Here you go!
​A few things you MUST buy at the thrift stores!!!

Okay.....so that is it for another week! I hope you enjoyed this post. Remember, you can see all the "Bargain Hunt" posts by clicking on it in 'categories'!
​Have a great weekend!

Hey guys! As you probably have noticed, lately I have been working on new pieces for me "Sign of the Times" series. Gearing up for the outdoor art show season.
Up 'till now I would pick an area that I loved and then find the one one building that really spoke to me about that neighbourhood!
This formula has worked great, but sometimes there was just too much to choose from, and I had to make a "Sophie's Choice" type of decision....
BUT I recently worked out a new layout that would help help a brotha out! I would highlight a few different landmarks!!!!
GENUIS ROB!!!!
So this is the first painting like this!
In this painting, I am celebrating all things St. Clair West!
I chose 3 different areas....
1.) The Artscape Wychwood Barns (if you don't know them - YOU MUST!)
2.) Casa Loma (again - totally worth a re-visit!)
3.) The Vaughn Theatre - demolished in the 1980's!
    for more on the Vaughan check out this link:
https://tayloronhistory.com/the-vaughan-theatre-on-st-clair-ave/

I have also made sure there are lots of great details in this piece - the streetcars, the brick, the flowers....I LOVE how this turned out!!
​
Here is a bit of a #WIP (work in progress):

Ya....I know not the best in progress shots - but I got wrapped up in the painting process and kinda forgot to document the different stages. I really think this guy came together wonderfully!!!!!!
​SO....now look at the final.....

AMAZING?????
You love it??
YOU CAN OWN IT!!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!
Yes....I will be doing prints and postcards of this one!
FO
SHO
​Thanks guys!

Happy Friday!
I got some merch back from the printer today!
YAY! To save some money and to maximumize exposure, I decided to combine a few of the beach paintings together!
Here is how it turned out:

I am thrilled with how these "Beaches of Toronto" prints turned out!!
This is my very first multi-image gicleè!
I really hope everyone LOVES it!
These will be available next week in my store, and I will have these for my summer outdoor art shows!!!

GOOD MORNING!
Here is another new painting.....I am submitting it to a group show that Walnut Studios is doing in August. The theme is "Transition".
I wanted to submit a piece that fit the theme - but that also had my distinct 'look'. I am pretty excited about this piece!!!!
I took the theme literally.
TRANSIT-tion
Because you know how I love my Toronto Streetcars!!
So here is a different view of the streetcars....each version from the side. I incorporated 4 different styles of TTC streetcar.
The Peter Witt streetcar (1920's), The PCC4500 (1950's), The CLRV and the ALRV (1980's - current-ish) AND the new Flexity Outlook streetcars.
I wanted each to blend into the previous one - showing the passage of time and the progression of the technology!
TRANSITIONING each streetcar into the next!
Here it is:

I am pretty happy with how it turned out!
What do you think??

HAPPY FRIDAY you guys!!!! 
I have more new work to show you!
Yup. This one is a REQUEST!
​This new original painting is based on Liberty Village in Toronto!
I went out to take reference shots one sunny afternoon. I wasn't sure which building was the best to focus on. What I DID notice was a LOT of young couples around. It stuck in my mind, so I decided that I would feature a young couple in my illustration!
Okay...so this piece was a little frustrating. I'm not sure why I hit a block mid way, but I did. It was unpleasant for a day while I tried to figure out a solution to make the composition more balanced.
You'll see that in the progress photos below.
Okay so here is how it came together....

AND HERE IS THE FINAL PIECE:

So there you go!!
In the end, I think it turned out great (despite the angst in the middle of creating it)! Come out at see this fine piece at The Riverdale Art Walk this summer! OR BETTER YET.....come by the studio and buy it today!
:-) 
Yes....there will also be prints and postcards available this summer!
​HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND Y'ALL!

A short story by Rob Croxford....

This week I got a rejection letter from an art exhibition. One that I almost depend on, to keep me in business! It upset me!

THERE. I ADMITTED IT!!

The thing is, it really shouldn't hurt at this point in my art career!  I mean, I am a seasoned artist.....so this isn't the first time I've heard no......nor is it the second. Hell, over the past decade I 've gotten dozens and dozens of PROFESSIONAL rejections! (And a few personal rejections as well, mostly in bars, mostly in my youth...but I will save THAT humiliation for another day! 😜)

So if rejection is so common of an occurrence, why was I so dang upset? 

For those of you non-artists, let me give you some context.
To participate in art exhibitions you must submit a package to be judged by a jury. (Again, in my youth, in a bar, I have also been judged on my package -- but I digress!) 

SO....as a professional artist, you must plan your "submission season" MONTHS in advance. Sadly, you have very little control of which shows may accept you. As a result, many WORKING artists submit to many shows. It is a way to hedge your bets! Truthfully.....it's a real grind! Sometimes you only enter a show as a backup (because the exhibition that you really want - may reject you)!

I KNOW!!!
It sounds an awful lot like dating!
So let's go with that analogy...

You're a single gal on the go! You have the opportunity to meet potential suitors....(Yes, I am married - and the last time I dated we used the word 'suitors' - WHAT OF IT!?) ANYWAYS, there is no guarantee that ANY potential guy will choose you. Even though they should - you're a catch! YOU HAVE IT ALL! YOU GO GIRRRL! Granted, some dudes are a little easier to attract! They maybe are a little less-than-perfect for you - but they are reliable - and perfectly comfortable! There are also some that will LOVE you one year, only to blindside you with a "it's not you, it's me" - the very next year!  Finally, there are those that are "just not that into you" -- no matter how great your rack...I mean personality...is! 

Well SUBMISSION SEASON is just like that!!!

As artists, we are told the jury process is meant to create a diverse group of artists to entice buyers to come to an art event. However, it can feel like the process is also meant to weed out the untalented or the unpopular. And if you are one of the UNCHOSEN,UNWANTED,AND UNLOVED how are you supposed to feel? A little HURT! (Okay - maybe that is the hurt talking again..)

ANYWAYS.....it sucks -- again -- kinda like dating sometimes!
(YES - I STILL REMEMBER DATING!)

For years, I had been keeping all my rejection letters in a file. 
I called it the 'file of denial'. 
It is a multi-layered title. In it, I kept denials (rejections) from arts organizations and galleries that have deemed my work "not their thing". But it was also my PERSONAL denial that my living depends upon other people's judgements!
Just this year - I shred the crap out of it. File folder and all.
I decided that I don't need to keep reminding myself of the negatives, when there are so MANY positives to remember.

I assumed that this meant that I was beyond being hurt by rejection. WWWWRRRRONNNGGG!!!

NOW.....just like with dating........I know I can't tie my sence of self worth to ANY one show. I keep telling myself that I am strong and powerful artist (and GOSH DARN IT - people like me)! I assure myself that I don't need no show to prove that I am worthy
(insert a series of powerful finger snaps here)!

BUT the fact is....that I kinda DO need acceptance to shows to make a living. And unfortunately, somewhere in my brain -- I guess I still crave the validation as an artist. I'm just a guy - standing in front of a jury - asking them to like me! Granted, the anger, hurt, sadness, sour-grapes and jealousy doesn't last long....but it happens. I CAN ADMIT IT!

But here's the thing. I would rather be passionate about my art and feel the pain of rejection, than be too jaded from years of submission season - to feel the hurt! AND I would rather feel hurt than be completely uninvested in ANY outcome!
So that is how I deal with it. Hurt leads to healing! It makes you stronger and smarter and more well rounded. RIGHT?!?!!?!? 

Besides...Mr. Right Show could be just around the next corner! Or better yet - YOUR BEST SELF could be the reward!

So to my fellow rejects, I embrace you.
To those who got an acceptance letter, I toast you!
To those who rejected me, screw you.....I MEAN....thank you for the opportunity, and I hope to be reconsidered next year.

And remember fellow artists, just like dating - art is fickle, so brace yourself for whatever comes NEXT....Todays rejection could be tomorrows acceptance - and vice-versa! 😜

Onward and upward brave artists everywhere!

Howdy!
It's Tuesday April 12th, and if you did not take advantage of my sale,(as Donna Summer says) THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.....
​Remember the big Spring Sale continues....
ONLY UNTIL TOMORROW!!!! 
So if you have been on the fence about a piece, or feel like you need additional financing incentive, please contact me!
​There are still some great deals to be had!
The currently available pieces are up to date here on my site!!
GO LOOK NOW!

There are still a few pieces available.....like this STUNNING piece:

YUP! This piece is (in the words of Trump) HUUUUUUGE!
It is a great statement piece, and is less than half of it's retail price!!!!!!!
OR if you prefer something more local.....you can REPLACE your print with an original piece of art.....like this guy.....

HEYYYYYY GIIIRRRRRLLLLL!
Where all my gays at?
(Sorry - a painting like this one needs THAT kind of welcome!)
This is my latest completed painting "Hanlan's Point Beach", and I have NO IDEA what reaction it is gonna get. Truthfully, I am not exactly the darling of the Church/Wellesley art scene. I'm not really the darling of ANY demographic - or even in my own family - now that I think about it!
ANYWAYS, despite the fact that I have often felt ignored by most of my 'peeps' (except maybe back in the 80's when I was wore my short shorts to da' club - wink wink, nudge nudge!)I wanted to paint something to celebrate this beach!
WAIT.....I do have a small following of smart Lesbians....so that is pretty awesome! THEY are the best!!!!
But the Gays. OY!
Tough nuts for me to crack!
(Wow. That sounded dirty!)

So let's see. I'm trying this as a social experiment.
A "GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT" experiment.
Unless, now....like always, I have NO IDEA what the Gay peoples like!? (THAT seems entirely probable!)

Okay, so for those of you who don't know it, here is the Wiki-planation (again, that's the Wikipedia explanation)about Hanlan's Point Beach:

Hanlan's Point Beach is a public beach situated on Hanlan's Point in the Toronto Islands near Toronto, Ontario on the shore of Lake Ontario. One kilometre-long part of the beach was officially recognized by the city in 2002 as being clothing optional.As is common for most public nudist-friendly venues, males make up a large percentage of the users of the beach, but women can make up to one quarter of the total on popular weekends. Recent years continue to see an increase in the number of families who attend. The beach is a popular destination for the city's gay community.

So here is what I came up with:

It is more skin that I am used to painting!!!
AND more time spent with my hand in a crotch than usual!
(tee hee)
So? What do you think????
A fun compliment to my current beach work!
Look for prints and postcards soon!!
The postcards are DELIGHTFUL - but I need you to wait to see a post about them!
BYYYYYYEEEEEEE!

HEYA!
I am not even gonna talk about what this is.
If you DO NOT KNOW.....you gotta catch up friend.
OKAY FINE...I will tell you,
When I am not doing art things.....I travel all over taking photos of things that I think people might need....that I DO NOT. I then make snide and sarcastic comments about said items.
Sometimes I see stuff at an antique market...sometimes at the Value Village....sometimes in the oddest places!
Get it?
OK! Let's go!
​WAIT.....let me first tell you this particular post has a LOT of doll photos........sorry.....I hope they do not haunt your dreams....
Okay.....NOW let's go!!!!

There you go!
Hope you enjoyed that.
Have you got a photo you wanna share -- from the Value Village or Antique Market or your local grocery store? Send it to me! I'd love to post it on my BARGAIN HUNT post!!!