BLOG CROXFORD: robot

Showing posts with label robot. Show all posts

Monday, April 13, 2015

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!!!!

Friday, February 6, 2015

AREN'T YOU DONE YET......T.A.P. IS ONLY 2 WEEKS AWAY!??!?

Hi! It's me AGAIN! I know....twice in one week.......
Ah-MAH-zing!
Today I want to show you 2 more pieces that are ready for The Artist Project....and I also wanted to share all the deets about T.A.P......and then there is this small explanation.....

So, I am working at a feverish pace, which unfortunately is not the pace I WISH I could paint at.
The "trouble" with my work is that it is concept driven. Each piece is COMPLETELY different from its brothers and sisters. I know, for the most part - the amount of work that goes into each piece remains unseen to the viewers who think my work is "cute" (which, YES is still a compliment). The thoughtful nature of my paintings is often looked past because they are fun. It is that same FUN that also makes my art seen as "less serious" by a bunch of my peers and by the traditional art collector. And to be honest, I don't really give a tiny rat's ass about that! However, I wish I could explain to these people how each piece requires hours and hours of planning!

Unfortunately, I am just not interested in painting a scenic vista of mountains, the stillness of a river through the forest, or the energetic paint patterns of an abstract piece. These are all equally beautiful, and I admire my peers who are passionate about these things, but it is just not my style! I also do not have any "shortcuts" to fast production......there are no stencils or spray paint or photographic transfers that could help facilitate a faster execution of a number of pieces at once! Truthfully, I have been looking for years to find an easier way to do a LOT of pieces for QUICK......so that I could price things lower......alas.....I can't seem to find it! Thankfully now I have a whole line of easily affordable merch!

So, I "plod along".....thinking and reflecting and planning and designing and REdesigning -- THEN painting! The result is work that I am very proud of, and that makes me happy......like these CUTE new pieces that are freshly done........

"Whole New Ballgame", Acrylic on Wood, 12" x 12".

You know how I am a big sports nut? OH YES! I love the sports.

(Okay.....maybe not......but I DO love a good idiom!)

"Research" Acrylic on metal and wood, 20" x 16".

This guy has been sitting on my easel for MONTHS.....finally finished, come see this super fun new piece - it looks SOOOOO much better in person......
COME OUT and see it at The Artist Project 2015:

"From seasoned collectors and first-time art buyers, to gallery dealers and interior designers, visitors can explore and discover works of art from over 250 top contemporary artists from Canada and abroad. This is a unique opportunity to meet and buy art directly from artists at Toronto’s most celebrated contemporary art fair."

My booth is #502:

Also....there is this video.....

Artist Project 2015 from Artist Project on Vimeo.

(or go here to see the video)

Okay....so that is it for today! Thanks for reading.....and remember I LOVE your comments and imput!!!!! Have a great weekend y'all!!!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

WW161: VALEK ROLLING PINS, TOBY ATTICUS FRALEY AND KEERMEET

Hey guys! Here are 5 things that I think are fantastic this week!!!!

1.) Hey Aimée, Cousin Penny, and all you baking type people…….I found this for you! I HATE to bake…but maybe if I had THIS….I would:

Engraved rolling pins to cheer up your cookies…your cakes, pasta, sugar frosting to cover the cake and even dumplings! (the one above is DOGGIES) Thanks to Valek Rolling Pins:

OMG! Burgers, fries and shakes!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

HERE IS WHERE YOU BUY IT!
Thanks Etsy!

2.) HOLY CRAP I LOVE THIS………Toby Atticus Fraley from Pittsburg takes vintage thermoses, picnic coolers, and various found thingies…..and then TRANSFORMS them into robots.

"The Secret Life of Robots", is on view at SPACE gallery in Pittsburgh through April 27, 2014! In his latest installation….he made dozens of robots in domestic vignettes….

"Robots assembled from pieces of Americana illustrate mundane everyday rituals, acts of daring, and precious milestones. These scenes of great joy and crushing sadness cover the beginning to the end of a typical robot’s lifespan, celebrating and revering the beauty in the everyday.”
Am I right nerds??? FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!!!
SEE MORE HERE!!!!!!!

3.) ok……here is ANOTHER food related thing…..but I had to share how DEEEELICIOUS this sounds…..thanks to The Girl Who Ate Everything!

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
¼ cup basil pesto
2 tablespoons sliced green onions
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
2 (8 ounce) packages Pillsbury® Crescent Rolls
¼ cup melted butter
2 cups seasoned Panko crumbs

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil. Spray the foil lightly with cooking spray. In a medium bowl add the cream cheese, pesto, green onions, and chicken. Stir until combined. Salt and pepper to taste.
Unroll the crescent dough. Take two triangles and press them together to form a rectangle.
Spoon about ½ cup of the chicken mixture in the center of the rectangle and bring the corners of the crescent dough together, pinching to seal.
Place the Panko crumbs on a plate. Dip each chicken pillow in the melted butter (or brush it on using a pastry brush) and roll it in the Panko crumbs.
Place the chicken pillows seam side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until chicken pillows have turned golden brown.

Read more at http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2013/11/pesto-chicken-pillows.html#vST4v0u7HDQhd7jT.99…and then invite me over for dinner……would ya????

4.) Musically…….I have to admit I have been a bit stuck on this……

or this:

Thank you muppets!!!

5.) This is kinda for the cat ladies……but mostly for the Batman lovers….…..it did amuse me!!!

GO HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO IF IT DOESNT PLAY!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

WW144: EXTRA FUN WITH LEGO AND NUTCRACKING!!!

Hey! I am BUSY getting everything ready for WANDERLUST tomorrow…..so I am gonna keep this one S-H-O-R-T! 5 things I love this week:

1.) Lego Thriller. Yup. You heard it right. I enjoy this:

I know what you are thinking…..where's the music???
How about THIS:

WOW!
Am I right????

2.) If that wasn't childish enough………I give you this. The sensation of TP-ing someone's house!!
TRY IT HERE!!!!

Thanks to Cheetos, I can do this:

COME ON!!
Admit it…..you have been thinking of doing this to City Hall all week!!
Try with your neighbours house today!!!!
TRY IT HERE!

3.) Now for some thing completely different…..photographer michael vahrenwald presents 'The People's Trust'. In this series he examines monumental US bank buildings that have honestly seen better days! Thankfully they have found new life with contemporary commercial businesses. I like this. It is a bit depressing….but still very neat!

"Spanning urban neighborhoods throughout new york city and detroit, the square-shot portraits reveal a cultural and economical shift from an era in which these fiscal establishments radiated with power and prosperity, to the ambiguous state in which they currently find themselves."
See more on his website!
(Thanks Design Boom!)

4.) Hey….looking to get your nuts cracked???? This is for you you my nerdy friends!! These are designed by Matthias Zschaler for Suck UK! I love them! They are a fun twist on the traditional Christmas Nutcracker!!