WW99: SIX STRING NATION, "WHITE FREEZIE" AND GOOGLY EYES

5 things that I LOVE this week....in no particular order!

1.) This one is from husband (via yahoo). These are not great buildings.....just unusual ones.....enjoy a 
     couple I liked the 'best':

This one is EXCEPTIONAL!!!

The entry point of this place....a little suspect. There. I said it!

2.) I love this story. I was really impressed by this labour of love! I like this one because it is 

      both artistic, musical, educational AND CANADIAN! 

Six String Nation is a guitar created by award-winning writer and broadcaster Jowi Taylor. What is exceptional about it, is that it is built from 64 pieces of bone, metal, wood, stone and fabric from distinctly Canadian sources. The guitar was created as "a symbol of national unity, to explore Canadian identity, and to connect people from all regions in Canada."

Over a period of eleven (YES....ELEVEN) years, Jowi collected pieces for the guitar from every province and territory in Canada. It was built by luthier George Riszanyi in his workshop near Pinehurst, Nova Scotia.

The Six String Nation guitar made its debut on Canada Day 2006, where it was played by Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, Tom Wilson, and Stars. It has since been played by musicians such as Feist and Bruce Cockburn.

Following its debut performance, Taylor and the Six String Nation guitar made a 15-stop tour that summer stopping in communities where some of the pieces had originated which, along with subsequent visits to communities and encounters with people across Canada, were chronicled with photos in a book by Taylor in 2009. 

Hear an enjoyable 30 minute interview (from TVO) with Jowi about the project here:

http://youtu.be/O-7XlUEvm-8

What is also remarkable, is that the Six String Nation project has been developed and executed entirely without direct government support!!!!!  To see where the great travelling guitar is now.....go to the WEBSITE. To help fund the ongoing efforts to get the guitar across the country, they depend on fees from festival, conference and school visits, on occasional cash and in-kind sponsorships and on the individual support of donors like you......so go and DONATE!!!

3.) My sister has a knack for finding and recreating AH-MAH-ZING cocktails. I give you, 
      Patty's Christmas cocktail, or as she calls it 'The White Freezie". Which ironically is
      neither white - nor frozen. It is DEEEEELISH! 

      Banana liqueur
      Red 'Sour Puss'  
      Sprite 

This has festive pomegranate seeds added for extra excitement!!
(and yes, this is a crystal glass....that's how my sis rolls!!!)

4.) Hold onto your hats elderly readers. I LOVE this link: m.flvto.com

     Simply, it converts YouTube videos into MP3s! I know this is not a new thing, but I am just 
     loving it lately, as is has enabled me to turn this (watch out for the "x-rated" language in 
     this video):

     into a pleasing new ringtone!!!
     GO ON! Do it not only for yourself, but to please the ears of all those around you!

5.) You know how I LOVE all things Downton Abbey??? This is kinda mean....but it did make  
      me laugh and laugh.......a site called "edith with googly eyes" amused me for some time!! 
      Here are a couple.....but there are a couple of PAGES of these on the site! Check it out!!

http://edithwithgooglyeyes.tumblr.com/
(Thanks to Dale and Cindy for this one!!)

EAST BOUND AND OUT PART 2: ODDITIES

Well, I mentioned all the great scenery I got a chance to see. Unfortunately, I was driving, so there were not a lot of pictures from the road. (And I was told it is  kinda dangerous to take photos while driving. WHATEVER ;-) So here are some more highlights from my trip. Enjoy and comment! No, seriously, i love to get comments!!!!!

Hotel Art. This was AN ORIGINAL! It looks like a Bob Ross......but the signature is different!

Lavender car. Cool huh? It gives a new meaning to 'driving the lavender car'. Ok, not even sure that is an expression.....

Seen one creepy lobster catcher, seen 'em all.

This carved pig was outside of an ice cream place. It really spoke to me! (not actually spoke - metaphorically spoke) 

2010 was the year of the dear for me!!

110 km/hr!!! It was miraculous! I do LOVE to speed!!

The reversing falls. I know you cannot tell, but the water is going uphill! It was something to see! Look at the jughead that is out in the crazy current catching fish. What a maroon.

My cousin's backsplash. YUM. And check out the tin ceiling! Why can't I have anything good. WAH!

I like any place with the word 'spam' in it. Let it be known the residents don't enjoy it  being called 'spam'.

Ok, so seriously, NO ONE lives around here.......why is there a fire hydrant??

Look out for Moose.

Evidently, there is a real moose infestation. A Moosefestation if you will.

The ONLY moose I saw my whole trip. And it was carved!!!!! 

EAST BOUND AND OUT: SCENERY

Hello All!
Well, I am back from my whirl wind 6 day (total back and home) drive to New Brunswick!
I saw a lot of trees, a lot of water, and took plenty of interesting reference shots.
Before you ask, I did NOT see the worlds largest covered bridge, the worlds largest lobster, or the worlds largest axe. (sigh)
I can't even begin to discus my disappointment from not seeing the Potato Museum. ;-)
But, the good news is, next time I am out east, there are lots of things to do!!
Here are some of the highlights from my trip. 
This is mostly all scenery, and there was a lot of it!! 
Enjoy!

Bonjour Quebec. This is midway through the 15 hour drive to New Brunswick. Sadly, je ne parle pas francais.
Except: Celine Dion, Creme Brulee,  Roch Voisine, and um...... french fries??

Teal Barn.....need I say more??

Spooky St John. Yes, it is foggy for my entire visit!
"St John, city of fog."

Or maybe "St. Johns: A very pretty and interesting little city!"

or how about "St John: everything you need to see is only 3 feet in front of you."

Or perhaps "St John, nothing a little photoshop won't fix."

Poor tourists. (read - suckers) They must be disappointed by all the rainy weather!

Idiot. Er, I mean, a zip-lining tourist! 

Hey.....is that more fog??? Not depressing in the least! ;-) 

Low tide. this was kinda cool to see for us Land-lubbers.

A covered bride in Saint Martin. NOT the longest one, but size isn't everything.

  

A cool (and slightly dodgy) bridge in Hampton, NB.

View from a cool (and slightly dodgy) bridge in Hampton, NB. 

Pretty little water ways abound!!!

Buddy can you spare a tree? SERIOUSLY...I haven't seen so much wood since.......insert joke here...... 

I did not go to this church in Hampton, but I did like the looks of it!

Well?

What do you think so far?

HELLO

This is a blog.
I used to believe that there were only 2 types of bloggers:
1. Those who obsessively needed to foist their opinions on people
2. Frustrated writers.
As you may know, I am a full-time artist, which requires a endless amount of self-promotion.
Lately, I have been hearing that (allegedly) blogging is a fantastic forum for promotion.
I am not completely convinced, but I am gonna give it the "ol' college try".
I am not a fabulous writer, but I hope to keep this entertaining and informative.
Here's what I hope the content includes:
-the latest paintings I am working on
-my influences (aka great stuff by other people)
-amusing stories that may not be art related
So, let's hope for the best - and hope that someone wants to read this!
As part of my first post I have attached a commission that I just finished for a client.
It is a 12" x 36" painting - Acrylic on Board.
I look forward to lots of comments!
Cheers!

www.robcroxford.com