MAKE FRIENDS........ON THE SUBWAY

Hey guys!
YUP! I am home from my vay-cay TODAY!
Now, for the last 3 years, I have been asked AGAIN AND AGAIN why I do not have prints of "Make Friends".....HERE is a blog from 2012 all about the painting......

So finally, after much coercing I give you my latest prints.....

HUZZAH!

So, if you have always LOVED this piece, NOW is your opportunity to own a limited edition giclèe!

Again.......a Giclèe is a super fancy inkjet method of printing on acid free watercolor paper. They are produced for me by a professional Giclèe Printer on an Epson printer with K3 pigment inks.
They look amazing (if I do say so myself)!

They are available as 16" x 20" or 8" x 10", and will soon be available on ETSY!

She will also be available in MY BOOTH at The Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts Show :

....which is RAPIDLY approaching!!!

I'll do a whole post on this SOON!!!!

Thanks guys!

~R

HOEDOWN: THE REPAINTING DO-SI-DO

Hello friends!!!
As you probably already know, I am busy getting my "Town & Country" exhibition for July ready.
READ ABOUT IT HERE
I seem to be on a roll of repainting....which is probably the HARDEST way to create new work.
Starting from scratch would be easier than trying to re-invent my older works.....
But there's just one thing.....you see.....we nev-vah,  ev-vah do nothing......nice.....and easy......
(yes....that is a Tina Turner - Proud Mary - reference)
So here is the work I have most recently reinvent!
BEFORE:

"Fast Enough" 2010

Ok...so there was a lot I liked about this painting.....I was happy with it (read about it here)
Enlarge it and you can see what I liked. I thought the keychain was super 'tight' and pretty well painted.
I LOVED the poster.....a good design.....I also thought the car itself was well painted...
I was pleased with the lady too.
What bothered me was the fact that everything was competing for attention.....
So when I went back to the drawing board....I decided to keep the general layout.......and the lady.....
So on went the gesso.....and then the repaint began....
Here is the painting as I began to repaint it:

As you can see it was A TOTAL MAKEOVER!

A "move that bus" kind of re-do!

Here is the final painting:

So.....let me brisk down the NEW elements...(*all of which are painted - of course)
1.) there is the "Jilly's" building at Broadview and Queen St. E...with 2 meeting streetcars.
2.) there is the square dance poster
3.) the lined paper with the quote "we do not look in out great cities for our best morality" (Jane Austin)
4.) the 'hoedown' ripped paper
5.) I painted out one of her arms - and repainted a new arm  - to make her more dynamic!
6.) the background has dance steps (do-sa-do)

So there you go......a TOTAL re-do.......what do you think?
Do you love the new direction?
I LOVE your feedback!!

WW63:A BOOGITY BOOGITY, Book loving Swear-fest!

Ok...so here we go with 5 things that I am interested in/inspired by this week!

1.) This one is not so inspiring - in fact it it is downright creeeeepy. But I love old 50's photos and love going to www.retronaut.co/ for all things cool and vintage!!!!

In 1950, LIFE Magazine published photos from an event dubbed “Ball Point Bathing Suits”… a racy cocktail party / fashion show at which popular strip cartoonists were invited to draw all over models in white swim suits (called "the autograph suit"). These ASs could be drawn on with a bic pen and not erase in the water! The photos were brought to you courtesy of the Beat.  (“The Happiest Cartoonist of All Time,” original article.) Evidently, these pictures are a veritable “Who’s Who” among cartoonists of the day — names like Ernie Bushmiller, Milton Caniff, Otto Soglow, Bill Holman, etc. 

Still.....EW!!

(thanks Cindy for pointing this one out for me!)

2.) Sara Bareilles. LOVE HER. I just love her. Yes, it is kinda 'chick' music.....but it is too good for me not to mention! Her latest EP is called "Once Upon Another Time". I have really been enjoying it! Perhaps a bit of a downer......still....... 

A downer.......except when she is swearing like a sailor on "Sweet as Whole". Here is a live version:

Ok...on with the rest of the swear-less #WW.....

3.) Crosley Radio. Normally I only like the actual antiques.......but I like that they are re-making these classic phones and radios (If you can't afford the real thing....these are kinda cheap) Ok, so heres the story.....

In 1920 Powel Crosley founded the company that pioneered radio broadcasting and mass market manufacturing around the world. Dismayed with the $130 price tag for the radio receiver he promised to buy for his son’s birthday, Crosley decided to make his own. Upon successfully building a working set for only $35, Crosley was quick to spot the mass market potential. It was a simple idea - design a fully functioning radio, meticulously craft each unit with obsessive detail and precise accuracy, and of course add a measure of consideration for the wallet.  

Today the Crosley name lives on with superbly detailed replicas that truly transcend time. Reintroductions of original vintage radios and turntables feature the newest technologies graced by unforgettable Crosley stylings. The Crosley Collection includes AM/FM radios, portable suitcase - styled record players and turntables, record changers, multi- functional audio cassette/compact disc players, jukeboxes, music boxes, telephones and more. Rich lines, retro designs and authentic crafting have made Crosley today’s premier vintage electronics manufacturer. True to the Crosley tradition, these replicas are as fabulous as they are functional, providing a delightful dose of nostalgia:

4.) I really like artist Thomas Allen's book photography. Allen cuts the figures from vintage paperbacks and folds them up and out of the cover to create dioramas.

Using salacious pulp art drawing’s of the ’40s and ’50s that covered books such as ” I Married a Dead Man” and ” Marihuana Girl’, Allen constructs one set of pictures up close while obscuring another, and in the process creates a different context.

Here is his site and check him out on Pinterest too!!!

5.) Ok....I want to leave you with this.....inspired by last week's final post. It reminds me how grateful I am that I live in a big city.....and not in a southern state (Thanks to AINB for this one):

First the non-songe version:

and the better musical version:

So there you go.....this week's Wonderful Wednesday!!

What did you think?

Lord knows I love your comments!

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN.....

Hey y'all.
BUSY BUSY BUSY!!
So busy, I am not gonna make idle chit chat.....I just want you the see my newest painting.
I will be showing it at The Artist Project this week.
YES!! THIS WEEK!!!
If you have not idea what T.A.P. is....read all about it in my Friday blog post HERE!
If you are already getting your tickets for the biggest indoor art event in Toronto......then feast your eyes on this:

"Strangers on a Train", Acrylic on Board, 24" x 36"

I LOVE THIS ONE!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT!
I was happy with everything about this one.
Yes, the quote is ridiculous......but if you have ever ridden the subway, you KNOW the kinds of people that are "making friends"!!
I have painted an old time (1960's subway car - which was in a reddy orange colour) and an old time-y transfer (based on one from the 50's)
I used the DYMO font that I like so much, and the usual tricks and fake tape and stuff.
The background is faux bois (aka fake wood) and was a lot of fun to paint!!
(It reminded me of my theatre days....painting wood to look like other wood...)
Anyways.....so come out and see this one LIVE        LIVE         LIVE!!!
You will like it better in person!
;-)
THE ARTIST PROJECT INFO AGAIN!!

NEW WORK!!

Hey y'all!
It is Saturday, and I am finally finished my latest painting.
I wish I could work faster - perhaps if I could paint with both hands simultaneously.......
Well....that is something I can work on AFTER The Artist Project:

So this one is slightly different from the others I have been working on....
This one has the same 'poster' look, but it also has a elements from my 'Pin-up Series".

Here are some in progress shots:

I am a rule breaker.
As a rule, you are supposed to paint background to foreground & top to bottom.....
I always start with the lady.
Because she is the biggest challenge for me!!!

In my original drawing, she was riding it like a horse.....with the streetcar between her legs.....

but it was a bit 'unseemly'...

Finishing up her bits and pieces.

BLAM-O. Yes, this is several days later.....
but it still seemed unfinished.....

I tried to make the lady as though she was breaking out of the poster format......

I was happy to find reference for an old TTC ticket (bottom left corner)

I used the "Dymo label" lettering to make it more interesting and to fix the compositional balance by bring the red down to the bottom.

The background is wallpaper-y and has shiny gold pattern to it.

The quote: "Happiness is a way of travel - not a destination" is from Roy M Goodman.

I like what it says, and I like the inherent irony with it  - and the reality of actually taking TTC!!!

In the final painting (below) I added trompe l'oeil folds and shadows......and then 'burnished the edges of the canvas to draw your eye into the painting.

Here is the final:

"Travel in Style", 36" x 24", Acrylic on Board, 2012.

What do you think?

Like it??

Remember to come out and see this painting in person on the first weekend in March.

For more details check out The Artist Project 2012!!!!

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!!!!