Art Interiors Festival of Smalls 2013

Here is a sneak peek into what I've been working on for the past few days. Actually it's been a couple of weeks that I've been working on small works for this annual event coming up soon. I've discovered that I'll probably need to get glasses sooner than later lol. Painting straight lines and tiny letters requires a very steady hand, good lighting, and patience. As much as I like working on these smalls, I'll be very happy when they're complete and hanging on the gallery wall.

Living and Working in a Live Work Space.

We moved into our loft/condo in June of 2010. It was a fairly quick process in that we started looking in April and ended up closing the deal and moving in June. Because I have my studio space in my home, it was important that I 'set up house' and my studio rather quickly. As it happened it was about 2 weeks of organizing, packing, moving, unpacking and not painting.

I wanted to get back to work as quickly as possible so I organized the space as best I could in a hurry. Unpacked boxes and put things in their new place. I even made use of the few screws that were left in the wall to hang artwork thinking I could get to it in time. 

So here we are three years later and not too much is different from when we moved in. I'm still not really happy with the 'flow' of the layout. Thanks to the builders vision there was certainly not much choice as to how I arranged the living area, working area, pet area etc. We Have beautifully large windows (which I love) but very limited wall space for hanging artwork. This is a bit of a problem as on occasion I have clients visiting to purchase my paintings. I want my space to be a reflection of the beautiful spaces in my fave decorating magazines where my artwork has appeared.

Living and working in the same space can be crazy and chaotic but it provides a lot of freedom as well. Much time is spent preparing to paint, searching for supplies and cleaning up afterwards. After all my work table also doubles as our dining table. 

So I've set a goal for myself to tackle this design dilemma once and for all. I know there is much I could do with my live/work space to make it more conducive to creativity and visually stunning. I've made myself a binder to keep all my tear sheets of design inspiration, ideas, and paint chips. I'll be updating some shelving in the studio and I'm finally getting work together and framing some pieces for an art wall that I've been dreaming of for years now.

This will be a big job but one that I'm finally ready to take on. Although I have no problem making decisions about paint colors in my art, and I think I've done a fairly good job of making use of the space we have, I think it's time I called on a professional for help. Stay tuned.

Style at Home Magazine December 2011.

 Style at Home Magazine

December 2011

Tamara Robbins Griffith's lovely dining room.

That's my painting reflected in the mirror.

I had a nice surprise while reading my December issue of Style at Home magazine this past weekend. I spotted one of my birch paintings in the magazine. The More the Merrier pg. 126, features the lovely home of Tamara Robbins Griffith, Style at Homes managing editor. She purchased the painting from Art Interiors a couple of years ago. It's always such a thrill for me to see my work in peoples homes.

Birches, Birches, Everywhere Birches.

Over the past few years I've created many paintings of birch trees. Indeed birch trees have been and still are a very popular subject. They can be seen everywhere from original art, illustrations, posters, home decor items, the list is endless. I just love the way they look. "Spring's Promise"  is the very first one I painted and thanks to Art Interiors, it not only sold but also made it into the pages of Style at Home magazine, October 2007. 

I feel it's time to move along creatively and have been concentrating on other subjects, so I will now be painting birches by special request or commission only. There are a few available through my galleries and a few left here in my studio (I have a few more that aren't pictured here) Feel free to email me with your purchasing questions.

 Standing Tall  

Acrylic on Canvas

36x60x2

$3800

Upward Reaching  

Acrylic on Canvas

36x60x2

$3800

Painting and Home Decor.

Are you planning any home renovations or DIY projects in the near future?? Spring is the perfect time to clean and freshen up our living spaces, and very soon I'll be painting the master bedroom. I'm having a hard time choosing a color, and woul'd love to hire a professional to help with that and some other changes I have planned, but it's just not in the budget this year. Here are a couple of 'before' photos. The wall color (from the previous owner) is a shade of taupe that's a bit too pink for my taste. I'll probably go with a warm grey that will complement the concrete ceiling. Of course I'll be posting the 'after' photos for you.

I can't help myself when I'm near paint color swatches. I just have to make collections of the colors that are inspiring me lately. I call this grouping 'Vegas Desert'

A grouping of some CIL greys that are in the running. Not sure if I'll end up choosing one of these, I've been changing my mind almost daily.

Style at Home and Beauti-Tone have a gorgeous paint collection that I've been admiring lately. Seen here at the Style at Home booth at this year's IDS show. Photo courtesy of Style at Home.

This is the Fresh palette from the Style at Home- Beauti-Tone brochure. Love the cool greens and blues here. I've been using shades of these colors in my paintings lately.

The Loft palette. Very sophisticated greys and blues. So urban and downtown.

West Elm, Style at Home Event.

Last night I attended the West Elm, Style at Home (invitation only) shopping event. It was jam packed with shoppers enjoying excellent nibbles, festive cocktails, and 20% off their purchases.

I finally got to meet (in person) Samantha Pynn (celebrity designer and contributing design editor, Style at Home Magazine) and Margot Austin senior design editor, Style at Home Magazine). Thanks so much for chatting with me ladies.

The store was beautifully decorated for the holidays and a DJ was playing tunes to set the mood. Bells would ring every time there was a sale. All the staff were so helpful-it was one great big party.

Love these dishes, in fact I love just about everything in the store. Unfortunately when I finally made up my mind about my purchase, the lines to pay were so long, I couldn't wait. I had another event that I had to go to another event, but not to worry, I was given a coupon for 20% off my next purchase. Thanks West Elm!!!

I was so happy when this store finally came to Canada. I just love the West Elm look. Check it out for yourself here.

Edited December 4. Thanks to a friendly comment it has been made clear to me that the bells would ring every time a donation was made to Sick Kids Hospital and not when just a sale was made. My apologies for not making this clear. Donations to the Sick Kids Foundation can be made here.

Style at Home Colour Collection Brochure.

I finally picked up my copy of the new Style at Home Colour Collection brochure by Beauti-Tone Paints. I've been waiting for weeks to get my hands on this. I first heard about the collection from Margo Austin, Style at Home's senior design editor (I follow her on Twitter) and then from the Style Sleuth blog (thanks Brett). This same photo appeared here in the April 2010 issue of Style at Home magazine and that's my painting in the photo. It's available for purchase here at Art Interiors.
This painting has sold. Thank you.

Although I really like the brochure and all the color collections my most favorite one is "loft". I think I'll have to paint our new master bedroom either SD029 Grey Goose or SD030 Felted. Don't you just love the names that they give paint colours?

My second favorite is the "Fresh" grouping, and I'd love to see a room done with SD007 Wasabi, SD008 Granny Smith and SD010 Jet. It would be stunning.

So here's a sneak peek at our new condo. It's empty, clean and just waiting for us to move in and make it a home. This corner is going to be my new studio space. Yes, I do have a very easy commute.

This is looking from the west window into the kitchen area. There's tons of storage space and the10 ft. high ceilings make it very spacious. As you can tell I'm really excited to be moving in very soon. I'll be posting photos of the packing, the move out, the move in, and the transformation so stay tuned.

Spring is in Full Bloom.

I've been walking around with camera in hand. Spring is in full bloom here and I try to get out of the studio everyday to enjoy the sunshine and blossoms. So much inspiration for new paintings.

There is just so much color everywhere. In our area we are about 2-3 weeks ahead so I've gotten the early spring I wished so hard for.

I'm being bombarded with inspiration. So much inspiration that it's hard to sleep at night. I keep my little sketchbook handy so I can jot down ideas or thumbnails for new work. What's up with me lately???

watching the cats enjoy the sun

Daydreaming

thinking of moving

window shopping

making lists

yogurt with raw nuts and cinnamon for breakfast

the cardinal outside my studio window

kalamata olives and feta cheese

color

spring cleaning

paint chips

mad men season 2

cooking

mixing a really good margarita

80's music

style at home magazine

redoing the studio

wanting to go to new york

trying to stick to an exercise schedule

the it crowd

being grateful and enjoying life

good friends

Style at Home Day on Cityline.

This past Tuesday, I was so very fortunate to attend a taping of Cityline. Not only did I finally get to meet Kimberley Seldon in person but she included two of my small paintings in her design segment on "toile".

I arrived with my work to the studio just as the BT gang was finishing up Breakfast Television. I met Kimberley and after chatting for a bit, I showed her the paintings and she told me what she would say about them in her segment. I also got to meet some of her entourage from Style at Home magazine. We all entered the studio and the set up was fast and furious. Brett Walther and Samantha Pynn were also getting their props ready for the show. The set came together very quickly with so many hands pitching in putting it together.

Host Tracy Moore was fun as she warmed up the audience. She was asking who had watched the Bachelor the night before, and chatted about where people were from. Some had come from very far away to see the live taping.

Here Kimberley is chatting with an audience member. She had a design question with photos, that was to be answered during the show.

It was quite the experience. Not only did Kimberley show and describe my work beautifully, but one of my Birch Series paintings was on the pre recorded house tour by Style at Home design editor Ann Marie Favot. "Birch Series IV" (available at Art Interiors) is also in the April issue of Style at Home magazine. Tons and tons of gratitude here! And thanks again Kimberley for a fantastic morning. The episode airs next Tuesday March 9th. If you watch, you might spot me in the audience.

Edited March 9. The episode aired today at 9am EST. and my painting did not appear in AnneMarie Favot's house tour. I guess as I was seated way up in the back row of the audience, and the monitor was quite far from me, I thought I spotted it but I was wrong. Drat, I guess this means I do need glasses!! LOL.

Style at Home Magazine April Issue.

I am always very surprised and thankful when one of my paintings ends up in the pages of a national design magazine such as Style at Home. I'm never told that this will happen, or given any advanced notice.

Birch Series IV 12x24
Available for purchase at Art Interiors.

This past weekend when I picked up my copy, I was so pressed for time that I flipped through it very quickly and put it down hoping to get back to it when I had time to savour every page. It was only today when I returned home from attending a taping of Cityline (more on that later!) that I noticed my painting on page 107-108 of the April issue.

"Birch Series IV" is quietly sitting there on the shelf with other artwork, in an article titled the White House by Style at Home design editor Anne Marie Favot. As this painting was used as a prop, it's still available for purchase at Art Interiors.

Kimberley Seldon, Cityline, and Art Interiors

I was happy to find that Kimberley Seldon was on Cityline again today. Kimberley Seldon is one of my favorite designers as you can read here in a blog post I wrote almost exactly one year ago. Kimberley and her design group have certainly come a long way since I first became aware of her years ago on a "call in" design show and then later with her show "Design for Living". As well as being a designer with an international reputation, Kimberley offers courses and workshops in interior design for professional and non professional designers, shopping events and design excursions to such glorious destinations as Paris and Tuscany.

I was very happy to have met Kimberley in person (very briefly) at a trade show a few years ago where she was speaking and thanks to technology, connected with her on Twitter just recently.

Through Art Interiors, Kimberley and her design team have purchased my paintings for clients, and I've seen my paintings on Cityline numerous times either in house tours or hanging as part of the set. This is always such a big thrill for me. Thanks so much Kimberley!

Here, "First Light" 30x40, hangs in a clients bedroom. Imagine my surprise while enjoying her website, I came across one one of my paintings. Major gratitude here!! Kimberley Seldon is also the decorating editor of Style at Home magazine and has a list of accomplishments to long to mention here. Please check her website and blog.

All photos are from Kimberley Seldon Design Group

Art Interiors and Style at Home

Spring's Promise
Acrylic on Canvas 30x40, Sold.
As seen in Style at Home Magazine, October 2007

Birch Series II
Acrylic on Canvas 12x36

I dropped off 4 new paintings in my Birch Series to Art Interiors yesterday. I've noticed how these new smaller panels have evolved from the larger original painting seen above in a past issue of Style at Home Magazine. I've added more texture to these pieces and they have a much more abstract feel to them. It's through Art Interiors that I've been fortunate enough to have my work included in Style at Home Magazine 3 times, including the cover. Thank you Art Interiors and Style at Home. Major gratitude here!!

And yesterday I was re-introduced to Style at Home Magazine's online version. (Thanks Natalie!!) These Are A Few of My Favourite Things has been added to my daily must read blogs. Yes, I've visited the site many times before but couldn't take the time to really get into it. Besides, one of MY favourite things is taking a break from my studio and heading to my nearest Indigo. I purchase the newest issue of Style at Home Magazine and my usual latte from Starbucks and spend a good hour or so flipping through the pages. There's so much in every issue and the eye candy is the best. So now it looks like I'll be curling up with my laptop and and catching up with Style at Home online as well. I think I'll enter the makeover contest going on right now. Check it out here. I'd love to win a $2000 gift card from The Home Depot. OK, so now I'm visualizing how my studio would look after a makeover. I'm thinking built ins on one wall and my own sink so I wouldn't have to use our kitchen sink. New lighting. New storage, new flooring, hmmmmmmm......

RedBanana's Shop on Etsy

Summer Birches 4x4 Acrylic on Canvas
Click here to purchase

Yellow Flowers 3x5 Acrylic on Canvas
Click here to purchase

Birds on a Line 4x4 Acrylic on Canvas
Click here to purchase

My poor little Etsy shop has been feeling some what neglected these past few months but all that is about to change. I've been painting lots of little daily Paintings, or as I like to call them "smalls" and will be listing them regularly into the shop. My aim is to have my shop all spruced up and ready to go for the holiday season. Yes, it's just around the corner. In fact, I saw Christmas trees and gift baskets at Costco last week.

Daily paintings, smalls, or minitures, whatever you like to call them are very hot these days. They can be very affordable so for those that prefer owning original art as opposed to posters or prints this is possible. And they are very easy to incorporate into any setting, even when wall space is limited. I like to display them on bookshelves. You may remember this post about one of my small birch paintings shown in Style at Home magazine. The article was all about accesorizing and the painting was displayed in a bookcase. It's very easy and and affordable to own original art these days as there are plenty of art shows, tours, gallery walks and art and craft specialty shops in every city. One of my favorite shows in Toronto is the annual Festival of Smalls at Art Interiors. This show has become extremely popular over the years and I'm very happy to be a part of it every year. I've already started painting new work for this show.