TODAY'S THE DAY! Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2014!!

Happy Friday!
Well….as you are reading this…..I am either setting up my booth….or selling my art at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto! I have been working at my studio NONSTOP for over a month on this show!
Here are the details again:

The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition - Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West

Friday, July 4: 10:30 am- 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 5: 10:30 am- 7:30 pm
Sunday, July 6: 10:30 am- 6:30 pm

BOOTH #A36 (see map below)

Map:

Ok…wanna see a couple new images of finished paintings???
HERE are 2 of the 30 BRAND NEW Mixed media pieces I have created for this show!!!

"Flip Flops", 20" x 16", Acrylic on and mixed media on board

This  piece is based on a photo from the beach here in Toronto……and I really liked the quote!!!
The quote hasn't got a source - sorry!
But how true is it???
You can't tell, but the flip flops and the clothes pins are mixed media - painted on wood and applied to the top! I think they are SUPER CUTE!!!!!!!
If you are a more cityscape person….then there is this one….

"Short Way Home", 24" x 24", Acrylic and mixed Media on Board

This one is compiled from photos I took on the GO Train.
I really like it. It is a big boy…..but really looks great!
The train on the bottom is painted on wood and applied….
There is also some moulding and a chunk of metal that is pop-riveted on!
The quote is Alexander MacLaren
I like this piece - and hopefully it is SOLD just as you are reading this!

I will show you one last piece.
I have over 15 new pieces (and a few older) that are 6" x 6" and ONLY $50 (+HST)
CRAZY????
Yes! Crazy Rob's paint warehouse is proud to be selling AFFORDABLE art that is easy to accept into you home and your HEART!!!

Ok…..so there are a few new pieces that you can come and see!!!!
The show runs rain of shine……so…..you know the drill!
Come by - say hello!

TOAE COUNTDOWN - AND CANNIBALIZATION!!!!!!!!

Hey.....have I mentioned my upcoming show in Nathan Phillips Square (City Hall, Toronto)???
I am sure I have?!
Don't you remember this?

GRRR......GIANT ROB TAKE OVER SQUARE ....ROB SELL ARRRT.....

Here is the post that has all the deets AGAIN!

So....to get ready, I have been painting my arse off.

Here is a BRAND NEW PIECE - that is great......let me tell you a story about it:

PICTURE IT.

IT's 2011, and I am looking to challenge myself by doing 'pin-up' related work for my "Auto Fixation" show. I take a bunch of time, and suggestions from the gallery that is showing my work..and create this:

"Fast Enough", 36" x 48", Acrylic on Canvas

Read my post about this painting HERE.
A year later in 2012, I thought I would like to repaint it.
WHY?
Read why - and HOW HERE.
This time, it was for my "Town and Country" Exhibition......

"Hoedown",  36" x 48", Acrylic on Canvas

At the time, I was pleased by the renovation of this piece.

Then a year passed. And let me be frank. If any piece lasts around the studio for more than a year, I know that it may not find a home! HOW DO I KNOW?

Well, generally, things just don't last that long. 

That is NOT bragging!! HONESTLY!

I am very fortunate to have some great collectors out there, and I am CONSTANTLY working on showing creating and selling my work!

So I did what I always do....I sacrificed the painting for something new.

TWO somethings new.....(and maybe a third - LATER)

I did the unthinkable - and cut up the canvas!

(Insert GASPS here!)
Here are the results:

"We Tend To Build", 18" x 36", Acrylic on Canvas and Board.

So, as you can see I took HALF the landscape part from "HOEDOWN" and I pasted it into this new size - to give it a new life.
With new life - comes new intention!
I also created and painted some poster inspired art.....'we can build' and 'tend your garden'.
I also added this quote from Mondrian "Good things just have to grow very slowly."
I like what this says about East Toronto.
As an east-ender myself, I like that we have taken a little longer to 'gentrify' and have been able to keep out the big boxes and  all the condos....
I premiered this piece at The Riverdale Art Walk almost a month ago!
So...then this month, I reworked more of the pieces from 'Hoe'....and came up with THIS:

"Escape", 36" x 18", Acrylic on Canvas and Board (and Mixed media).

Now....as you can see this is the other half of the landscape.
This time, it didn't quite fit the frame of the 36 x 18...so I added some mixed media elements
(the street signpost is a painted dowel with balsa board signs)
AGAIN, I changed the intention of the piece.
"The trouble with our age is that it is all signposts and no destination" - Louis Kronenberger

is the quote that is painted on a faux restaurant bill.

The poster I created simply says "Escape for a while".

and the background I created with lots of little vintage travel icons.

There is also a baggage tag.

I am REALLY happy with this one. I think it really works.

Actually - I feel like they BOTH work really well!!!

I know what you are thinking.....but what of the pretty lady??

Well....currently she is above my easel......watching over me, just waiting for her day of repurposing to come!!

So....come out and see BOTH of these great new pieces NEXT WEEKEND at TOAE!!

Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
July 5: 10:30 am- 7:30 pm
July 6: 10:30 am- 7:30 pm
July 7: 10:30 am- 6:30 pm

BOOTH #12

EATS & BEATS (and ART) IN RIVERSIDE......and a new painting.....

Happy Friday!!!
So this weekend......in the rain.......I will be showing my prints.....and originals in Jimmie Simpson Park in Toronto. Here is the Riverdale Art Walk information again:

Then....if that weren't enough, there is also music and great eats..... 

Check out EATS AND BEATS

Come by and see a brand new piece!!!!

NEW NEW NEW

Ok....so......here's the story......this painting is 'repurposed'.

What do I mean?

Well......I painted this one last year.......but then was NEVER happy with it:

"Hoedown", 48" x 60" 

So....I cut up the landscape....

(INSERT SHOCKING INWARD BREATH HERE)

In fact, I cut into TWO pieces. 

(INSERT DOUBLE BREATH)

Here is my re-draw of it......

The quote was from Piet Mondien. 

So I thought that I would use that theme.....but then I DID NOT like it......

So I did a redraw......

I was much happier with this layout. 

I wanted it to be about how the East of Toronto has been becoming a destination.

I like that it has been developing slowly and more methodically. 

I also I like that there is so much green space in the East end. 

The new painting is in a 18" x 36" wooden panel. 

Here it is:

So....let's break it down......the background is my version of that retro cherry wallpaper.

The poster I designed and painted to look more water-colour-y...and be about "building".

 I made the 'tend the garden' more of a postcard size and moved the quote onto a post-it note - to better balance my composition.......and kept the little shovel!

The bottom on the other side just says Queen and Broadview.

Finally I put my washes and tried to balance it all out.

So there it is!

What do you think???

Come out tomorrow (in the rain!!!!) I would love to see you!!! 

BUILDING A DREAM........THE ST. CLAIR STREETCAR DILEMA

That's right....I took FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OFF!
Three whole days without any art talk...any blogging......any painting.....
I deserve it, don't I? But - its a new week so.......back to the diamond mines....
My latest show "Town and Country" officially opened last week, and it was A LOT work.

(as much as doing what you love can be "work")
You see, it was a last minute show - I had 6 weeks from saying 'yes' to load in.
CRAZY TALK??
YES!
It means I worked like a dog to get as much new work ready as I could!
(BTW who made up that saying "worked  like a  dog" - seriously - have you ever seen a dog accountant? or dentist? or construction worker?)
Anyways, I had 6 weeks.......
In that time, planned, drew and painted 10 brand new pieces.
In that short time, I also re-imagined, re-drew and repainted another 5.
So that's 15 pieces in 6 weeks - which is a LOT!!!!!!!!!
(I'd do the math on this......but let's face it, there is a reason I am an artist! ;-)

So.....the opening was rather lightly attended. In fact, it was downright BLEAK.
Despite the terrible turn out on opening night, I was fortunate enough to sell a few pieces.
Which is nice. I know it is not all about sales, but right now, a little $$ would be a handy thing!
Thankfully, you, my dear readers and "fans" have a couple weeks to see these new works in person.
(I assure you - there is nothing like seeing art in person - the web doesn't quite do artwork justice)

THE DEETS AGAIN:

On NOW to August 5th,
Tuesdays-Sundays, from 12pm-5pm
Hangman Gallery,
756 Queen St E., Toronto

Here is another new painting that you MUST see in person: (click it to en-biggen it)

"The Right Track", 20" x 60", Acrylic on canvas

This is St Clair Ave West in Toronto.
My inspiration? Well.....it is part of controversy in the city due to the dedicated streetcar tracks.
Our current mayor had grand plans to dig up this line (which finished being constructed just 2 years ago) and bury it for his FANTASY subway plan - at a crazy price-tag!
I thought it was perfect fodder for a topical painting.
I like how this one turned out.
I painted in some very red-tape-y kind of printer paper with the quote from Will Rogers.
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
I then painted a poster of 'building a dream'.
I tried to keep it positive......and optimistic.
Hopefully that is what people see.

Ok....so until you can see this one in person (along with the other 23 paintings currently on exhibition)
Here is a little YouTube video (this marks the first time I have been on YouTube - that I know of)   Enjoy:

Have a great week - and let's keep cool!!!!

HUNG AT HANGMAN.....and HONEST EDS

Yes....I know that title is gonna be flagged and make this blog unavailable at all the government agencies....sorry guys - I just can't help myself!
So today was a BIG DAY!
I spent a few hours hanging my new exhibition:

The details again are:

TOWN AND COUNTRY,  July 17^th - Aug  5^th,  Opening reception: Thurs July 19^th, 7-9pm. 

Hangman Gallery, 756 Queen Street East 

Here is a preview from my set-up today....

You really have to come by in person to get the full effect!!

Ok.......and here is ANOTHER brand new painting!!!!

"Things",  20" x 18", Acrylic on Canvas.

The breakdown:

This is a Urban Series painting of "Honest Ed's" in Toronto.

The quote is "Do you have things, or do things have you?" and is from Robert A. Cook.

I really like this quote. It seemed to fit the piece - given the words that run along the side of Ed's!

"Don't just stand there. Buy something!"

The other billboards are just made up.

The vintage imagery is a lady shopper.

I think it is all pretty self explanatory!

What do you think of this painting???

Remember to swing by Hangman and say HELLO this Thursday! (Have I mentioned it before??!!)

;-)

FLATIRON BUILDING

Happy Friday y'all!
Yup.....still busy painting for:

Down to the last minute in fact.
I have only a few days to complete my last paintings for the show........EEEEK!
As many of you know, I have been painting brand new Landscapes, which is a change of pace for me.......but I have also been painting Urban pieces as well.
Traditionally, I have shyed away from the really iconic Toronto buildings.
But lately,  I thought maybe there was a way to make them work in my paintings.....
Here is the result:

"Build Cities", Acrylic on Board

So...let me break it down.

The cityscape is compiled from a bunch of photos.....and it is the Flatiron Building here in TO.

Here is some wiki-knowledge about it:

The red-brick Gooderham Building (commonly referred to as the "Flatiron Building") is a historic landmark of Toronto, Ontario, Canada located at 49 Wellington Street East. On the eastern edge of the city's Financial District (east of Yonge Street), it is in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood wedged between Front Street and Wellington Street, where they join up to form a triangular intersection. Completed in 1892, it was an early example of a prominent "Flatiron" building. Other "Flatiron" examples are the English-American Building in Atlanta, completed in 1897, and the Fuller Building in New York City, completed in 1902.

The Gooderham Building is the focal point of one of Toronto's most iconic vistas: looking west down Front Street towards the building's prominent rounded corner, framed on the sides by the heritage commercial blocks along Front Street, and with the skyscrapers of the Financial District towering in the background. The CN Tower is also visible from certain angles behind Brookfield Place. This vista frequently appears in imagery of the city.

So there you go.
The imagery on the bottom of the welder - I really like.....and have used before in an old painting.
(I do my best to recycle!!)
The quote is "We used to build civilizations. Now we build shopping malls and condos." from travel author Bill Bryson. And the quote is painted on a trompe l'oeil cocktail napkin.
Then the whole painting got some coloured washes and aging.
TAA DAA!
Whadda ya think??
Like it?

EXTREME PAINTING MAKEOVER.....TTC Streetcar Style

Happy Friday folks!
So, I still have my nose to the grindstone........producing the last of my paintings for my "Town and Country" exhibition opening July 19th. DETAILS HERE!!
I am finally in the home stretch!!!
So here is the latest. This (below) is "Miss the Train":

I have never been a super fan of this one...and it never seemed to speak to others either....
So....I re-imagined it....and here's how:
-First I tightened up the painting.......and bumped up the colour saturation.
-Then I cut the canvas off its frame......and glued the area I thought was the strongest to a new wooden panel board.
-I painted a new quote (from Dr Seuss' "The Lorax") on board and mounted it ontop of spacers - and then on top of the canvas painting.
-NEXT....I recycled (and painted) the stretcher frame that held the old painting together - adding them on top of the new piece. I also added a metal strip with pop-rivits.
-On the bottom of the new piece I painted "the better way".
-I also cut a streetcar shape out of scrap wood - painted it and added it on top.
-finally did a bit of shading and some washes to make it all look cohesive!
I think the end result is TERRIFIC!!!
I am super happy about the final result!!!
From an ok canvas painting to a great mixed media piece in only 2 days!!!!!!

"Better", 24" x 18" Acrylic on wood, canvas and metal

Well......what say you?

Improved...no???

Remember to come out and see it live (2 weeks from now!!)

Have a great weekend all!!!!!

REPAINTS: Town and Country

Hey y'all!
So I am busy getting my big show together for July.
Just in case you missed the deets on this show check out THIS POST!
So the theme is "Town & Country" and I will be showing lots of great new work...
But I will also showing a bunch of paintings that I am 'refreshing'.......
I have re-painted one already....and now I would like to show TWO MORE that are refreshed!
The first painting is called "Different" and it has been around for a couple of years.

I have shown it 3 times.....and it hasn't found a home.....but I am thrilled with the new version:

As you can see, I have put an old streetcar in the composition.
I also added some 'trompe l'oeil' elements including a piece of paper, a post it note and a button that says "one of a kind" (which replaces the vintage imagery that said the same thing)
I removed the quote from the sky to give the landscape a bit more "breathing room"...
I also pumped up the colours to make it more dynamic!
I think it works much better in its new form!!

Also....I have never been happy with this piece from my Arcade Series:

Big City Condos, 2010

So I gave it a refresh!
I found the old yellow very jarring - so I toned it down.
In fact I tweaked the whole colour palette adding a lovely turquoise in place of the green
I also changed the composition slightly....I made the buildings at the rights side come up higher....
and to balance that made the trees and the crane on the opposite side taller as well.
I made the clouds a bit more graphic....and I think it is much better!
I also changed the bottom less 'peacock-y'...and added colour in the holes that were black before.
Lastly I added some more text - just to get the point of the piece more obvious.....
Tear it down - build a condo.....

Whadda ya think??
NEW and IMPROVED??
Well worth the time? Or not so much??
I would love your comments!!

NEW SHOWS - NEW WORK!!!!!!

Hey guys......
Sorry I have been kinda lax with my posting recently - the summer tends to go that way.
But I want to share a few things today.
On Friday last week I confirmed my summer exhibitions!
As you know, I won't be showing at the Toronto Outdoor show this year. As a result, there are only 2 opportunities you will have to see my work this summer.

1.) I have a few paintings on display at Ethel (a wonderful antique store on Queen East). There will be a grand re-opening for Ethel's new store, (tentatively June 28th) and I top you can make it out. I will have more details coming soon.

2.) A solo exhibition at Hangman Gallery. I am putting together new work and some re-painted older works to bring you a new exhibition. "Town and Country" will include art from my Landscape and Urban series. I am really excited about this summer show.....here are the deets:


Town and Country: a new exhibition of works by Rob Croxford

July 17^th - Aug  5^th, 

Opening reception: Thurs July 19^th, 7-9pm. 

Hangman Gallery,

756 Queen Street East

Rob's new exhibition explores the relationship between city and country by juxtaposing retro-styled imagery with urban and rural landscapes. By employing humor Rob's work entertains while addressing both environmental and sociopolitical issues. 

I will have more info and some new images for you soon.........to wet your whistle, here is a painting I recently overhauled for the T and C show:

You may remember this painting from the distant past:

I liked this painting, but I never LOVED it. Truthfully if a painting lasts more than 2 years without selling, I figure it is in need of a repaint- as most of my work doesn't last that long unsold! (knock on wood) 

So last year, I tried updating it for my show "Auto Fixation" here is the blog post about it!

I think it was a TOTAL change. I showed the re-vamped version twice, and still didn't LOVE her....(or more importantly no one else loved her enough to buy her). 

So third time is a charm. I KNOW it!!! Here is the last version of "City Girl"......

What are the differences???? 

1. I completely re-designed and repainted the paper that she is holding.

2. I cooled the plaid/roses background a bit, so it reads a little less 'hot' than before.

3. I added darks to her skin tones, dress & hat (so that the black in the cityscape was less jarring)

4. I changed the 'one way' arrow to lead your eye back into the centre of the canvas.

5. I repainted and tightened up most of the buildings adding lots of blues and greys back in - and toning down the lime green that seemed to be the overwhelming colour. I was aiming to make her seem like she is more married into the overall colour scheme of the painting.

Well? WHAT do you think? Well worth another day of painting? I'd love your opinion! 

Remember to come out and see her in person at Hangman in July!

SUBWAY ENCHANTMENT

OK!!!!!
Another new painting.
It is similar to the last 2....read about those awesome paintings HERE and HERE
Here you go.......

This time, I decided to take my inspiration from the TTC subway system.
The poster part is inspired by this photo of the The Bloor Viaduct  in Toronto, ON.
(officially it is called the Prince Edward Viaduct) here is the wiki-description:

The viaduct connects Bloor Street East to Danforth Avenue on the east and spans the Don River Valley, crossing over (from west to east) the Bayview Avenue Extension, the Don River, and the Don Valley Parkway. The roadway has five lanes (three eastbound and two westbound) with a bike lane in each direction. The subway level connects Broadview Station in the east with Castle Frank Station to the west. 


NOT SO Fun fact about the viaduct.......

With nearly 500 suicides by 2003, the Viaduct ranked as the second most fatal standing structure in the world, after the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. At its peak in 1997, the suicide rate averaged one person every 22 days. This prompted the construction of a suicide barrier in 2003 called the Luminous Veil.

The poster kinda pokes fun at the fact that "the views" that can "only be seen by Subway".....as you may know - this is one of the few places that has ANY view from the underground subway system. And it is kinda terrible that the sight you see is also a 'suicide bridge'. 

YOU MUST read this VERY COOL article about the building of bridge. 
(Don't worry - there are lots of pictures with it!!)

http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/09/the_birth_of_the_bloor_viaduct/

Ok...back to my painting......again, I tried to make it look like an old travel poster.

The background this time is tile from Castle Frank Station:

The quote "Distance lends enchantment to the view." is from Mark Twain.

I think it works well on this piece!!

So there ya go!!

Another piece ready for The Artist Project 2012!

http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/09/the_birth_of_the_bloor_viaduct/

ANOTHER VINTAGE TTC STREETCAR!

Happy Monday y'all!!
Well, I have been busy working this last weekend.
ON PAINTING.
I know - shocking!
My latest painting is similar in flavour to "The Streetcar Experience"

"Seeing the Sights (by Streetcar)", 30" x 24", Acrylic on Board.

Just like the other painting, there are a number of things going on here.
In the 'poster part of the painting, I have a Toronto Transit  Commission Streetcar:

Check out transit toronto for more cool vintage trains!

I have also incorporated the Prince's Gates at Exhibition Place!

Many people mistakenly call this the 'PRINCESS GATES'
Which is wrong wrong wrong!

My version of the Gates was influenced by this cool retro poster:

The CNE ticket in the background is 'replica' of a REAL ticket from 1913:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toronto_postcards/3225142857/

The subway tiles are from St. Clair Subway Station.....

I picked that station because the streetcar in the painting is a Bathurst/St. Clair Streetcar
(and the Bathurst station tiles are just not as nice!!!!)
The quote: "One's destination is not a place, but a new way of seeing things." is from Henry Miller.
The rest of the 'trompe l'oeil' mixed media looking style with the faux paper and tape corners, the shine of the tiles was super fun to paint!!!!
So there you go.
New work ready for The Artist Project 2012!
Huzzah!
What say you?
Dontcha dig the new work?