DUSTIN

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I met Dustin through my good friend Scott Burkholder (who posed for my Home Body series). I knew him as a writer and graphic designer. When I was discussing my TATT2U series with him, I asked what I often ask people, “Do you have any tattoos?” He showed me his arm which was full of faces, symbols, and words. My curiosity piqued. He went on to describe each ink printed on his body. The faces are of philosophers who left an indelible mark on him through their writing.

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I also knew Dustin occasionally smoked and was a voracious reader. So, in composing his portrait, I knew I wanted a library vibe with books in the scene. As we discussed potential locations, we landed on the furniture store that our friends own in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore. It has a really warm wood study vibe to it and of course some great furniture to choose from.

 

In the background is art from another Scott Burkholder connection, an artist also based in Baltimore, Becky Borlan. She uses light and color to create fantastic 3D sculptures. When I saw the PANTONE swatches nearby, I immediately grabbed them to include in the shot. Dustin often posts on Instagram with swathes of color representing what is seen in an image. We found a lamp in another part of the store and I used a lightbulb that can change colors through an app on my phone. We didn't want to smoke in the space, so we just played with different ways to show him lighting up.