FABULOUS FRIDAY: CANOE, CAFE HABANA AND MEDITATION?

Here are 5 things I want you to LOVE this week!!!!!

1. Canoe at 233 Locke Street South, Hamilton:

A great shop on Locke Street in Hamilton! Nope.....this ain't your Grandma's Hammer anymore.....this great shop carries super products that are made from local peoples.......okay...they say it better:

Canoe is a lifestyle shop dedicated to offering a curated collection of unique quality goods from local makers and authentic brands for men, women and the home.

Our commitment and vision is quite simple. To constantly seek out the very best in unique, small batch, quality and authentically made goods. To only offer products that are crafted with care and made to last. To bring you goods that will enhance your life, not clutter it. To help our partners grow and to share their inspiring stories. To constantly learn and grow through this journey, have fun, work hard, and to always be on the lookout for new and amazing items we know you will love.  We're proud of what we've created here at Canoe and hope to share it with you soon!

Just look at that splendid store of STUNNING merch!!

 I love it......AND I am not just an admirer, I am also a part of things:

I am thrilled to announce that Canoe is now carrying my merch in their store!

The original paintings of Hamilton - the prints - and soon the postcards!
YAY!

So if you are in Hamilton - and I encourage you to check out the city - I am really enamoured by it right now - go to Locke St. and have a look-see at this store!

Canoe is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 - 7 and Sunday 12 - 5

Or see them on the web...

or facebook

or twitter

or instagram!

2. AFTER you get back from Hamilton.......make sure to head to Brooklyn NY! Why?? For Café Habana!!!!!!!

More specifically - you must go to the HABANA OUTPOST at 757 Fulton Street in Brooklyn
(The corner of Fulton & South Portland).....and here is why:

YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM!!!!!!!!!!

PATIO! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

THEY DO MOVIES AT NIGHT TOO!!!!!

CHARMING INTERIOR TOO!

I really enjoyed my lunch at http://www.cafehabana.com/brooklyn !
Check it out!!!

3. TWO of my favourite things come together as iHome presents......the Soundflask Bluetooth Speakers!

It's a portable wireless speaker that is shaped like a pocket liquor flask! OMG!
Look at these designs:

You need it? I NEED IT! For all my summa time fun!

See more at http://www.ihomeaudio.com

4. WOW. These are a-freaking-mazing.........

Talamaska is from Russia - and is super talented!! Check out this website to see the SPECTACULAR WORK! Look at this stunning paper art:

SO AH-MAH-ZING!!!!!
Again.........http://serpant.wix.com/adam#!alice-in-wonderland/c17hh

5. THIS IS FOR ADULTS ONLY.....but this clip made me laugh and laugh and laugh...thanks to http://jasonheadley.com for FINALLY giving me a meditation I can really get behind!

(CLICK HERE FOR LINK)

WW103: MOSCOW MULE, JONATHAN COULTON, and "LOOK AT THIS INSTAGRAM"

Hello! Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday!!!
Let's get right to it....5 thing I LOVE this week!

1.) A canadian artist. Yes, I know I am not the best about promoting exclusively Canadian talent....BUT this I really enjoyed! Pat Dumas-Hudecki is lovely and playful. I think her work is delighful and whimsical and beautiful! Here is a snippet from her Artist statement that explains it nicely:

Through realistic representation with a special emphasis on capturing the light, Pat uncovers the sweet disorder of the domestic world from an unusual and playful point of view. There are scenes and stories full of high drama all around us that have become the narrative thread of her art. She transforms that which is taken for granted and in the process compels you to appreciate the iconic power within the ‘ordinary’. Pat Dumas-Hudecki’s works have garnered many awards and may be found in private and public collections, including the Ontario Government’s permanent collection.
I especially like her "In transition" Series and her "Child's Play" Series. Very sweet work! Here are a few examples:

She has an upcoming show - go to her website for more details about her shows HERE!

2.) SPOOKY - BUT AH-MAH-ZING!!!! This is the HR Giger bar located at the museum of the famous sci-fi artist in Gruyeres, Switzerland. Rest your weary body in the bone chairs and admire the spinal chord ceilings! So crazy and impressive! HR Giger Bar.....note to self......go check it out next trip to Switzerland!

3.) Ok...so I had to share this one with you. If you are a Glee watcher, you will remember this song from last weeks episode. They did a great TUNEFUL cover of "Baby Got Back" (originally by Sir - Mix-a-lot in the 90's) I thought the arrangement was brilliant. Come to find out.....it is not a GLEE original - but a rip off of a arrrangement by Jonathan Coulton, a musician with a relatively small but devoted following, mostly on the Internet. Coulton (very rightly so) feels ripped off. "Glee" routinely puts its cover versions up for sale on iTunes and it'll get thousands of downloads. Coulton not only doesn't get a dime from any of this, he didn't even get any credit for it on the show. Covers are not copyright-able, except for their audiotracks. Glee has contacted Coulton about the controversy but according to him, the show had the audacity to suggest that he should be happy for the exposure!!! TERRIBLE huh? As Coulton points out, the only exposure he's been getting is as a result of his complaints against the show.

So...he is re-releasing his own version with the smart aleck new title "Baby Got Bak - in the style of Glee", he's also donating the money he makes off it to the "It Gets Better" campaign, another nice dig at Glee, a show known for its pro-gay stance. Coulton still thinks "Glee" could easily turn this controversy into a PR win. "I think if they just approached it differently, and they said 'Hey, we're doing this. We're super excited and we're going to promote you. We're going to give you a credit and we're going to give you a $500 honorarium,' I think they could turn it around."

You should check out his music! It reminds me of early Barenaked Ladies. I am gonna download one of his albums for sure!!!!
I like the album "JoCo Looks Bask".....there are a bunch of enjoyable songs on it!!!
For example, I enjoy the song 'Tom Cruise Crazy':

and also "Shop Vac"...I enjoy this one A LOT.....great graphics on this video:

4.) Looking for a lovely tropical-like drink to drag you out of the February blahs??? I encourage you to try this refreshing little ditty. The Moscow Mule.....

Two parts vodka
One part lime juice
3 parts ginger beer

YUMMERS!!!!!!!!!

5.) I cannot decide which of these two spoofs is funnier. They both made me laugh and laugh!!! they both have a bit of strong language (just a tiny bit)

You decide which is funny-er...this one (thanks Kelly):

or this one (thanks Cindy/Dale)

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

(if that didn't work - click THIS LINK - you will not regret it!)

THE DRAKE HOTEL: HIPSTER PARADISE

Hello friends!
Well it's Saturday, and yes, I am busily at work.
Before you feel too bad for me, know that I am a workaholic.
Besides (insert condescending tone here) when you love what you do, it really isn't work.
OK. Now that we have all that covered, I wanna show you my latest painting.
I am getting work ready for The Artist Project:

I have already shared a bunch of the new work....but that is sooo last year!
Here is my latest....I did a couple of progress shots:

It started like the others. With a back ground of 'tiles' like Osgoode Subway Station
my reference is below:

I then started work on the 'poster' part of my composition.
This is it before I age it.

Here it is almost done. But I felt it needed something........

I already had a quote from Eric Hoffer:
"When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other"

I LOVE the quote.
As you might have gotten......I am sorta aiming it at the 'hipster' crowd a bit....
I WILL NOT go on a rant about the 'ironic' big glasses and such.....
I WILL NOT DO IT!!! ;-)
Anyways, I felt the painting was still missing something........so I called a friend.
This is the transcript of that conversation:

ROB: Hey, Lady, I am trying to finish a painting that is kinda making fun of hipsters. But I need to paint a  an object on the bottom to finish it off and drive the point home. I was thinking of a coaster with a Hipster bar name on it. Is "The Horseshoe Tavern", "The Rivoli" or "The Cameron House" a hipster hangout?


LADY S: How about "The Drake"?


ROB:Ya.... I already have them represented. 


LADY S: I think it is the perfect place


(((insert extended conversation - listing EVERY bar in the city and it's level on the hipst-o-meter scale)))))


ROB: (after a long pause) OH!!!! I GOT IT!!!! Cookie Cutters!


LADY S: I've never heard of "Cookie Cutters" is it new?


ROB: (confounded) Whaaaa? NO. Cookie cutters is NOT a bar. I am gonna paint a pair of cookie cutters on the painting....you get it. right???


LADY S: So there is no "Cookie Cutters"? I was thinking I would like to check that bar out.


ROB: (hangs up phone)


LADY S: Hello??


THE END

So, here it is, The final painting - I am pretty happy with it!!!

"The in Crowd",  36" x 24", Acrylic on Panel. 

Whadda YOU think??
Come out and see it at The Artist Project in March.
Ok...one last thing.......when I was googling 'hipsters' I came up with these images that made me laugh out loud...and I need to share them with you:

SPACE COWGIRL

HEY!
I have just finished my latest piece.
I really love it. I know that might sound a bit like tooting my own horn......but I really think it is a super piece. I took a bunch of photos of it in progress so you could see how it developed. I had someone comment that they found it interesting, so I am doing it again!
About the piece....
It is H-U-G-E (ok....it is 3 feet by 4 feet - which is pretty big)
I based it on old pin-up girls. Normally i stay away from pin-ups....because I am better with cartoon-y faces than more realistic-y. Not that her face is realistic, it just is more than my usual thing.
The top of the background is based on old tin-toy packaging.
The quote is from Carl Sagan:
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
Ok, so here it is in it's various stages:

Size isn't everything.....but look how large this is on my easel.
I had to draw her out on plywood first.

She is then cut out and primed and painted. 

Very strange painting cleavage for a day. I just need to finish the boots, gloves and guns.
I SAID BOOTS......   

Staring on the background before I re-attach the girl.

Ok, so we obviously skipped a couple of days and steps...but I forgot to take photos.
OOPS!

Now all I need to do is add the quotes and the bottom imagery.

Almost there. I left it for a day and realized the bottom needed more ...

Here is the final product. I love it!

Added mixed media pieces to the bottom and some metal bits on the red line work. LOVE IT!!

What do you think?
Do you think it is my best space painting EVER????
I would love the feedback!

LAST WEEK - "ARCADE"

Time flies, huh?
It just seemed like a month ago when I was franticly working to get the paintings done so that my new show could open. Oh wait, I WAS a month ago. Well, for those of you who haven't checked it out, you still have until Saturday, September the 25th. If you just cant make it, be sure to check out this little movie (that is also posted on my website).
I made it on my little mac, but be warned, the production values are not spectacular. It is a bit 'Blair Witch Project-y'. So expect a little drunken camera work. If you were expecting something Spielberg-y you will be filled with disappointment. Be pre-warned that there is some music with this little movie tour, so if you are watching this at the office make sure to turn down your speakers. OR prehaps turn up your speakers and attract a crowd of co-workers who can check it out too!! (can you tell I am not an office worker? ;-) If you are like me, you may just have the song stuck in your head for the remainder of the day. Also be warned that I got a bit heavy on the imovie transition effects! It is a bit of an illness.
Enjoy the video, and hey, try to make it out to my big exhibition this week! There is nothing like seeing it in person!!

NEW FOR T.I.F.F.

Ok, so I bet you think that since my show "Arcade" was up that I have the time to sit back, eat some cake, and take a well earned rest! Well....not so much. I have 5 commissioned pieces that I am working on. I know, FIVE is a lot at once. But never one to rest on my laurels.....(I am not sure what laurels are - I like to think it is a nicer was of saying 'ass'.) I am back to work, hi ho. If you are a regular blog reader, (and if you aren't.....why the hell not?) you will remember the piece I am working on about Port Burwell. So that is one. Today I thought I would let you see my latest piece. I have painted it specifically for one of my galleries, Liss Gallery. Liss is located in Yorkville, and in fact, is right across from the Four Seasons Hotel. As many of you know, the Toronto International Film Festival is on right now, and the Yorkville area has become a hubbub of celebrity comings and goings. Case in point, I was delivering this painting yesterday, and ran into (almost literally) into Zach Braff. If you are wondering if I tried to get him interested in my painting, the answer is no. Why? Because it is tacky, and I am not impressed by celebrity! Ok, truthfully, it was because I did not think of it! DUH! Anyways.....so I have been working like a crazy man trying to get this piece done, so that it could be up for T.I.F.F. and sold to George Clooney. Here is the painting in my studio (below). As you can see, it is one of my Tin Toy robot paintings. I used a bunch of colours that I don't normally use. In this painting, there are lots of greens, and I am not normally a green guy. Especially not an 'acid green' guy. I am, on the other hand, more of a teal kind of guy. I also used some reds to offset the teals and acid greensrecycled. This painting is almost entirely made from recycled and repurposed materials. There is a bunch of wood and wood strips. There is also a LOT of metal on this piece, and a tonne of rivets. I MUST ADMIT I DO LOVE ME SOME RIVETING!! Who'd a thought!? There is also a fun little button, a gauge and a reflector on it.  The picture taken in my studio (below) was when I was almost done.

After I saw this JPG I went back in and did a bit of work. See if you can spot the differences. I often take a picture when I think I am done and look at it on the computer - to see if it IS done, or whether it needs a little more 'fussing'. I am super pleased with the final product!

Come out to Liss Gallery and see it in person!
IT IS FAB!!
Don't 'cha think?