WHEW!
Yesterday I was a part of The Kensington Market Art Fair. It was my 5th time showing with them. This year I was smart - I picked the first and last of the KMAF season so that I would not be sweating to death......
SO SMART ROBBIE!!!
Ya....it was 30 FREAKING DEGREES yesterday AND Saturday!
(I know what you're thinking - here goes author instalment of Rob's weather/art show rants!) 
But it is REALLY hard to get people excited about buying something when their wallets are so hot that they have FUSED to their shorts!
Just saying.
ANYWAYS....here is my photo-log of the process from load to unload!
ENJOY:

So, that is how it went.
It was hot.
It was SWELTERINGLY HOT.
It was dirty - as these things can be....and no...not in the sexy way.....BUT despite all that....it was a pretty good day!
I had a LOT of great clients come by and pick up something from my booth! I really appreciate the support!
Thanks to everyone at KMAF and to my art-neighbours for everything!
No time for slacking though.....as I turn my attention to
The Riverdale Art Walk!!!! READ ABOUT THAT HERE!

Well, my first show of the year is ALMOST HERE!
(Sunday May 29th, from 12pm-7pm at 77 Nassau Street)
Read all about The Kensington Market Art Fair HERE...
And there are a BUNCH of exciting NEVER SEEN things I wanna show you TODAY.....like this...

WHHHAAAAAA???
Yup. I am testmarketing a line of small coin purses!
Truthfully, I only did a FEW as they are a little expensive to make....but I thought I would see what people's reactions were and perhaps do a few of the most popular style(s)
Here is what you need to know about them:

• Made from 100% polyester
• Double sided printing
• Designed to fit loose change, bills and credit cards
• Approximate dimensions 4.5" x 2.75" (W x H)
• Priced at $25.00
• Currently there are only 2 of each style.....so I want YOUR feedback on them! IN FACT, I would love you to send me an email of you would like to PRE-ORDER one!

Currently there are these 4 styles.
1. "Slush Fund" - which has a black and red flower pattern on the back and my imagery on the front

2. "The 6IX" in black and white. The same imagery is on BOTH sides!

3. "Cash Cow" has the same imagery is on BOTH sides!

4. "King of the Road" also has the same imagery is on front and back!

WHICH CAN I ORDER FOR YOU TODAY?

Now....if these are too "girly" for you....and you cannot see yourself taking this sweet little coin purse out for a night on the town.....how about one of these:

RIIIGGGHHHT????
I LOVE LOVE LOVE these!
​This silver chrome case has a matte finish with an enamel covered image of my original artwork!
It is a double sided case which can hold your cash and ID and your business cards..........and I guess can also hold cigarettes.
(But shhhh don't tell the kids that!)
The size of the case is approximatly 4" x 2 1/4", and 1/2" deep.

Right now I have 3 designs.....available for pre-order:

The 3 I have right now are:
King of the Road
Space Cowgirl
Travel by Streetcar

These were all just tests to gauge interest....
So if I get lots of people emailing - I will know I should place a bigger order! Let's hope for that!

I think they are all pretty FUN!!!!
What do YOU think?????
​

Well....there is 12 days until The Riverdale Art Walk:

...and I am done most of the painting for the show!
(HUZZAH!)
I will she showing the 10 band new pieces that I have been showing you online for the last few months!
I am super excited! 
In addition to the actual show....you can still check out my art at the Amsterdam Brewery..

See that piece in PERSON....or go to BUY it....as part of The Artists Network - Art On-Tap R.A.W. preview at The Amsterdam Brewery!
Seriously, stop in to the brewery at 45 Esandar tonight to see what it's all about.
AAAAND.....I want you to go and check out HOME JAMES DECOR:

Located at 998 Queen Street East, this store has a LOT of lovely things to buy. It is a very nicely curated space with something STUNNING for your home......including MY WORK:

In the 12 days leading up to the show you can see 4 of my paintings at this fantastic store! I encourage you to swing by and check it out:

My paintings all work so well in this space....right?
So go by!(And go BUY)! Tell them Rob sent you!
​And as for the details of the R.A.W., remember....
I am INSIDE at the Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre
SO I WILL BE DRY IF IT RAINS!!! 
June 4th and 5th from 11am-6pm.
Here is a map:

I hope to see you there!

HEY GUYS!
​So, everyone has been talking about "the six" or "the 6IX".
For those of you living under a rock (or out of Toronto) they are talking about Toronto....And I mean more than just Drake and the Raptor fans....

SO....WHY "The 6"? 
There seem to be 2 schools of thought.
ONE - it was due to the amalgamation process that created our Toronto. It was originally broken up into SIX different cities: Toronto, Scarborough, North York, York, East York, and Etobicoke.
TWO - it is attributed to Toronto because of the inclusion of the number in the city’s two area codes 416 and 647.

So I thought I would make a piece that both glorified and satirized this WHITE HOT new nickname.
First I adopted a 1950's "welcome to" postcard style.
MY FIRST TIME (although if you look at my logo - I am trying to do the same kinda thing)

So I thought about the imagery that I liked - icons of the city which included:
1.) The Skyline with the CN Tower
2.) The fantastic modernist architecture of New City Hall and Nathan  
    Phillips Square
3.) The Goodman Worts Flatiron Building
4.) The clocktower of the Old City hall Building
5.) The St Lawrence Market
6.) The streetcar
7.) The Prince's Gates at the CNE (and another streetcar)
8.) The Flag of Toronto
9.) The unofficial mascot for Toronto - the raccoon

Then to add a bit of "Rob-oscity" to it....(aka smart-pants-ness) I put the tag line as "...kinda makes you miss "TDot" or "The Big Smoke".
It amused me a lot....here is how the painting profession went....

So that was how I got to this...the final image:

I think it is one of my very best pieces!
I am now figuring out how to merchandise it....
STAY TUNED FOR THAT INFO SOON!!!
Later gaters!

HOWDEE!
So show season is almost upon us!
SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO SEE ALL THE NEW STUFF!!!!!
I have new paintings, new prints, new postcards, new merch.
VERY EXCITING!!
First up.....

THE KENSINGTON MARKET ART FAIR
**I will be there Sunday May 29th and October 30th ONLY!
12pm to 7pm at 77 Nassau St (see map below)
I will be showing mostly prints and merch - and some LARGE paintings......THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO BUY THE MERCH/POSTCARDS that will NOT be available at my fine art shows this summer!

SEE YOU IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS!!!

HAPPY SATURDAY ALL!!!!
So here's the thing......sometimes it is SUPER HARD to think up something to blog about. I want it to be informative OR entertaining......sometimes my tiny brain can't do EITHER!
So....today, while I get photos of my latest piece ready to show, I have some other things to show yous!
(Ya...i am using 'you' as PLURAL now!)
Are you following me on Instagram???
You should....it is a great way to waste MORE time!
I post lots of stuff there that I don't post on Twitter or Facebook!
​Like this:

Which was a response to the terrible design choices of the NEW Instagram logo. YUCK!
OR....I posted this.....

This is a mannequin that showed up in the hall at Walnut Studios - more than once it scared the bejesus outta me....
Honestly, I need to be sufficiently prepared mentally to talk to other artists, and this gal......just did NOTHING to help a brotha out! ALTHOUGH.....I did label this:
"Don't be afraid of Carol! She's ARMLESS!"
GET IT????
Ya...comic GOLD like that is what you are missing on my insta-feed!
GET ONBOARD WITH MY INSTAGRAM!!!!!!!!
Speaking of getting onboard.....today is "Train Day"!
Ya...I have a ridiculous calendar that informs me of all the 'great' holidays!!!!!!!!! This is one I couldn't miss....
As you know, I am a HUGE train nerd, and have a long history of painting trains......like these favourites:

So....as you can see....I am a big ole train dork.
And I am okay with that!
Okay I think that is all I want to share this Saturday....
​Have a great weekend!!!

Good Mugday! I mean MONDAY!
For FUN I made these mugs!
They have 4 scenes from my prints:
- Honest Eds
- The Flatiron Building
- New City Hall
- Yonge Street
I only did a few as a test sample.
If you would like one, I will have them for sale ($25 a piece) at The Kensington Market Art Fair on Sunday May 29th!
(YES, I will tell you all about THAT show later this week!)
But for now, please enjoy this photo of what I look like before I finish my first coffee.....
Pay special attention to the mug....

GLAMOUR!!!!
Get a little glamour for yourself!
Have a great week, y'all!
​

Hey Toronto Peeps....
You think it is impossible to own my work?
NOOOOPE! Youiswrong!
If you can't afford my original fine art that has been shown professionally for over a decade, then you CAN afford a lovely limited edition print!
BUT WAIT......if you can't even cobble together the $35 bones it takes to own an 8"x10" print.....well then there are THESE:

CERTAINLY you can afford THREEE DOUBLOONS...
That is $3 BUCKS!
THREE!!!
​To support a talented and underpaid Toronto artist!
(me)
COME ON, don't make me yell at you publicly, you big cheapskate!
Wow. That got mean SOOOO fast.
SORRY.
Anyways, these guys are all available on my SITE NOW....
I will be debuting them at The Kensington Market Art Fair at the end of this month....(don't worry I will blog about that later! ;-)
Have a great weekend y'all!

Happy Tuesday!
So here's the thing. 
Sometimes I just plain forget to take photos of a project as I paint it. This is the case for this next piece....
"Leslieville" came together pretty fast when painting it. (Which is great and a refreshing change from my last few pieces!)
Here you go:

So as you can see, I went for the same multi-area focus that I did on my last big painting (St Clair West). I like that by picking a bunch of locations in the same area - I can really get the flavour of the area!! I think this one is pretty good...In it, I focused on:
1. The DeGrassi Street railway overpass that is essentially the gateway to Leslieville. 
2. The beautiful Ashbridge Estate.
3. The iconic Leslieville Mural at Jones Street - that is about to repainted! :-(
4. A stretch of Queen east that represents the many FAB shops!!
 
I have featured the streetcars (as they are iconic for Toronto - and especially Queen Street). I have also integrated the maple leaf as my homage to Alexander Muir, the composer of “The Maple Leaf Forever” who was a Leslieville big shot!

This is all in preparation for The Riverdale Art Walk:

Riverdale Art Walk is a two-day, public fine art exhibition showcasing established and emerging artists INDOORS and outdoors in Jimmie Simpson Park in Toronto’s flourishing Queen East arts district. The first outdoor art show of Toronto’s season, participating artists are selected through an anonymous jury process, allowing an opportunity to participate in the only outdoor art show that focuses ONLY on fine art. Last year, the festival hosted over 170 participating artists and the inclusion of local community groups, entertainment and food vendors.
Now in its 18th year in the Riverdale/Leslieville area of Toronto, the festival has grown to reach an audience of over 10,000 art enthusiasts and supporters. Through new partnership opportunities with the local BIA, the Riverdale Art Walk expects to continue to grow. 

The Riverdale Art Walk is held primarily in Jimmie Simpson Park (Outdoors) plus, NEW this year, the indoor space of the Jimmie Simpson Community Centre!

YOU WILL FIND ME INDOORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Tell a friend - actually, tell 10 friends!)

Saturday, June 4 11:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday,   June 5 11:00am – 6:00pm

I will have A LOT of new work to show you at this exhibition!
Mark your calendars!
I hope you can come out and see me!