S.P.O.T. (SUMMER POP-UP OF TORONTO)

HOWDEE!
Well, I just signed on the dotted line, so here is the info. on my latest adventure........just in case you don't get my newsletter!

S.P.O.T. (Summer Pop-up of Toronto) is my latest event!!

This show is 4 days only!!!

Next Thursday July 16th - Sunday July 19th 

Noon - 7pm 

What's it about?? Well......I will be showing a WHACK of my Toronto based art and prints in a shipping container that is parked beside the Scadding Court Community Centre - 686 Dundas Street West at Bathurst!

CLICK HERE FOR MAP!

YES! A giant metal shipping container! 

JUST LIKE IN VEGAS!
(Except without the free booze and the gambling!)

I am looking forward to showing in the big box - which I am sharing with my artist friend Cindy Scaife and her cool retro-themed art! Cindy's work is fantastic - if you love my work - you will love hers too! Like this amazing painting (and print) :

For my part -- you can expect to see ALL my prints and my postcards! 

And although I am not showing any BRAND NEW works, I will have a lot of great original paintings - some that haven't seen the light of day in long time! 

I will be Tweeting, Instagramming, and Facebooking the event - so you can see the works and deals!!

What's in it for you?? 

Well......there will be some deals you won't want to miss!

And....if my scintillating conversation is not enough.....there are a few yummy food vendors near by - as well as the whole Kensington Market.....

I am gonna talk about this show a LOT - so be prepared!!

 ;-)

Exciting stuff!!!
I hope to see you there! It is rain or shine - thankfully it is INSIDE a container!

Tell a friend!! (Heck, tell TWO!)

Woot Woot!
~R

KENSINGTON IN THE RAIN......

Happy Monday!
Yes, I DID have a show just yesterday in Hamilton - and YES it was SUNNY AND WARM!!!!!!
Sadly, the weekend of The Kensington Market Art Fair......not so much.
Now, you know this story.......inclement weather is NEVER good news for sales.
Thankfully it was just a constant drizzle......not a hurricane (like the Saturday just before the KMAF)
Still.
BLERG!
The good news? There were some brave souls that came out to support us!
ALSO the team at the KMAF were super prepared and proffesh. (as usual!)
Here are some photos.....

Nice day for an art fair!
Why do you hate me Mother Nature? ;-)

                   

Thankfully people were well suited for the weather - NICE BAG!

See?? There are still folks out......and yet.....

.....I still look like this.
MEH!

Noon - weather check.....
UGH.

Here is my tent - full of stuff.....it was an easy set up....
....well.....not easy....

The glue that held the bottom of my shoe attached
came off in the rain. So I duct taped the sunamabitch!
;-)
THANKFULLY it was teal tape! 

I love this whole "cardboard chic" look...very on trend this season!

Hello puddles - Goodbye sanity.

This is me covering my eyes - to avoid looking up at the weather......

...which looked like this at 3pm....
....as the temperature began to drop.....
....and my patience began to wane....

Yes....things IN the tent began to get moist.

The rain eventually stopped.....
NOPE JUST KIDDING!!!!!!!

The freezing and wet weather couldn't keep some people on the main strip down!
(or clothed)

This was at 5pm.......

...AS WAS THIS!
(Working hard? or Hardly working?)

So there you go - it was WET WET WET and COLD COLD COLD....but you can't keep a good artist down! So onward and upward we go!!
Hopefully I will see you out On July 26th for the next KMAF - It is my last Kensington Show this year! (and hopefully it is warm and dry!)

KING OF KENSINGTON

Happy Friday!
I wanted to post this yesterday - but I just cold not get this painting DONE.......
So, to celebrate showing in Kensington Market again this year, I have created another new painting (and a print to come)
First.....here are the show details.......

The Kensington Market Art Fair (KMAF) is an annual curated outdoor art fair in Toronto’s historical neighbourhood, focusing on original art and craft. KMAF features artists working in painting, drawing, illustration, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and more! In partnership with the Kensington Market BIA and Pedestrian Sundays, KMAF occurs on the last Sunday of each month from May to October.

THIS WEEKEND ---
Sunday June 28, from 12pm – 7pm
77 Nassau Street, Kensington Market

More info: www.keep6.ca/kmaf
Contact: info@keep6.ca
Artist Directory: http://keep6.ca/kmaf/2015-featured-artists/

SUPER EXCITED TO BE SHOWING A NEW KENSINGTON PAINTING!!
So, I wanted to show you how the piece shaped up.....step by step.....

I drew a lot of this piece in - then inked it....then added the paint like watercolour!

Then slowly started putting in the shadows....

I really like how it looks without a bo!rder.......BUT.....

Beige border in place

FOREVER...now with a blue additional border.....

forever KENSINGTON MARKET....with more colour changes and such....

Then I decided it still looked compositionally unbalanced, so I
added the "Toronto Ontario"  -- then put washes and aging (my FAVOURITE PART)!

And here she is in all her glory!!!

"Forever Kensington", 36" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas, 2015

YUP! She is a beaut!
I hope everyone agrees!!
See you next Sunday at the KMAF!
(Don't worry I will remind you across ALL the social networking platforms next week!)
;-p
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND Y'ALL!

KENSINGTON MARKET ART FAIR 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

Hmm…..maybe that is not the right sequel name…..
Lemme try that again….
KMAF TOO: Look who's talking now
KMAF 2: This time it's personal
KMAF 2: The legend of Ron Burgundy Rob Croxford
KMAF 2: European vacation
KMAF 2: Tokyo Drift
KMAF 2: and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Ok…I am out of ideas……why don't you help me find a great sequel name in the comments!!

Anyways, this weekend was my second-to-last outdoor exhibition of the season, and the second time I have done #KMAF. My first experience was off-the-chart good. (Sorry…I have a bit of hyphen-fever today!) My second was pretty good too…..here is my photo/video log of the day…..

I showed up at 8:45am to set up……(we were told 9am - but I am a keener - aka Type 'A'!)
Unfortunately….my tent was to be set up where this solitary truck was parked.
Sigh.

I considered opening my booth in the back of this abduction vehicle…..but ultimately didn't!
I think my decision to sell work out of a long overcoat was a much less creepy decision!

Thankfully that truck eventually moved, and I was able to set up shop for the day….and it looked a little something like this:

This time around I left a LOT at home. I brought new prints, and postcards and such…..

And it got pretty dang busy!!!

Eventually it slowed a bit……so to attract people in, I began to performing highlights from Chicago the Musical!

 Oh MAN I am a sucker for jazz hands….or magic fingers……or Vanna White-ing (It's like Vogueing, only substantially GAY-er!)
And if you think I look ridiculous in that photo….I appear even more insane in this video clip….

(here for you iPhoners  http://youtu.be/E3UyDqfLvY4 )
I intend on submitting that video to The Price is Right….it seems I missed my calling as a Barkers Beauty…..
OK MOVING ON…..

I have to admit that I was THRILLED that the weather look like this!

It was supposed to look like this…..

WHEW!!!!

That is THREE - count them - THREE outdoor shows in a row that are rain free!!!!

HUZZAH!

My neighbour (and dear friend) Cindy Scaife helped keep me amused all day……

…both with her wonderful art and her scintillating personality……and her bangs.

During another crowd-lull I started doing my 'nosey neighbour' character…….

"hey….whatcha go there? You selling something?"

….Glen Kravitz…..

You know……like Gladys Kravitz……..you know…...from Bewitched…..

Ugh….I am seriously dating myself here aren't I !?

And speaking of old…..While I handed out a bunch of cards and such you know - networking……

I was told that I need be working on my brand…….I explained I had the Twitter, and the Facebook and the Instagram and that I was @robcroxford on all of them…..

But then I was informed that I really should have a hashtag….to help my "branding"……

UGH!

I thought it could be #robcroxford…but allegedly that is not really catchy…..

COME ON!!! I am not 20 years old……or 30…..or hell even 40 anymore…..I am lucky to be as savvy as I am about these things……

So how about #croxROCKS or just #im2oldforthiss**t

You got a better hashtag than #croxRocks ??

Boy I would love to hear it! :-)

Anyways……all and all a great day, with lots of new contacts and a little $$ to buy some boxed wine.

AND IT ALMOST was rain free….....I got almost home before the clouds rolled in and BLAMO!

The ONLY bad thing about schlocking your wares in a parking lot………is this….

I would like to tell you that this is a tan line……
ALAS…..NOT SO MUCH!  It is quite simply, just FILTH!!!!!!

(my hands were also disgusting see my white ring finger???)
EW!!!

#filthydirtford #dustycroxyuck #slobcroxford #ew # glamorousartistlife

I really don't get this whole hashtagging thing!

So, I would like to thank the fine folks at Keep6 for organizing a great day for the #KMAF

Hopefully I get to be a part of this show again next year!

Thanks to all who visited me! 

It is always appreciated!!!!!!

See you in September for The Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts Fair!

I will have a bunch of GREAT new stuff that you are gonna want to have!!!! ;-)

Have a good week y'all!