WW153: CAN YOU DO THIS, 80'S NYC and JORDON, JESSE, GO!

Hey guys!
I know I have been a bit neglectful of you lately………I assure you, it is nothing personal!
I have been SO BUSY getting my latest exhibition together….
The Artist Project officially "loads in" in 2 weeks……but more on that on FRIDAY!
In the meantime…..here are 5 things that I LOVE this week:

1.) I CANNOT GET THIS SONG OUT OF MY HEAD!

Enjoy….."Can you do this" by Aloe Blacc….

SOOOOOOOOO FRREAKING GOOD!!!!


2.) Flashback 80's……… Photographer Christopher Morris captures the glory of New York City in 1981!! THIS IS SERIOUSLY AMAZING! At the time, NYC wasn't quite the same as it is today…even the subway was a filthy mess!!!!! BUT THIS IS STILL AMAZING…check it out:

AMAZING!!!!! It goes tot show you that there is a LONG history to almost EVERYTHING.
Also it kinda gives a person hope that things can change for the better!
Check out more at:
christopher morris photography
(thanks to Designboom for this one)

3.) You know I love pinball machines and retro…….so…...I NEEEEED THESE………..

You can fins these products at:
http://www.custommade.com/by/maxwellfurniture/
http://www.maxwellsilverball.com/products.html

4.) Ok….my podcast loving friends……this one makes me LAUGH…….

"Jordan, Jesse, Go! is a freewheeling comedy podcast about life in your twenties and everything else. Your hosts are Jesse Thorn, "America's Radio Sweetheart," and Jordan Morris, "Boy Detective." More About Jordan, Jesse, Go!"

Now…these boys are now in their 30's……and I am COMPLETELY surprised that I enjoy them…..or that I even can relate --- but funny is FUNNNNNNNY!!!!!! You must get this podcast on iTunes!!! YOU MUST!

5.) This is smart…..and funny……..I LOVE ANNA KENDRICK!!!

REPAINTS: Town and Country

Hey y'all!
So I am busy getting my big show together for July.
Just in case you missed the deets on this show check out THIS POST!
So the theme is "Town & Country" and I will be showing lots of great new work...
But I will also showing a bunch of paintings that I am 'refreshing'.......
I have re-painted one already....and now I would like to show TWO MORE that are refreshed!
The first painting is called "Different" and it has been around for a couple of years.

I have shown it 3 times.....and it hasn't found a home.....but I am thrilled with the new version:

As you can see, I have put an old streetcar in the composition.
I also added some 'trompe l'oeil' elements including a piece of paper, a post it note and a button that says "one of a kind" (which replaces the vintage imagery that said the same thing)
I removed the quote from the sky to give the landscape a bit more "breathing room"...
I also pumped up the colours to make it more dynamic!
I think it works much better in its new form!!

Also....I have never been happy with this piece from my Arcade Series:

Big City Condos, 2010

So I gave it a refresh!
I found the old yellow very jarring - so I toned it down.
In fact I tweaked the whole colour palette adding a lovely turquoise in place of the green
I also changed the composition slightly....I made the buildings at the rights side come up higher....
and to balance that made the trees and the crane on the opposite side taller as well.
I made the clouds a bit more graphic....and I think it is much better!
I also changed the bottom less 'peacock-y'...and added colour in the holes that were black before.
Lastly I added some more text - just to get the point of the piece more obvious.....
Tear it down - build a condo.....

Whadda ya think??
NEW and IMPROVED??
Well worth the time? Or not so much??
I would love your comments!!

WW65: WONDERLAND, BROCCOLI AND MUPPET BLOOPERS

I am happy to give you my top 5 FAVOURITE things this week.....Let's get to it!


1.) I love these photos inside The Wonderland Arcade in Kansas from 1968.....In the words of Liz Lemon "I want to go to there" (as always click on the images for larger versions): 

Thanks to Retronaut for these images from the National Archives and Records Administration


2.) Coleen Atwood. GENIUS. Actually she is a costume designer (Sleepy Hollow, Alice in Wonderland etc...).......and a genius. Recently I saw her handywork in “Snow White and the Huntsman”.....now I am not recommending the movie....it wasn't the very best movie......but THE COSTUMES = YUUUUUUMMMY!! Charlize Theron’s evil queen costumes were nothing short of spectacular!! Some of the costumes called for hundreds of hand-cut rooster feathers,and others had thousands of iridescent beetle wings from Thailand as well as one particularly imposing crown. From the leather piping on the pleats of the queen’s wedding gown to the gauzy green metal trim on the beetle-wing dress, the nine-time Oscar nominee and three-time winner experimented with materials for director Rupert Sanders’ dark take on the classic fairy tale. The result is AH-MAH-ZING...but see for yourself:

3.) Gotye.....I am enjoying both his music and his videos. He is a Belgian-Australian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter. The name "Gotye" is derived from "Gauthier", the French equivalent of "Walter". His voice has been compared to those of Sting and Peter Gabriel. Gotye's 2011 single "Somebody That I Used to Know" reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gotye described himself as "less of a musician, more of a tinkerer." He is unique - and I like that!! I recommend his latest album.......by now, you have probably seen his BIG HIT video.....but check out these videos:

4.) Parmesan Roasted Broccoli. Yes.....seriously.......I just cannot make it enough.....and it is SOOOOOOO simple AND SO DELICIOUS:

4 to 5 pounds broccoli, 4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced, Good olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted, 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves (about 12 leaves)

Cook in the oven on a baking sheet fro 20-25 minutes at 425 degrees F.

5.) I leave you with my biggest laugh of the week......I give you Muppet bloopers!!!!!! Enjoy the bloopers from last year's muppet movie:

There you go folks.....enjoy!!!!!

SPRING LOADED........

Starting on the 4th, you will be able to see the group show I am a part of at MJG Gallery.
Here is the POST all about it.....and 2 of the 3 new pieces that I will be showing!
Deets again:

April 4th-30th.......with a wine reception on the 12th, from 7-11.
I will be there a bit later on the 12th......but I will be there!!!
MJG is located in the heart of Cabbagetown, (555 Parliament St - Just south of Wellesley)
Here is another new piece that I will be showing:

This is another of my "Mixed Message" pieces.
The barn scene is from an old commission. I then painted on top of it to make it more appealing.....

The other side I repainted based on imagery I borrowed from one of m A-Z paintings. 

There are 2 heat transfer drinks on springs that are from old A-Z Paintings.

I also attached kids wooden blocks that spell out 'loaded'. 

I had to repaint them to blend with the rest of the composition.

I then added paint washes on top to make it look complete.

Also for this show at MJG I will be showing this piece:

It is called "Melt Down" and I have only shown it once (at my "Arcade" Exhibition )

This piece is almost entirely made of reclaimed materials including:

Grommets

Bike Reflectors

Chair bumpers

Scrap wood & Caulking

Christmas blink-y lights

Melt Down, 43.5" x 22.5", Acrylic on Mixed media.

Here is the painting in ACTION:

So...that's it!!!

I sure hope to see you out on the 12th.....but if not, make sure you swing my the gallery and check it out sometime over the month!!!!

Later Gaters!

ANTIQUES AND ART - see the connection!

Happy Friday all!!
Here are some pictures I took whilst out antiquing this last weekend.
Although, I am not sure you can call it antiquing when you do not purchase anything.
When people are just out for something to do at an art show I call them "lookie-loo's"
So, basically that is what I was.
Here are some photos from that day!
And to make it more about my art - I have included some of my own work  that is influenced by the stuff I found at the stores!!! Check it out!!

We were out at Queen West and almost Roncesvalles, there are a bevy of stores out there that you should check out! Here are 2 I like a lot!

This place is a treasure trove of cool yuppie stuff, that I cannot afford.....but love to look at!

Like a giant (fake) hero sandwich
Although I have troubles looking a a sandwich the same way after "Bridesmaids"..
YEEESH!

I love this sign. It was enormous...and sold.
You know I how I love signs...

CHECK OUT THESE WORKS THAT I DID BASED ON SIGNAGE:

"Decompose" - SOLD

"Decay" - SOLD

Another great sign!

OK...back to stuff at the store:

Obviously I would love this one....I did a whole series of Pinball machines

Totally inspiring for me!

HERE ARE ANOTHER COUPLE OF MY WORKS THAT ARE INFLUENCED BY THESE:

"The Gambler" is available!! It is 22" x 12" (and is meant to mimic the games above!!)

"Shot for the Moon", 30" x 15".  ALSO AVAILABLE!

Next door at:

I love these old car doors....not sure what you do with them.....
See how I am influenced by old cars:

"Live for Danger", AVAILABLE - CLICK HERE

"Mustang Sally", ALSO AVAILABLE - CLICK HERE

Back to the store finds:

A perfect addition to my creepy clown band.

OMG.....I WOULD MARRY THIS CLOCK.
(no, it did not ask)

GREAT old posted for the Circus......I am heavily influenced by this kind of stuff too!

SOLD.....but check out similar works HERE

Also SOLD.......and from the same series as.....THIS

OK.....the last thing from the store...was SPECTACULAR...look at this:

Again.....you know why I love it!! It is great inspiration for my own version of 'backglass':

"Beauty Queen" is still available (and yes, she lights up too!!)

So there you go!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!