MAKE FRIENDS........ON THE SUBWAY

Hey guys!
YUP! I am home from my vay-cay TODAY!
Now, for the last 3 years, I have been asked AGAIN AND AGAIN why I do not have prints of "Make Friends".....HERE is a blog from 2012 all about the painting......

So finally, after much coercing I give you my latest prints.....

HUZZAH!

So, if you have always LOVED this piece, NOW is your opportunity to own a limited edition giclèe!

Again.......a Giclèe is a super fancy inkjet method of printing on acid free watercolor paper. They are produced for me by a professional Giclèe Printer on an Epson printer with K3 pigment inks.
They look amazing (if I do say so myself)!

They are available as 16" x 20" or 8" x 10", and will soon be available on ETSY!

She will also be available in MY BOOTH at The Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts Show :

....which is RAPIDLY approaching!!!

I'll do a whole post on this SOON!!!!

Thanks guys!

~R

HIGH PARK PRINTS NOW AVAILABLE.....and a song........

Happy FRIDAY!!!
Remember this painting from last week based on glorious High Park:

REMEMBER? BRAND NEW???? HELLO?

So, in <> I talk about the park, and show you my progress on the painting.....GO SHOULD CHECK THAT OUT!
AND NOW......I have the limited edition giclée of this painting:

(A Giclèe is a super fancy inkjet method of printing on acid free watercolor paper.)

They are produced for me by a professional Giclèe Printer on an Epson printer with K3 pigment inks.
They look amazing (if I do say so myself)! I have them in 16" x 20" for $75.00 or 8" x 10" for $35.00

I will be showing them very soon.....stay tuned for deets on that - and if you want to pre-order one....

Just send me an email!

HAPPY WEEKENDING ALL!!!!!!

Oh.....and also let me share this song to get your weekend started......

HOLY CRAP ON A CRACKER IT'S A TOE TAPPER.......

Here is the link if it didn't work:

https://youtu.be/1iAYhQsQhSY

THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE: A NEW PAINTING!

GOOD WEDNESDAY TO YOU!
So, I posted an image of this painting on Facebook a week or so ago....and got a LOT of feedback.....
The funny thing is, the painting wasn't finished!!! So let's hope you guys love it MORE now.....
Okay so, this is from my "Sign of the Times" series, that seems to be doing quite well.
This time I focussed on "The Golden Horseshoe" Ontario......

As you can see, it is generally Niagara - Toronto.

So I wanted to create a piece all about the sights and landmarks you find in that area!

I chose the following landmarks.....

1. Toronto: the CN Tower and a TTC Streetcar.

2. Mississauga: the Marilyn Monroe Towers

3. Burlington: Lift Bridge

4. The GO train

5. Oakville: the downtown Oakville Clock

6. Hamilton: Dundern Castle

7. Grapes (or fruit)

8. The QEW outside St. Catharines

9. The many beaches of Lake ontario from Kew to Fifty Point, from Lakeside and Jones Beach to 

    Grimsby and Bronte Beach!!!

10. "ER" lampposts on Bronte Creek Bridge, 16 Mile Creek Bridge and more along QEW 

     to St. Catharines

11. Niagara Falls: Horseshoe Falls

12. Maid of the Mist

I also decided to do this painting on PAPER....which was a first for me.......and I am excited about how it worked out!!

Okay enough chit chat.....here is the progression of the piece:

Get paper ready - draw out composition and start in with first colour....

Adding more of colour #1 - a teal like blue

Adding in some dark and light Greens

Adding in the dark blue colour, and the 2 greys...

 THEN I FORGOT TO TAKE PHOTOS....
You missed me adding in a beige and an orangey red.....

Drybrushing in some white to break up the areas a bit

Finally adding little washes ad a sepia coat....

I GIVE YOU THE FINAL PIECE:

"The Golden Horseshoe", 36" x 24", Acrylic on Paper

I am happy with the final look!

YES! Prints are already at the printer!

Wanna pre-order one? JUST EMAIL ME!

I will have these beauties available this weekend at S.P.O.T. - The Summer Pop-up Of Toronto!

Don't know what that show is???

CHECK OUT ALL THE INFORMATION HERE!!!

See you Thurs-Sunday at Scadding Court Community Centre - at Bathurst and Dundas!!!!

OTTAWA - NEW PRINTS!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!
Okay, so FINALLY I have a print to show you of this piece...

"Ottawa", 36" x 24", Acrylic on Canvas, 2014.
STILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!

To read about the original painting please read THIS POST!!!
Just like all my other paintings, the original is ONE OF A KIND.
I showed this piece once, at The Ottawa Art Expo. It was a crazy weekend....read THAT story HERE!

If you LOVE this piece, NOW is your opportunity to own a limited edition giclèe of this painting!
(A Giclèe is a super fancy inkjet method of printing on acid free watercolor paper.)

They are produced for me by a professional Giclèe Printer on an Epson printer with K3 pigment inks.
They look amazing (if I do say so myself)!

Like my other prints, you can buy a 16" x 20" for  $75.00 

or 8" x 10" for only $35.00
Each one is signed and numbered, and fits in a standard frame!!!!
Get one today - HECK-- get 2!
If you are interested - see my site and email me....
I hope to have it up on Etsy by the end of the day!!!
Have a great weekend, y'all!!

...MORE TTC STREETCAR MERCH!!!!

Hey guys!
Here we have them....NEW PRINTS!!!
I am about to update my website, and update my Easy account.......but I wanted you to get a preview of these beauties:

To read about the original painting "King of the Road" please read THIS POST!!!
Just like all my other paintings, the original is ONE OF A KIND.
These prints are crazy affordable BECAUSE these are prints (or giclèes - if you are fancy person)
But they are a limited edition....so they will eventually be GONE! ;-)

A Giclèe is a sophisticated inkjet method of printing on acid free watercolor paper. 

They are produced for me by a professional Giclèe Printer on an Epson printer with K3 pigment inks.

You can buy a 16" x 20" for  $75.00 

or 8" x 10" for only $35.00

If you wanna be the very first to own one of these - just email me....
These pieces will also be available at The Spacing Store, starting NEXT week!!

OKAY! Have a great weekend y'all!!!

STREETCAR GICLEE, UPSIZED -- and a new painting too!

HAPPY MONDAY!
So, you know me. You know my mission with my fine art career has always been to create work that makes people happy - that says something about the world  - and that catalogues the imagery of the world we live in. I have been really fortunate that my work has been so well received, and that my fine art (after 10 years) is in a lot of great collections. It has increased in value - which makes some of the work a little cost prohibitive for everyone.
Now. Let's get to the other part of my career. Since this is my full time gig - and I can't rely on another income (like teaching or lawyering or whatever) to help me pay my bills, I decided to make a few 'products' that help supplement my original art income. Truthfully, I struggled with it for 8 years. But then I realized that EVERYONE should be able to have something of mine in their house…
(If they want it/cannot afford it!)
I started my giclèes as an answer to that.
So here is my advise, dear friends…...
STOP BUYING YOUR ART AT IKEA and HOMESENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, you will be happier if you have things around you that support local talents, and the feed your soul - not just the deep pockets of a greedy corporation!

Ok….so as my further commitment to produce affordable art, I am NOW doing a couple of LARGER giclèe prints, stretched on canvas!

First I did this robot:

"Outta this World"

This guy can be a 30" x 40"! (BIG) I then paint on top of it….and stretch it on a frame….

It is $500.00 (which is basically less than a 1/4 of the original retail price!)

But NOW  I want you to see the newest large scale giclèe……..

I made this giclee on canvas for a client, and I LOVE IT!

The "Evolution of the Streetcar" giclèe is 36" x 48" (WHICH IS ENORMOUS!!!!!)
and it is only $600! (which is less than 1/4 of the price of the original!)

WHY BUY IT?
1. It is HUGE - so it has real presence in a space!
2. It looks GREAT! I am a very 'particular' person - so it's gotta look good to have my signature!!
3. There is a VERY limited run - only 5-10 of these - depending on the response I get!
4. It is still original - let's face it, it is not like ANYTHING you will see at a major retailer! or at a
    friends house!
5. You are gonna love it!!!!! I PROMISE!

So, if you are interested in this big boy.
Just email me…. and I will order one for you.

But if you want art that there will ONLY be one of…..
I just finished this little 12" x 12" for the Ottawa Art Expo:

"My Way or the Highway", 12"x12", Acrylic on Canvas, $275.00

So….what do you think of that one??

I would also be happy to sell it to you TODAY!

;-)

I have more new work to show……so keep tuned in!

(and remember you can subscribe to this blog so that it comes to your inbox - in the column to the right at the top of the page!)

Ok….that's it!!!

Have a great week y'all!!

MORE NEW GICLEES! YONGE STREET and TORONTO STREETCARS

Look everyone…..NEW giclèes!!!!

"Forever Yonge" -- my take on the classic Yonge Street -- wanna know more about the original painting? READ THIS POST!

and 

"The Evolution of the Streetcar" -- 3 generations of Toronto streetcars…..more about the original painting HERE ON THIS POST!

I have had a lot of interest on these thanks to some great social media shout-outs!
Like all of my other prints, they are available as 8" x 10" ($35.00) or as 16" x 20" ($75.00)

They fit directly into any 8x10 frame or the LARGE Ikea 'ribba' frame!

I will be adding them to Etsy in the next few days….but if you wanna order one directly from me just email me at rob_croxford_sales@me.com - and we will work it out!

OR if you live here in Toronto, just wait until December - I will be having a pre-holiday show of some kind! I am also still waiting for some shows to come through before the end of this year, and will have more details for you(s) in October!

ALSO - I am getting postcards of these new paintings by the end of the month!!

YAY MERCH!!!!!

SPACING STORE

Hey guys!
As you may remember, I have been working with Spacing Magazine to sell my 'merch' at their events and pop ups. I donate work to their launches….and I really believe in this magazine!!!
I you don't know about them…..CLICK HERE!
If you don't know about my involvement with them, you can read old blog entires:

http://robcroxford.blogspot.ca/2012/12/spacing-magazine-winter-201213.html
or
http://robcroxford.blogspot.ca/2013/09/magazine-sneak-peeksand-wots-with.html
or
http://robcroxford.blogspot.ca/2013/12/torontopia.html

Anyways, they are in the last stages of getting a brand new retail space…..located here at 401 Richmand Street, Toronto:

But to do so, they need a little help! Here is what they say…..

This fall, Spacing Magazine will be moving in to a new storefront to bring a unique retail experience – Toronto’s first “city store”, a one-stop spot for products that celebrate Toronto and other Canadian cities.

Our new home at the arts and culture cluster 401 Richmond will also serve as the new offices for the magazine. Through our quarterly release parties, urbanism road trips, and numerous community events, Spacing has created a deep connection with our readers, and our new HQ will further foster this connection by opening our operations up to the public and create a new hub for engaging events for local urbanists.

Not only does the store allow us to create more funding for the magazine, but also gives us the opportunity to support independent designers by giving them a dedicated retail space and association with our established brand of civic-themed goods. This isn’t going to be another “made in China CN Tower keychain” tchotchke store, we will be having a curated selection of prints, clothing, books, home goods, and salvaged urban relics.

By contributing to our fundraising, you will be helping us to create and build this space and support some of our favourite designers in Toronto by providing extra funds we will use to stock the store with great products.
Ok….so how can YOU help?
Help them, and help yourself with their Crowd sourcing endeavour!
CHECK IT OUT HERE!!

How fun are those buttons?

YOU NEED THEM!

Just think of the help that Spacing Magazine will get from your purchase!

And in turn they support local artists like me!

So go and help them out today!
They appreciate it…..and so do I!!
Have a great weekend y'all!!!

KENSINGTON MARKET ART FAIR…..NEW PRINTS….AND STUFF……..

Howdee!
It's Monday, and I have a bunch of stuff I wanna share with you today!
Let's do it to it, y'all! (Sorry - sometimes I break into 70's disco slang, ya' jive turkey's!)

I was THRILLED to have a few pieces find great homes this week.
I always talk about the "right" person finding the "right" piece……(and I can feel some of you rolling your eyes in your head)….but it is totally true! Eventually almost every painting finds it's home!!
I paint things that I LOVE, and as many of you know, my work and my personality are pretty similar……a little off kilter…….so it takes a certain type of person to really like my art! So when they do it is an affirmation about my art….and honestly…...maybe about my personality!?
YIKES!
It means that when people really "don't get it" (and let's face it - it happens) it kinda still stings a little bit. In fact someone at the Toronto Outdoor Show this year said that right to me!!
"Are you the artist? Because I really don't get this!"
I went in to explain my process and such…..(thinking that it would illuminate her dimly lit mind)….
and after I had finished….she said….
"Um, ya, I get HOW you are doing it….but i just don't see why!"
Then I punched her in the face thanked her for her honesty, and told her that "I guess every art is not for every person"……thinking that was the most polite way of handling her…..to which she replied
"That's for sure!"
THEN I PUNCHED THAT BITCH IN THE FACE.
Just kidding ;-)
I told her that I really didn't "get" her personality……or her shoe choice…...
JUST KIDDING AGAIN….I wish I had, but I am just NOT that rude to strangers.
I am fortunate that the opposite side of this story is more frequent!

This weekend, one piece that I was happy to see leave my studio - to find its forever home was this one:

"Riverdale Farm",  36" x 24", Acrylic on Canvas

Yes…..many of you who are regular readers……remember this poster I did as charity work for a VERY WORTHY cause….Riverdale Farm Aid……which raised a BUNCH of money for the Farm!
To find out more about Riverdale farm see this post of my blog……but then…..I KNOW you have  already read it……right regular readers????
ANYWAY…..so I was happy it found a loving home!
Speaking of finding a home…….another piece that I hope finds a new home is this big boy……
"Outta this World" is a 40" x 60" Giclèe print of an original painting - BUT then I wasn't happy with the look so I spent another full day repainting on top! Now I love it….and I want you to love it too…….

I showed it at Kensington Market Art Fair 2 months ago……and I really want him to find a home.
HE IS HUGE…..and is therefore priced at $500 bucks (which is still pretty G.D. CHEAP!)
And he was a hit at K.M.A.F….so much so that I created smaller giclèes…..

As always this FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC piece is a limited edition number of professionally printed art pieces. It is printed on acid-free watercolour paper and then signed and numbered by me!
He comes in 2 different sizes…..an 8" x 10"is $35.00
and a 16" x 20" is $75 bones! I think this one will be a big seller - the 'bots tend to move pretty fast!!

COME OUT THIS WEEKEND and buy one of these new prints (or buy his bigger hand painted cousin) at:

Kensington Market Art Fair

Sunday, July 27th - 11am-6pm

You couldn't buy my reproduction works at The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, BUT you CAN buy some great stuff at this outdoor event as part of "Pedestrian Sundays" in historic Kensington Market! 

I REEEEEAALLY hope you can come out!!
And remember…if you make it out……and you "don't get" someone's art….it is TOTALLY okay….but don't be a D-bag and TELL THEM! They put their heart into it……
Not that you would. All my readers are WAY too sophisticated!!!
Have a great week friends!

BITS AND BOBS…..

Happy Friday friends!
So today I wanna share 3 things….

1.) I JUST GOT 200,000 page views on this blog!!!! Can you believe it???
That is like if all of the city of Kitchener had read it……
Or like all the people in Owen Sound looked at my site TEN TIMES!
Or like if my Mom had somehow learned how to use a computer and logged on 20 times a day for the last 3 years……
(sorry for that math….TOTALLY unnecessary!)
Anyways…..thanks guys!!! I really appreciate it!

2.) Ok……also I wanna share what is on my easel……..there are 4 pieces in progress right now…..
Here are a couple……

One is a rework……the other is brand new!
I'll show you them DONE next week!

3.) Lastly, 3 photos from my show of framed prints at the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto.

	All are invited to attend the opening reception on Sunday, June 8th from noon to 1:30 pm. First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto @175 St Clair Ave West AND………………...I will be "delighting" people with an artist's walk-and-talk. (Which I DO NOT do often….so come on out!)

If you can't make it…….the exhibition runs from June 1st to June 29th….go on by!

COME ON OUT to
First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto
175 St Clair Ave West
Toronto, ON
View map »

Telephone: 416-924-9654x221
Website: http://firstunitariantoronto.org/what-we-do-here/art-shows

 Ok….that's it guys!!!!
Have a great weekend!!

"MAY THE FORDS BE WITH YOU", and KMAF

Happy Friday!
So…….are you tired of talking about me???
Well then this is NOT your day……….
I wanna talk about the two shows this weekend……I mentioned them in my newsletter…..and if you are not signed up for those…..CLICK HERE
FIRST…..

"May the Fords be with You"

May 24th, 7pm-10pm
Atomic Toybot  (978 Queen St E)
What do you get when you combine the Star Wars Universe and the whatever universe that Rob Ford lives in? THIS SHOW! Nerdy, political, fantastic! Here's a preview of my painting showing that night (Toybot will also be carrying prints of my Ford painting for only $35.00 -- there is a limit of 30 of them, so get 'em while you can!)

"Dark Side", 30" x 24", Acrylic on Canvas

Now let's talk about my painting……nope……..it's not about crack and it's not about his weight.

I honestly do not see much humour in addiction. It is sad.

Truthfully I really did some soul searching about this painting. 

You see, I try to keep my art positive and smart. I really did not want to get hip deep in the mire of Rob Ford lunacy.  But then again, I do not enjoy his antics, and moreover I do NOT enjoy his politics, his lies his sense of entitlement or his general hateful views on things.

So why depict Rob Ford as General Palpatine?

(and here is where it gets extra nerdy)

Palpatine rises to power through deception and treachery. He outwardly behaves like a well-intentioned public servant and supporter of democracy, all the time he has his own agenda. 

To me, this seemed to be the EXACT right fit.

Now, I am not a fan of hate-art, but I thought it was just as silly as it needed to be. 

As silly as municipal politics have gotten in this city. 

I tried to handle it smartly and through humour….What say you??

LOVE IT?

HATE IT?

I'd love to hear - come out on Saturday night and we can talk about it!

THEN come out AGAIN this on Sunday for:

Kensington Market Art Fair
Sunday, May 25th, from 12pm-7pm,

Come out and enjoy the first outdoor art event as part of "Pedestrian Sundays" in historic Kensington Market! If you are looking for fun this weekend…art filled tents will fill up the parking lot of “Wheels for Rent” at 77 Nassau Street. Here is a list of the Artists you will see this Sunday! I will be showing GREAT merch at this show including some fun postcards! Come out for the sun and stay for the art!

I will be showing my merch: 

NEW "I heART Toronto" bags, 10 postcards based on my paintings.
There are LOTS of things priced at $25.00 and less!

Including a total of 31 prints based on my works……like these:

8 x 10's and 16 x 20's of Toronto Landmarks….
SHOW PRICED AT ONLY $30-$65

A bunch of my "Nerdy A-Z's" available as 8" x 10" prints
(SHOW PRICED at $30.00)

Also, I will be showing a couple bigger giclees printed on canvas and stretched on a frame:

"Outta This World" is 40" x 30".
It is a reproduction, BUT I spent many hours repainting on top of the print.
So it is original in its own way!
It is signed and numbered 1/10….and each print is obviously different.
If this were an original painting it would retail at over $2000.
BUT Because it is a reproduction, it is only $550.
BARGAIN!!!!!

Come out and see the merch at this show……because you WON'T see it at The Toronto Outdoor Exhibition in July!!

Ok….that's all folks!
I hope to see you real soon!

ARTFEST + DISTILLERY + LONG WEEKEND = F-U-N!!

Heyo!
Well….a mere 4 sleeps until my first outdoor show of the season!!!
THIS IS BIG!
"Why all the enthusiasm, Rob?" you ask…….well……not only will I be showing
THIRTY…..yes….that's 3-0…..three to the oh…..brand spankin' new pieces of art UNDER $51.00
(I say that because some are 50 bucks…whilst others are a mere $25!!!!)
Here is a preview of those STILL IN PRODUCTION (aka YIKES!) :

These pieces are DEAD SEXY little pieces -- 20 of which are covered in sexy…shiny…resin….
OOOH….come get them……while they last……

Ok… so THAT should be exciting enough…….but to further titillate your eyeballs….I will also be showing a few new originals…that you can see IN THIS PREVIOUS POST or in this THIS POST!

(using my best Oliver Twist voice) MORE? YOU WANT MORE?????

Well get THIS……I will also be debuting FOURTEEN….
WAIT…..ROB……DID YOU SAY FOUR-TO-THE-TEEN, YO??
Yes. I did.
(Insert your amazement "Oooooooh!" here!)
So there are 2 new prints of Toronto landmarks….The Distillery and Sunnyside Pavillion!
(available in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes)
The other 12 prints are my "Nerdy A-Z's" which are available ONLY as 8" x 10".
I showed these pieces at The Artist Project this year - so many of you haven't seen them in person….
Here is ONE of the new prints:

D is for Dweeb,  (for you non-nerds….this is Egon Spengler from Ghostbusters)
It is a LIMITED EDITION  8" x 10" print and is ONLY $35 bones!!!!

ADORBS - am I right??? (that was hipster short form for adorable BTW)
I will show you more of those originals and prints on FRIDAY!
I will also be debuting one more thing…….but I won't have the information on that until later this week….so stay tuned for that breaking news too!!
Ok…..friends…..so here are the final deets YOU need to know……

Artfest at the Distillery
May 17, 18 & 19, (YES…..that's THIS Victoria Day Weekend)
11am-6pm daily
BOOTH #E12

85 artists and artisans exhibiting at the Historic Distillery District for three days only. 

You got your pottery, your glassware, your jewellery, ROBS FANTASTIC paintings and prints, you got your wood turning, your gourmet foods, all to the sounds of live music. 

It is a FREE bit of entertainment!

MORE INFO ON THE DISTIL (hipster short form for The Distillery District)

LIST OF EXHIBITORS

It is rain or shine - and I will be there……I'd love to see you!

Remember - this show is DIFFERENT from the Toronto Outdoor show (this July at City Hall)

I will be showing my very affordable reproductions…….and even a few LARGER reproductions…...so come out and talk to me about the new stuff!!!!!!!
COME ON IRENE!!
Ok…have a good Monday, y'all!

WW162: RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM, UNION72 and TETRUS!!!

Here are the 5 things that I love this week.

1.) The Ripley's Aquarium. WOW……..I was impressed!!! We are talking 135,000-square-feet of family fun!!!

 

Yes….with over 1.5 million gallons of marine and freshwater habitats from across the world….we are talking more than 13,500 exotic sea and freshwater creatures!

I especially LOVED the jellyfish tank!

I MEAN LOVED!!!!

I loved this 315-foot moving walkway through an acrylic tunnel deep below the 750,000-gallon "Shark Lagoon". 

Ah-MAH- zing!!!

2.) COME ON!!! This is super fun!

To celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of tetris, drexel university professor frank lee and his team hacked the lighting system of cira centre – a 29-story glass-encased skyscraper in philadelphia – to play the classic arcade game on the building’s facade. using the north side and the south side of the tower, competitors played a version of the game, in which rows of blocks are added to the opponent’s screen when players eliminated them on their side. joysticks were connected to a computer to transmit the data via a 4G network inside the cira centre. the signals translated the commands to the building’s external LED lighting system, which create images on the facade.

Check out this:

29-story skyscraper lighting system hacked to play tetris from designboom on Vimeo.

THANKS TO http://www.designboom.com

3.) Union72 Restaurant. We went for brunch this last weekend…..it WAS YUMMERS!!!

I had an INCREDIBLE burger (yes - i know - weird for me - I am usually a pancake guy…..BUT…it was DEEEEEEEEELISH!)

And one of my friends had this…….

The Swiss Train Ride (Croque Madame with ham, gruyere, fried egg& béchamel…..with salad and potato rosti! WOW!

The food deelish…..really yummy…..just be prepared…..as it is at 72 Ossington Ave (just north of queen st) it is also full of this……

so if you can handle the irony - the plaid shirts - the beardy-ness and woollen skull caps….aka the general hipster vibe…..you will find it all worth while!!!

4.) This is for amy environmental warriors………Thomas Yang, created this AWESOME PRINT……… it is made from 7 different types of bicycle tire tracks! You could have bought it at 100 Copies…..which is an art studio that produces original cycling-inspired prints that are limited to, as the name suggests, 100 copies.

VIA THISISCOLOSSAL!!

5.) Oh Jimmy……..you are fantastic!!! See this link if the video doesn't show up: