, leads to wondering through places I haven't been in over a decade. This winter coming to an end, makes me restless. I am looking for any reason to be outside, climbing around, close to nature, closer to spring, full of happiness.

A uniquely warm and quiet day spent down by near backwater of the Missisipi river. The wind blows but we aren't cold. A bottled up adventurous spirit is getting small doses of what it craves. A little global warming, for a little less depression.

From MONICA'S Canon AE1

God Bless, I want to travel

2011-02-23T11:52:00.001-08:00

and travel and travel and travel. This video makes me want to change my whole direction in life.

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

Eye of the Storm

2011-02-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

Wowzers!! Watch this for some creative motivation.

EYE OF THE STORM | Lovett from Lovett on Vimeo.

New Glidecam 2000

2011-02-22T16:41:00.000-08:00

Just got a glidecam 2000 in at work. I am planning on using it for some low budget client projects, but this thing is suuuuuper hard to balance. This is my first attempt/test.

I am Miami bound this week and am trying to decide if this is worth putting in the carry on. The likelihood of me having downtime is very low.

I love what you can do with these. I need to work on my piloting and panning skills, but below if test 1.

First balance test Glidecam 2000 from Rob Brooks on Vimeo.

Just Look At This!

2011-02-22T16:25:00.000-08:00

FEB 13th

2011-02-13T20:26:00.000-08:00

It was warm today. We are going to start using Monica's
vintage 35mm Canon more and more this summer. I needed this
warm day to lift my spirits.

happy accident

I finally investigated this wall I drove past the last
8 years. Still don't know what it is though. Mystery thing
in South City.

More at my FLICKR

WINTER IN THE DESERT

2011-02-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

What is the best cure for winter depression? (I have that really bad,
every year. EVERY DAMN YEAR.)

Well... driving an hour and a half outside LA, where you can not
escape the sunshine will fix that problem.

What is a good way to force you back into winter depression,
even harder than before? Coming back to a frozen sloppy
Saint Louis ice land. Home sweet home.

I love the desert. I really really do. I need to get closer to
this before I die. Preferably before the age of 35. If anyone would
like to support funding living there, I would gladly accept your offer.
Sans meth transactions. I'll send you my paypal.

Anyway, last week I was shooting at the same location that Devils Rejects
had been shot. Beautiful landscape in the windy sandy brown California Desert.

Managed to have a little down time after day two of shooting.
We climbed a small mountain and hiked up a cactus and tumble
weed covered hill. On the way back down, we happened upon the
filming of next season's TRUE BLOOD. Kind if cool, even though that
show is about as cheesy as they come. Here is some video from the climb.

I have to admit, it was sketchy climbing some of these rocks and
I was getting freaked out by some of the cliffs. Considering it was
the first active thing I have done all winter, my balls seem to have
shrunk and I am lacking in the adventurous spirit. Unlike the state of
mind I was in at THIS POINT.

I will post photos when I get caught up as well as photos from LA.

Full Desert set...

NYC friends

2011-02-09T08:36:00.000-08:00

If you are in NYC tonight, MOMA is screening a film about Ed Hardy. The tattoo artist, not the shitty
clothing line. The name ruined by the likes of Jersey shore and Bottle service in ultra premium night
clubs, oh and a bottle of perfume.

I wonder if Snookie is going to this documentary. She probably appreciates the rich history of Ed Hardy,
pre bedazzled, loud obnoxious graphics, wrapped around her beautiful plumb shaped frame.

I wonder if Snooki knows how damn good I looked on Halloween. I hope she does.

Anyway, Moma is also going to have one Liz McGrath and one of my personal Fav's David Choe docufilm next week.

Oh, to live in New York. Sigh.

IT'S TOO COLD FOR THIS

2011-01-30T10:13:00.001-08:00

It's far too cold for this activity, as you can tell form Uma Thurman's facial expression below.
However, cabin fever has gotten the best of me. Let's walk across the Mississippi river on this
old freezing bridge. Exploration is a necessity.

I am happy to be heading for sunny weather in the morning.

UMA

Sleepless in Silverlake

2011-01-28T12:34:00.000-08:00

I will be next week. Shooting in LA and about damn time to be in some nice weather and beat this f*cking cold. On a related note, looks like I will be skipping Coachella this year. Oh well. I think I would be chasing the dragon anyway. Nothing will beat last year. I needed a break from my sad reality at that time in my life. Things are good right now. Less to run from.

Plus, that lineup just isn't what it was last year. Oh well. See you next week Hollywood and new W hotel. Hopefully I don't get caught up with the Olsen twins and their drama again. Those crazy sluts!

XMAS GIFT

2011-01-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

Finally using the lil guy. Heart it.

Just wish I would stop accidentally wasting the film. 10 per pack. Gah.

!!!

2011-01-20T12:13:00.000-08:00

this is blogable

Canon Pixma: Bringing colour to life from Dentsu London on Vimeo.

Morning Light

2011-01-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

I <3 a Saturday morning that will last until around 3:00pm. These pictures illustrate where I wish I was, and how I wish I feel on this shitty snowy week day.

WRASTLIN AROUND

2011-01-19T15:41:00.001-08:00

So this past Saturday, I enjoyed some Four Loco with this Leopard Kitty at my pal Jake's Loft. My recent lifestyle change, drinking approximately 5 percent of my normal intake really affects the outcome of the evening. One can of original formula 4loco set me off to a turbo drunken start for the evening. The kitty had the same problem, but I am pretty sure she was drunk when I got to Jakes.

Anywho, my friends and I were dead set on some real ass
entertainment that evening. So we saddled up and decided
to head on down to the star studded event at South Broadway
athletic club! We were in for some good ol' fashion local Wrastlin!!!

OOOOOOOOH MA GOODNESS! This should probably become a
weekly ritual. Consider me entertained. The yellow stained
walls and the 2 dollar beers... I felt like I found my new
home away from home! Standing room only ladies and gentlemen!

Don't you DARE tell these folks that this business is fake!
Ain't havin it mutherfugger!

REAL ULTIMATE POWER, right here! Look at that nipple hanging
out of that form fitting, fashionably sexy thang he's wearing!
That looks uncomfortable.

And that mask thing can't help his breathing. What if
he had asthma? That is a true entertainer right there!
Circling the ring just before smashing the other dude
around in there! Get this party started guys!

You see that dude in the middle? He will smash your nuts
off and feed you your dick! Don't believe me? I watched
it happen. He also bit the head off of a duck and used it's
lifeless body to stab a man to death right there in front of
several hundred people. Don't fuck with this. He didn't eat
the duck, but he did he the man he stabbed. And a baby.

Jimmy-D bitch. I said I'M FUGGIN JIMMY D BIIITCH! JIMMY MUTHERFUGGIN D!

Just making some dreams come true. Adrian Brody damn near lost his
virginity in this meet and greet with newcomer LMC.

Who do we have to thank for all this business? This
Wrastlin posse right here. This here motley crew of
misfits and hooligans. This man has a neck brace on!
Yeah! A Gawd Damn neckbrace.

Tell me this shit isn't gangster as fuck and I will
tell you that you need to get your awesome gland checked
out by a specialist.

So, that was my Saturday night. Followed by me drunkenly
devouring a entire pizza by myself and grossing out my
girlfriend. I was hungry and lost so much energy from all
of the Wrastlin watchin. My body was depleted and the only
cure was an entire Flamingo Bowl pizza. See you again soon
S. BROADWAY ATHLETIC CLUB!!! You made our weekend magical in such a special way. I love you. xoxo

COACHELLA Line Up DFA 1979 Whaaat????!!!

2011-01-19T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yeah, so Death From Above? Whaaaa? Back together for Coachella? And The Presets? And Dip Shit fat head worthless Kanye? Who cares about that. Anywho, the lineup isn't much compared to last year, but I think it still looks pretty fantastic. Although my FB friends all seem to think it's a butthole of a lineup.

Arcade Fire, Ratatat, Presets, Menomena, Empire of the Sun, The Kills, New Pornographers, Cee Lo, Boys Noize, Black Keys, Cut Copy, Arial Pink, War paint, Pains of Being Pure of heart, Talest man on Earth, Yacht, and some others are pretty fooking solid.

For me, being in the desert, 9 or so stages, all the parties with free food and alcohol, etc etc etc... Coachella is more than just a music fest. The entire voyage is just... Magical.

DAVID LYNCH LOLZ

2011-01-17T12:18:00.000-08:00

Been trying to keep my posts relative to my own creativity, own happenings, or something I really really think is cool. I am trying not to clog this thing up too much. However, this makes me laugh too hard to follow my own rules.

Oooh to be a true artist. One who needs no money from Corporate Sponsors or whatever pays the bills while watering down your creativity. Who wants that anyway.

Thank you David for making my early teen years of watching movies with Joe and Nick so fucking strange and awesome.

SHOOTIN

2011-01-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

Did a super rad shoot yesterday with BRIAN CUMMINGS. Also shot a behind the scenes video, for a certain Japanese Beer company. Look for it to pop up on FB sometime this summer.

New friend

2011-01-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

Came to visit my range hood last night and check out my Macro lens.

Buncha Crap and stuff

2011-01-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

So, I have motorcycle fever again. I am two months from paying off my vehicle. Then, other than my student loan, I I will be debt free. Time to start living free and traveling the planet. Pissing in urinals around the world. Actually, I won't have quite that much more change in my pocket, but living debt free is the life for me! I can probably afford to start smoking crack or meth for a little bit. Still deciding.

Buuut, this video will probably cause that debt free life to end sooner than expected. I an considering getting a Modern Classic Triumph this summer.

This video today got me poppin some boners and what not.

Gone in 50 seconds: Motorcycle in the desert from Falcon Motorcycles on Vimeo.

This summer I plan on and have been researching pulling together info for renting motorcycles and going on a big fat desert ride. Sleeping at desert motels, and photographing for a number of days. I really want to duplicate what these old Bros are doing in this video, before I am more of an old bro. Check out these "Wild Hogs"

Death Valley 2009 from iViewPhoto on Vimeo.

If these videos don't do it for you, perhaps this site will... ORBA SQUARA

Dig in a little bit and you will want to get on a road trip out west asap. Killer graphics too. If this still doesn't do it for you, go visit my favorite tumblr SOPHISTICATED SIMPLICITIES and sift through pages and pages of beautiful film photography. (although their new background template is not much of an upgrade, I still love it.)

On a completely unrelated note, I caught a pretty decent show at MAD ART GALLERY

This dude had a pen and ink piece that was real nice. I don't know him, but if you happen to read this, know that I am incredibly impressed and envious. Thanks for making me feel like a turd.

Jumping subjects once again, I ordered a Macro and standard f1.8 28mm Tokina lens that I am pretty jazzed about. I am planning on photographing lots of TINY CRITTERS this summer.

For now, please enjoy these nose hairs.

And these kitty faces.

This freezing girl.

And of course this amazing video of a dog licking some air. Her owner has Tourette Syndrome and gets worked up over buttered noodles. Poor dog. Thanks Lens.

The end of random blog.

Pretty into this

2011-01-05T09:24:00.001-08:00

Neil Krug's Flickr photos have been taking a bit of my down time lately.

Post Tornado Hike

2011-01-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve, we had a odd 60°F day that came in and caused a tornado. If you live here, it would be impossible to have missed the constant news coverage. Although it is pretty sad the damage it caused in the South West side of the city.

Never the less, we couldn't let that warm bizarre day slip by with out driving out to the forest and hiking around. Everything looked really strange and the water was incredibly green. Also found a large mutated fish, who's photo will be added to this blog at a later date.

Free fridge, somehow dragged into the middle of the woods.

Free fridge becomes free thing to stand on and look at shoes

Free dead tree to climb on.

free kittens