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!)

HIGH PARK IN TORONTO!

Happy Thursday!
I have been super busy getting this new piece ready.
This was a request.
As you can imagine, people always ask why I haven't immortalized "their neighbourhood" in a painting........and I always ask, what is special about your area? What can I paint that would really tell the story of your 'hood? Sometimes it is not an easy answer!
But in the case of High Park, it was really a no no brainer!
Sit back and lemme tell you a story......

High Park opened to the public in 1876 and is about 400 acres of park land right in the middle of the big smoke. It is the LARGEST park in Toronto, and is a mixed recreational and natural park, with sporting facilities, cultural facilities, educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and even a zoo. One third of the park remains in a natural state, with a rare oak savannah ecology. High Park was and is based on a bequest of land from John George Howard to the City of Toronto.

WORTH capturing in a painting.........like so......

First - I started with the subway tile backgound of High Park Station.
The poster part (in blue and green here) is illustration of the Hillside Gardens. 

THEN I forgot that you guys like to see the progress and didn't take photos for a day.....and THIS happened:

As you can see, the Hillside Gardens have a formal garden area - it was IMPOSSIBLE to
illustrate ALL the kinds of great gardens....so I chose this one!

 BAM!

The High Park Subway tile is in - with a bit of sheen!
ALSO there is a vintage map of the City of York on the bottom!

Finishing up the map at the bottom of the piece!

This is what I LOVE about these paintings......I was able to include the FAMOUS peacock!
If you don't remember the story ......check out this:

If you want more on this infamous bird.........just follow his twitter feed!

ANYWAYS, I wanted to make sure he was included in the painting - I painted him as though he is just popping into the frame - like only for a day - he was free again.

More progress on shadows, and the addition of the Train!
If you have kids, you most assuredly have been on the trackless train!

Adding in the words and more washes of colour - and the tape!

The quote "The earth has music for those who listen" is a nod to Shakespeare in the Park
Which if you haven't done - is a real TORONTONIAN MUST!

AND HERE IS THE FINAL IMAGE!

It has a bunch more finishing touches that make it really look swell!!
Lots of washes and highlights and shadows added!

I am super happy with the final look! I think it is the perfect addition to my series!

Yes.......I will have merch of this SOON! AND YES I will blog about it! ;-)

Also.....If you want to make a difference, try making a donation to http://www.highpark.org/donate/

Honestly, the fact that we have such a great place in the city, is AMAZING!

Go out today....and also feel free to sent a little dough their way!

Thanks guys!

KING OF KENSINGTON

Happy Friday!
I wanted to post this yesterday - but I just cold not get this painting DONE.......
So, to celebrate showing in Kensington Market again this year, I have created another new painting (and a print to come)
First.....here are the show details.......

The Kensington Market Art Fair (KMAF) is an annual curated outdoor art fair in Toronto’s historical neighbourhood, focusing on original art and craft. KMAF features artists working in painting, drawing, illustration, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and more! In partnership with the Kensington Market BIA and Pedestrian Sundays, KMAF occurs on the last Sunday of each month from May to October.

THIS WEEKEND ---
Sunday June 28, from 12pm – 7pm
77 Nassau Street, Kensington Market

More info: www.keep6.ca/kmaf
Contact: info@keep6.ca
Artist Directory: http://keep6.ca/kmaf/2015-featured-artists/

SUPER EXCITED TO BE SHOWING A NEW KENSINGTON PAINTING!!
So, I wanted to show you how the piece shaped up.....step by step.....

I drew a lot of this piece in - then inked it....then added the paint like watercolour!

Then slowly started putting in the shadows....

I really like how it looks without a bo!rder.......BUT.....

Beige border in place

FOREVER...now with a blue additional border.....

forever KENSINGTON MARKET....with more colour changes and such....

Then I decided it still looked compositionally unbalanced, so I
added the "Toronto Ontario"  -- then put washes and aging (my FAVOURITE PART)!

And here she is in all her glory!!!

"Forever Kensington", 36" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas, 2015

YUP! She is a beaut!
I hope everyone agrees!!
See you next Sunday at the KMAF!
(Don't worry I will remind you across ALL the social networking platforms next week!)
;-p
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND Y'ALL!

HAMILTON'S GORE PARK.......BY ROB CROXFORD

Good holiday Monday!
YES, I am working today - so is the life of the artist.....insert your sympathy here.....
So, here is my new painting.....it will be on exhibition at the Queen & Jackson Art and Craft Market:

80 QUEEN STREET SOUTH, HAMILTON, ONTARIO. JUNE 13-14, 2015, 

11:00AM-6:00PM

So to be prepared for this show, I just finished my latest painting. 

It is the FIRST time I haven't done a Toronto 'landmark' in my "Sign of the Times" Series.

And I am really happy with it.

I took this existing poster as my original inspiration:

...BUT this is what I came up with.....

"Gore Park", 36" x 24", Acrylic on Board, 

So, the centre of the painting is the Gore Park fountain, which is originally from the 1870's.

STUNNING!

Yes.....some artistic liberties about the park area.....but not THAT many!

YES....this painting is available for purchase NOW!

For those of you who would like a giclèe of this piece......

I will have limited edition giclèes (both 16"x20" and 8"x10") that will be available in a few weeks!!! If you are interested in pre-ordering a giclèe, just email me!

See you in Hamilton in a few weeks!!

(I hope to have other Hamilton piece ready for then!! FINGERS CROSSED)

FOREVER YONGE…..

Howdy friends!

So this is the day…..the first day of The Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts Sale…..

Here are the deets ONE LAST TIME!:

Friday, September 5 from 1.00 - 7.00 p.m.
Saturday, September 6 from 10.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
Sunday, September 7 from 10.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
MORE Information for Visitors

Now, I will be showing prints -- postcards -- AND BRAND NEW WORK!!!
Including this new piece that I am IN LOVE with……it is called "Forever Yonge" and it is themed around Yonge Street here in Toronto…..
Yonge Street - for those of you who are not living here…..let me give you a mini wiki-breakdown…..

Yonge Street (pronounced "young street") is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly the longest street in the world at 1,896 km (1,178 mi). The construction of Yonge Street is designated an Event of National Historic Significance in Canada. Yonge Street was fundamental in the original planning and settlement of western Upper Canada in the 1790s, informing the basis of the concession roads in Ontario today. Long the southernmost leg of Highway 11, linking the capital with northern Ontario, Yonge Street has been referred to as "Main Street Ontario". A large part of the route follows an ancient well-established Aboriginal trail that linked the Lake Ontario waterfront to northern parts of the region. It was also the site of Canada's first subway line.

So now you know! So, as an important part of Toronto, I felt compelled to paint about it….
As with every painting, I start with the "background". In this case the background is meant to mimic the  

mural that was on 'The Uptown Theatre' (which was torn down in the 90's)

(it looked like this)

Do you remember it Torontonians??

Anyways, I thought I needed to make it less like painted brick and more like paired cinderblock. Which means it looked like this:

 STAGE TWO - I add in the 'poster' part.
As usual - the 'poster' part is ALL MY DESIGN……so please don't tell me you remember it! ;-)
No…the street NEVER looked like this….I cobbled together a few of reference photos….and then redrew it…..
I felt the key store to be the focus was Sam the Record Man!

Here is me working on it with a drink in my hand…..

 …and a drink in my mouth…..

IT REALLY HELPED! Don't judge!!!!!!
So here is the painting with more done…..(as you can see, I am almost done the poster part.)

Then….I just age and do the finishing work…..then add the folds and shadows and tape and things…

To finish the piece off I painted a Highway 11 sign, and a piece of paper with the quote:

"Change is inevitable, progress is optional" The quote is from John C. Maxwell.

I like what it says, especially about Yonge Street as is changes each day….

"Forever Yonge", 40" x 30", Acrylic on Wood.

Yup. He's a big boy at 40" tall!!!

Come out and see it in person this weekend at the The Cabbagetown Arts and Crafts Sale!!

(YES! I will have prints in another week! And postcards in Mid-September!!)
See you soon!!!!!

MORE RIVERDALE FARM……..AND A NEW PAINTING FOR T.O.A.E.!!!

Howdy!!!
So….last night was the big fundraiser at The Riverdale Farm -- Riverdale Farm Aid!
If you don't know about the farm - READ THIS POST….it will tell you everything you should know!
Done? Ok…..so now you know I did the poster for this event…..here it is in Cabbagetown…….

So…then after I did THIS poster…..I did a version of it that could be sold at the event.

This painting looked like this:

"Riverdale Farm", 36" x 24", Acrylic on canvas

Nice huh?!

Sorry…..you can't buy the original…….that is sold! (huzzah)

BUT……you can buy a VERY LIMITED EDITION print…..

There are only 10 of them…..here they are getting ready for framing:

They were framed up by Akasha Gallery.

Not only is Akasha a GREAT framer - but they have an excellent space that shows exhibitions of photo based art. You MUST MUST MUST go and check them out at:

511 Church Street, Suite #200 (upstairs)

Kelly and Sonja are lovely….and they will take good care of you!!

(and the art they show is really BEEEEAUTIFUL work!!!)

At the fundraiser last night,  I only took a couple of photos…..

This was one I liked a lot…..

(that is smoke from the pea meal on a bun booth….mmmmmm…….)
Ok……in other Riverdale Farm news, I just finished this piece……

"Look to the Past",  36" x 12", Acrylic and mixed media on Canvas

I LOVE THIS PIECE…..
It is Riverdale Farm on top…..and a retro tractor on the bottom.
The tractor is painted on wood and attached to the canvas (as it the black painted moulding)

THIS piece will be shown at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition….
(MORE INFO ON TOAE HERE)
What do you think???

Ok….have a great weekend y'all!!!!

WW167: JELLY, INTERNATIONAL WATERS and UNHAPPILY EVER AFTER…...

Hey ho!
Here are the 5 things I want you to check out this week…….just because I said so……oh and because you trust my judgement….. and I like them A LOT!!!

1.) JELLY. OH-MY-DONUT!!!! I had these (I would say ONE of these but that would make me a filthy liar) this past weekend. (Thanks Angie!)

SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YUMMERS!!!!
This is on College Street……..which thankfully is NOT close to my home…...

Look at the flavours below…….I DEFY you to love them…..

Go. EAT THEM!!!
See them on the web - heck….even get them DELIVERED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2.) Meghan Stratman -- Bunny Pirates makes LOVELY layered paper pieces that I LOVE! She does very pretty work….but I especially love her pop-culture stuff!!!! For example…

Go check out her BLOG http://bunnypirates.blogspot.ca as well!!!
Great work!!!

3.) This is for you ENGLISH LIT nerds who read this….I know there are at least 3……You need to buy this poster…...

A Grand Taxonomy of Shakespearean Insults - Art Poster by Charley Chartwell
A tribute to Shakespeare's dagger-like wit, featuring 100 of his greatest insults, categorized by topic. This array of verbal swordplay includes classics like, "I was seeking for a fool when I found you", and "More of your conversation would infect my brain".

BUY IT HERE!

4.) BLOG OFF! Ok….so you know how I am addicted to podcasts these days……well……besides my top 4 (Nerdist, WTF, This American Life and Jordan, Jessie Go) I found a new podcast to enjoy the heck out of! Do you enjoy the Brits like I enjoy the Brits? Well then you are gonna HEART this podcast called International Waters.

International Waters is a pop culture comedy quiz show where land laws do not apply. Join host Dave Holmes and competing teams of world-famous comedians from the US and UK in a hilarious and lively test of pop culture knowledge (and the ability to make up baloney when that knowledge fails). It's part panel show, part trivia quiz and all laughs. It's also a little embarrassed it wrote that last sentence.

COME ON!!!
Nothing funnier than British v. American laughs!!!
Get it on iTunes!

5.) I saw this last week…but then husband forwarded it to me again last night…..so FANTASTIC…….see all the photos in "Unhappily Ever After" on their tumbler…..here are a couple I especially enjoyed……