HAMILTON, YOU'VE ARRIVED!!!

Okay, to I have been talking a LOT about Hamilton in the last few months.

You see.....I have done a couple shows there, and met some really great people.

Some artists, some foodies - and some swell business owners!

These people are trying to convince me that I need to MOVE and set up shop in the Hammer.

These are top quality people......people who love their city....and honestly, it is contagious!

I am honestly considering a move!

So...because I move in the direction that inspiration takes me, I give you this new painting!

I am gonna show you my progress on this piece with a series of photos -- my husband claims that when I do this, it makes the process look EASY! 

DOES IT??????

IT AIN'T!

It all starts with inspiration.......in this case..... it was this photo....

The Art Deco Style of the Hamilton Centre GO Station

and this inspiration......

So then I did a series of drawings - that look AWFUL - so I won't show you those!

Then I start to paint:

First......blocking in the building.....and get my 

Building up the colours - so it gets a more 'watercolour' effect....

Add in the people! I love how they look like they are marvelling at the building!

A bit more detail goes in, and a blue circle........

Adding in the GO train!

REPAINTING the circle border so that it is less distracting......
....but it is still not quite right......
AND THEN it occurred that there was something wrong....

I painted her arm wrong - OOOOOPS!
I also pumped up my colours.....and my shadow work......
I also put in a starburst to draw your eye back to the building...
.....and a bunch of washes of colours!

FINAL IMAGE!!!

YAY!

Well? What say you?

I think it is swell!!

(AND YES.......there will be merch - stay tuned for that!)

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!!!!

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)

MY WEEKEND IN HAMILTON......THE QUEEN AND JACKSON ART AND CRAFTS SHOW.....REVIEWED!

LONG headline there huh?
So, as many of you know, I spent the weekend at my FIRST outdoor art adventure in The Hammer!
It was this WONDERFUL EVENT:

80 QUEEN STREET SOUTH, HAMILTON, ONTARIO. 

JUNE 13-14, 2015, FROM 11:00AM-6:00PM

I did two new paintings for the show - The Thomas B. McQuesten High Level Bridge and Gore Park....... (and prints of them in TWO sizes!)   

(Just in case you weren't there - this is what they look like!)

ANYWAYS........the show went remarkably well!
Let me tell you the story.....in photos.....

It all started with a LINE UP! YES....a line up!
There were INCREDIBLE gifts bags for the first 100 people!
AH-MAH-ZING!

Thanks to Lisa and Jeremy and Jennifer and Kim!! THEY WERE ALL SUPER AWESOME!!!

Nice printed bags!

Presented by Cobalt Connects and GirlCanCreate, you MUST check them out too!

Here are some of the outside booths.
NOTICE THE SPOOOOOKY disenbodied  feet in the middle of the sidewalk!

Here is my booth!

My originals and booth!

Nice under the trees!

Very shady and very helpful for the rainy days!

The location was great.
A BEAUTIFUL old building......
The Players Guild was lovely!

 I was impressed with the amount of great art and such.....

Assimals - LOVE THEM!!!!

I HAD to buy one of these terrific plates!
Margaret (and Alex and Lily) were a DELIGHT!!

Also bought a FANTASTIC print from
The Jelly Brothers
Some really awes vintagey goodness!!!!

One of my favourite people ever.
(Cindy Scaife - don't let this go to your head!)
Check out her facebook or website)

 INSIDE the Players Guild there were more FANTASTIC vendors.....

Here are some of the 6" x 6" pieces that I was selling at the show.....they were NEW NEW NEW!
Original art for $50! THAT is a steal!!!

"Reboot", 6" x 6",

"Goody Two Shoes"

"Sly Fox"

"Firewall"

"Chick Magnet"

 INSIDE THE PLAYERS GUILD, they had a exhibition of costumes from shows....it was cool!!

 It was a really neat place!!

At the end of the day Saturday I was feeling like this:

But then on Sunday.........old mother nature (no caps) was not very charitable!!

I felt kinda like this:

 Or this:

 But in the end......when i count my blessings and remember what a great event it was all together and what good contacts I made......I think I feel like this:

 Meanwhile in Hamilton there was this:

.....and there was this place....my husband was trying to drum up business for these guys....but I do not eat metal......even if it is in a corn tortilla!Or maybe you sit a t a bar made of metal.....either way...I was confused!!!!

 yup.......that's a thing.....
Oh....and then there was this guy - who couldn't wait until night:

So all and all a great (albeit slightly wet) weekend in Hamilton.
I hope to have a retailer for my merch there in the next couple weeks!
All the folks who came out were terrific - and all the artists were really great too!
I had a good time! Come check it out next year.....hopefully I will be invited back!
Although I hate this part of shows:

Art stuff makes my house look like a junkyard!
YEEEEESH!!

When I got home I treated myself to a drink....my robot jammies and the new season of "Orange is the New Black"! Great ending for a great weekend!!!