WINE O'CLOCK!

Happy Birthday! Oh....wait........it's MY birthday.......
(No....no.......no presents necessary!)
BUT my present to you, is this BRAND NEW PAINTING!
This was a commission.....I know what you are thinking.....
HOLD THE PHONE..........ROB.........YOU DO COMMISSIONS???
Yes.......yes I do!
And a fair number of them!!
This one was pretty fun.........My client wanted me to do a painting called "wine o'clock".....and wanted it to be  12" x 12"....like my other "Mixed Message Series" paintings.
Now.....full disclosure......this client is also my 2nd cousin.......which may have added a little pressure to really knock it out of the park.......but still.....super fun challenge!
I got some parameters - it had to be white wine......and beyond that....it was up to me!
(WHICH IS PERFECT!)
Thankfully I have been to their home......so I kinda remembered lots of earth tones and some yellows, reds and browns in the decor........so I tried to keep the colours in that family.
I handled it a bit like a traditional still life oil painting, which may have added a bit of extra time to the painting of it, but I am SUPER HAPPY with the results:

"Wine O'Clock, 12" x 12", Acrylic on Wood"

Kinda subtle....no?
It was a challenge to work in this palette.....but I think it works quite well!

It is kinda in the same vein as this piece:

"Cock and Bull Story" 24" x 24" 

"Cock and Bull Story" is a bigger piece -- which will be available at The ONE OF A KIND SHOW:

AND NOPE.....sorrry......there are no prints of either of these 2 works!
(They are just way too reasonably priced to reproduce! :-)
I may use the term 'wine o'clock' again though......anyone interested in that???!

ANYWAYS......thankfully, my 'cuz seemed to like the final product too!
(Which is the MOST important thing!)
HUZZAH!

As you can see, dear friends, I am 'adaptable' in style if it belongs within my painting Series!
So.......keep that one in mind -- Christmas is coming!!
Also if you ever have suggestions for upcoming works....I would be happy to entertain those!!
Thanks guys!

LUCKY DUCK COMMISSION.....

HELLO!!!!!!
So, I have been working at completing the commissions on my drawing board...and I am getting there. SLOOOWLY but surely.
At The Artist Project I was asked to create a companion piece to this guy:

"Stitch in Time....", 12" x 12" Acrylic on Board.

So, I just finished this little guy:

"Lucky Duck", 12" x 12" Acrylic on Board.

No......not exactly the same. But obviously similar in theme, colour and size.

I am happy with these 2 together!!

What do you think?

Super cute?

See how easy it is to get a commissioned piece??

DO IT! 

(Just email me, and I will start as soon as I can!)

COMMISSION #2 - OFF TO THE BALLGAME!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!
So here is what I have to show you......
A new piece!
It is a variation on another piece I did......this one commissioned for  client!

"Whole New Ballgame" 12" x 12", Acrylic on Board

I don't mind using the same imagery as long as it is different enough to make the piece look NEW and original.....I like the idiom - and although I know NOTHING about The Baseball, I think this piece works pretty well!
What do you think?
If you wanna see more of these little 12" x 12" beauties, you can CLICK HERE.
If there is something that you want to commission....I would LOVE to hear from you!!!
YAY! 2 Commissions down 5 to go!

ROBOT ATTACK -- the commission!!!!

Howdy folks!
Happy Monday!
Okay, so I finally have something new to show you!!!!!
I have been working like crazy on this piece for the last 2 weeks to get it done.
It is a commission. (YAY! Making headway on my commission list - 1 down 6 to go!!)
So, this client saw me at the Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts Show in September of 2014.



(read more about that show HERE)
So anyways......he saw this print.......

These limited edition giclees are still available as 8 x 10's, 16 x 20's or 24" x 30"

and loved the print.....but wanted the original - which was thankfully available.....

He also LOVED this BIG painting:

"Evolution of the Streetcar" (which is still available)
(and also available as a print)

 and this guy.....the original of which is hanging in my house. (I painted it specifically for myself!) But was willing to part with it.....for the right client!

Available as a print....obviously! :-)

So I took all three to his home to try them out.

UNFORTUNATELY the one that worked the best was "Robot Attack" -- and it was just waaaaaay too small for his space:

LUCKILY, I am the kind of guy who can make magical things happen.

We set out to do a commission - the same basic painting - BUT LARGER.....and with a few alterations -- which is a new concept for me --as I NEVER paint the same thing twice!

BUT then, without warning - tragedy stuck my family like a freight truck and I spent the next 4 months away from my studio.......in February I called him and promised that I was back and would have his commission DONE by March.....alas......

What I didn't realize, was that after a life changing loss, it takes a long while to get your "artistic mojo" back......finally in mid-March I got some drawings together for him....

It was a 48" x 60" painting instead of a 24" x 30" painting......HERE is the start of it....

It took a number of drawings to get it right - and a lot of erasing on the canvas....I became a crazy perfectionist on this one.......As you can see, I kept the robot and I took his request of adding Toronto scenery behind him, instead of the general city backdrop that he had before. I figured that that alone and the size difference, made it different enough for me to feel comfortable.

Here was a photo from the mid way point.....

Now, when I tell you my Mojo was out of whack - I really mean it!

I repainted this part of it 4 - COUNT THEM - FOUR times!!!!

That is completely unusual for me. I just wanted it to be perfect, because I had made him wait so long! But then 2 weeks, and multiple coats of paint later....I had THIS (click to en-biggen it! :)

I am so happy with it.

There are a number of changes to the original - I put more of my clients colours in it, I changed the blueprint completely, I changed the postcard and the tags slightly, and of course the poster part was different too! There are also a couple little surprises in it too.....to make it personal for my client!

So tonight - he travels to his new home.....I will try to get a photo for you!

So there you go.....after a 6 month wait, this client is about to get EXACTLY what he wanted!

AND WHO DOESN'T WANT THAT?

Think about it commissioning me to do something special just for YOU!

I do them all the time, and the result is ALWAYS great!

I usually only add a small fee (for the extra meetings a work involved) for custom works!

And if you are WORRIED -- YES - the timeline for your custom artwork will be much better - as my regular turnaround is 3 weeks.....

The advantages are clear. 

The right size - the right colour - the right words and imagery FOR YOU!!

How great would that be?

Email me ANYTIME with your request and we can chat about it!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK Y'ALL!!!!

 

NEW COMMISSION - LONG POINT, ONTARIO

Hey y'all!
I have been a busy guy this last few months with commissions.
BUT THIS ONE is really great.....ok.....maybe I always say that......but I am really pleased with the latest commish.
So, I have clients that bought a couple of smaller works back in 2005.....they were pleased with the works, but finally wanted to commit to a great BIG statement piece for their new home.
Recently they moved out to Calgary, but they wanted a reminder of their former cottage in Long Point, Ontario....let me save you the trouble of Googling......

Long Point is a sand spit and medium-sized hamlet on the north shore of Lake Erie, part of Norfolk County in Ontario. It is about 40 kilometres long and is about a kilometre across at its widest point. Lake Erie lies to the south of Long Point, and the waters to the north side comprise Long Point Bay. The bay is subdivided into the Inner Bay and Outer Bay by a line that runs between Turkey Point to the north and Pottahawk Point to the south. Some of the towns along the bay's north shore include Port Rowan, Turkey Point and Port Dover. Long Point is north and across the lake from Erie, Pennsylvania.

So........first step for me is to ask the clients for the key things that they would like featured in the commission. The custom work is about making something that the client will LOOOOVE, so it is important to start on the same page.

Thankfully, these clients really 'get' what my art is about.....so it was a very painless process!!
1. the humour was KEY!
2. they liked the idea of fishing being involved somehow
3. colour is important  (especially oranges and purples)
4. They gave me a few quotes that they LOVE and I chose the one I thought might work best:

"Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.” -- DR SUESS

We knew there would be a quote - that there would be some vintage elements, and then a cool "poster". They sent me a bunch of links to Long Point things including links about all the shipwrecks.....

It seems that there is something called "The Long Point Triangle" (like the Bermuda Triangle - except on Lake Erie!) and the whole idea intrigued me - for the poster area....

To read more about it CLICK HERE!

At first, I thought that this would be a general layout:

It was ok....until I found the following reference that CHANGED IT ALL!

I really liked this one!!! So I took a number of different reference shots from the internet and Google Maps and made THIS rendering with place markers for the soon to be designed bits and bobs:

It was a hit. Next I went to finding some inspiration for the poster.....and found this:

LOVED IT.....so I went back to work to create all the other elements for the piece.

Here is the final rendering that got the go ahead:

It has fish......the cool triangle poster.....that featured the local lighthouse, and then the quote!

(I made a fisherman with a telescope to reference the quote!!)

THEN I got to work....here are the progress shots along the way:

I love this part of the process - it looks cool and ghostly!

I added a bunch of purples and oranges into the boat garages.

It began to shape up pretty fast!!!

Soon it was time to block in the 'poster' part

I then blocked in the fish artwork and the paper that the quote was to be painted onto. 

I then added some aging, and the folds and final touches to the poster

THIS WAS THE FINAL PAINTING (sorry to yell - but I am really happy with it):

The clients were also happy! It is gonna go above the couch in the living room.

So...what is our 'take away' here??

Well.....the moral of this story is clear! A commission is the BEST way to get an exact fit for your life.

As long as you commission the right artist for the job!

If you enjoy my work, and haven't found the 'right' piece for you....this is a GREAT solution!!!

It's your classic WIN - WIN!

So think about it.....and then email me!!!

In the meantime, this painting is packed up and ready to take its big trip to Calgary!!

HUZZAH!!

AN UNUSUAL AND FANTASTICAL COMMISH!

My latest commission was a crazy one! Crazy and AWESOME!!!!
So, I was commissioned to paint something as a present for a Bar Mitzvah.
I asked for a list of things that may be of interest to the young man....well....boy turning into a man....
So here is the partial list:
Hank's Root Beer
Bike Riding
The Simpsons
Nikola Tesla
Middle Earth
Physics
Zombies
Think crust pizza
Sufficed to say I was a bit worried....what on earth would I come up with??
So I went to the drawing board and decided to focus on 3 things......Tesla, Rootbeer and Cycling.
I came up with this:

Ok.....so I liked it - but thought it still needed some work......to make it more boy friendly........

So I changed the name.....and moved things around....and added a zombie.
Unfortunately, my client felt that the Zombie was too much.....so I came up with this final drawing:

We both agreed that this one was the best.
So once I got the OK from my client - I went to work......

As you can see, I have already made some changes to my drawing....but it still has the same 'feel'.

 More is blocked in...and it is beginning to come together....

 This is pretty much the drawing part done........now to add all the finishing touches that tie it together!!

So that was the final bits......all I needed to do was some aging.....just to give it the 'old time-y' feel:

TAA DAAAAA!!!
So this is the final piece!!
FANTASTIC!!!! i was really happy with the final look...and now I just hope that Ethan likes it!!!
Keep your fingers crossed!!!
The bottom line on this one?? I can ah-may-zng! ;-)
So think about it folks!
I can make YOU a commission today that will suit YOU today!!!!!
Let's talk about it!

JOSEPHINE CLEO and TORONTO ART.CA

I wanted to mention this poster that I was commissioned to do.........
She gave me the photo of her and an idea of her vision and then I went to work!
I AM THRILLED WITH IT:

It is for my dear friend's big show....she is an AWESOME SINGER.....and if you are in London.....you NEED to come to her show....go here for details! And GO HERE for tickets!

ALSO........
I want to check out TORONTO ART ....I just joined - and I think there is some great other quality artists on this site....check it out:

I think that's it for today!!!
YES. I am doing a bunch more....but nothing I can share yet......stay tuned!!!!!

#HASHTAG GALLERY OPENING - "JUST MY TYPE"

Hey Y'all. Ok.....so I just 'renovated' this post!! Check it out:

and speaking of renovation......I still have a renovation that looks like this:

YIKES!!!

To escape, I went to the opening of this show (that has 3 of my prints) as well as the work of a friend of mine....here are the deets:

#Hashtag Gallery is pleased to announce our 3rd group exhibition show titled “JUST MY TYPE”, and we are looking for artist submissions to fill the walls with great TYPOGRAPHY based artwork.  This show features the works of Artists and Designers from all over, and aims to blend the two fields in one cohesive body of work! All artwork priced UNDER $200, so there's something for everyone! Opening March 14th, 7pm-11:30pm Show runs March 14th-17th.

Last night was the opening......here are some photos!!!

BUSY BUSY BUSY!

Unknown person looking at these cool text driven Letterpress prints!

I like 'bitch please'.....although I think it needed a comma...
"Bitch, please." otherwise it sounds like a request..."Could have a bitch please?" 

Cindy Scaife painted this adorable little devil!!! 

These were $50. prints from Herzing College!

Oh...and my framed prints!!

It is a really nice space!
I encourage you to check the show out this weekend!
Everything is under $200!!!

#HASHTAG GALLERY
 801 DUNDAS STREET WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO (click for map)
Friday March 15 -          12pm - 8pm
Saturday March 16 -      12pm - 6pm
Sunday March 17 -        12pm - 6pm

CHECK IT OUT!!!!!

BOMB GIRLS.....photos and mini-clip....

Ok...so I have been talking about this for about a week, but last night the episode that had my commissioned art piece aired on Global!
For those of you who have NO IDEA what I am talking about.....READ THIS PREVIOUS POST
The cliff-notes are......created work for tv show....looking like this:

and last night on the show......it looked like this:

...and here is my crappy recording of it.....enjoy:

If you can get me a better quality video.....I would appreciate it!

Although you can always go HERE to the GLOBAL site to RE-watch the episode!!

(my bit is 4:41 minutes in to the episode!!)