Art Interiors 'Inside the Artist's Studio'

There was much excitement around here last week as I had a special visitor on Friday morning. Patricia from Art Interiors came for a studio visit. Over green tea, we chatted about life, the art world, cats, and downtown living. 

I've been represented by Art Interiors for quite a few years now and so I'm honored to be featured on the gallery blog this week.  Inside the Artist's Studio. 

You can see all the photos and read the post here.

My Fave Picks from Art Interiors Festival of Smalls Part 1.

Art Interiors Festival of Smalls is now in full swing. It's Thanksgiving week in The U.S. and Black Friday sales are happening (in Canada also) so I thought I'd share just a few of my favorites from the Festival. 

Seriously there are so many wonderful pieces of art on offer, it was very hard to pick favorites. I'll definitely have to do another post or two. New work is being listed daily as it get's dropped off at the gallery. Check out Art Interiors Festival of Smalls online store. Original art makes a great gift. The Festival is on until December 24th.

Gabriela Collier

Spring is Here

8x8 $250.

Diliana Popova

Winter Dove II

12x12 $350.

Shawn Skeir

Weaving #1 Medium

9x12 $250.

A. Pell

Cloud Study 2010

4x4 $220.

Jenifer McGregor

wc 173

6x8 $55.

Adriyanna Zimmermann

Waking Up Assissi

11x15 $150.

Rita Vindedzis

No.5 Birds on a Wire

8x8 $200.

New paintings at Arts on Queen for November.

Fresh New Work at XC Art Restoration, Toronto.

After Hours  40x30 acrylic on canvas

$2000.

King West Crawl 40x30 acrylic on canvas

$2000.

On Approach 15x30 acrylic on canvas

$800.

Sunset Landing 15x30 acrylic on canvas

$800.

Eastbound 30x40 acrylic on canvas

$2000

Five new cityscapes were delivered to XC Art Restoration this morning. Along with my 'King West' themed paintings, I'm so excited to reveal what I've been working on for the past few weeks. Inspired by recent trips 'On Approach' Sunset Landing' and 'Eastbound'.

I get so inspired when traveling and on vacation. During our last few flights I've been enjoying the window seat. Even though it's a little cramped, I love to gaze out the window and get a bird's eye view. Flying at sunset and watching the sky get dark is so beautiful. I've taken many photos and have put my inspirations on to canvas.

XC Art Interiors is planning a move but just four doors south of their present location on Mt Pleasant Road in Toronto. You can always see them online here.

Lunch Break at the AGO.

 From the film 'Moonrise Kingdom' Directed by Wes Anderson

 Dog and Priest 1978

Woman and Terrier 1963

It's been a crazy few weeks here in the studio. I've been in intense painting mode with upcoming shows and getting some new works out to a few of my galleries. I'll be posting about those shows soon. Stay tuned.

One of the things I like most about having my home/studio downtown is that I have the city right at my door. Just a 10 minute walk on my break for lunch and I'm at the Art Gallery of Ontario. I checked out the Alex Colville exhibit last week and really enjoyed it. Colville has always been one of my all time favorite artists in that he painted the events of everyday life and personal quiet moments. It was a thrill to see his iconic paintings in person. 

Art Interiors Blog.

'It Was Her Regular Stop" 30x40 acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Photo Credit: Art Interiors

As seen on Art Interiors blog. 

A Four Season'r Residence

I had a wonderful surprise a few weeks ago while reading Art Interiors blog. A tour of a fabulous Four Season's residence with the work of 13 Art Interiors artists throughout, mine included. When I drop new paintings at a gallery, that's usually the last I see of them, so it's always nice when I spot a photo of my work in it's new setting. It's a nice way to complete the cycle. Read the entire blog post here.

Toronto is High Energy at TIFF Time.

In just a few days Tiff 2014 will be in full swing. Toronto is always high energy but it seems to go absolutely crazy once the Toronto International Film Festival gets underway. I'm not one to stand in lines for hours so I don't 'do' Tiff and I don't hang out at the various hotels or red carpet events to catch a fleeting glimpse of the attending celebrities. I do however like to people watch. I could sit for hours with a coffee watching the crowds and soaking it all in. The movie goers, and the media are as interesting as the stars (at least I think so).

Watching the many events and after parties from our balcony is fun too. The after parties were a nightly event at Brant House last year so it will be interesting to see if the Citizen will continue the tradition. Of course the parking in front of Jacobs will be like a showroom for Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches. 

I'll be spending much of the time that Tiff is in TO busy in my studio but you can be sure when it's time for a break I'll be at the local coffee joint people watching.

Rubber Bands and Erasers.

This is one of my favorite sculptures in my neighborhood. "Things End by James Carl sits outside the Festival Tower Condo atop the Tiff Bell Lightbox. It reminds me of the many blue rubber bands I've found over the years discarded by the local mailman.

 'Things End' by James Carl

I think it compliments one of my other favorite sculpture perfectly. Typewriter Eraser Scale X, part of the City Center Fine Art Collection in Las Vegas, NV.

'Typewriter Eraser Scale X' by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

That Eglinton Painting.

I've received numerous inquiries about 'that Eglinton painting' on my art wall featured by Sharon Grech on Cityline. Unfortunately that painting is not available as it's hanging in my son's home, but don't fret, other small paintings in the series are available at Art Interiors and can even be purchased on Art Interiors site. 

 My art wall featured on Cityline

 Bay-Yorkville  6x6  acrylic on canvas

available at Art Interiors

 Exit-Cumberland  12x12  acrylic on canvas

available at Art Interiors

 Exit  6x6  acrylic on canvas

available at Art Interiors

Summerhill  6x6  acrylic on canvas

available at Art Interiors

We are Having a Studio Clearance Sale.

The studio clearance sale is happening!!!! Friend and fellow artist Lynn Kelly is joining in and has graciously offered up her studio (at 401 Richmond). We will both be clearing out lots and lots of original work. Paintings in acrylic, watercolors, illustration, and mixed media. All works are original and one of a kind, created by Lynn Kelly and Rita Vindedzis (me). Our studio clearance sale is taking place mid November.  I'll post more details soon. This is just a teaser. Stay tuned.

Storm Clouds.

Mother Nature gave us quite a show last night and we had a fantastic view from our balcony which faces southwest. The clouds were amazing and constantly changing. At one point they looked almost too colorful as if they might have been found on old postcards from the 1960's. And then the sky went an apocalyptic orange color. Then lightning. Lot's of lightning.

Toronto Summer Weekend Happenings.

So happy to be living in the heart of this great city. There is an energy and excitement to downtown living and it fills me with creative inspiration. This past weekend there was so much going on in Toronto it was hard to choose which events to attend.

After dinner E and I decided to take a walk to David Pecaut Square to check out Luminato Festival 2013.

One Thousand Speculations, Canadian artist Michael De Broin's installation was very cool. It's the largest mirror ball in the world.

That's one amazingly large disco ball.

We then strolled up to Queen Street West to check out the set-up for the MMVA's. Much Music Video Awards. The corner of Queen and John Streets close down annually for this huge music event.

Tons of scaffolding and lights make up the stage.

 This was the smaller stage on John Street.

That's me enjoying the lights and fog machine.

Serena Ryder doing a sound check. It was a great night. So much to see and do and just a short walk from our front door too.

Tiff 2012

Tiff has taken over the city. Toronto is always high energy but it seems to go absolutely crazy once Tiff gets underway. I'm not one to stand in lines so I haven't attended a screening and I don't hang out at the various hotels or red carpet events to catch a glimpse of the celebs. I do however like to people watch and I did spot Ewan McGregor a couple of years ago while I was enjoying a latte at the Starbucks in Yorkville. 

This is the second year that we've been in the thick of it so to speak watching some of the hoopla from our balcony. The parties are non stop at Brant House and the parking in front of Jacobs is like a showroom for Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches. So I'll be walking around Toronto with camera in hand for the next few days soaking it all in.

 Photo from Casie Stewart

Pop up Target Hotel

 my neighbor hood

Across from Tiff Bell Lightbox