Studio Cats.

Working as an artist can be a very solitary profession. I spend many hours a day alone painting in my studio. As much as they frustrate me at times I don't know what I'd do without my studio cats to keep me company. 

They're older now and spend much of the day napping, but you can be sure to find them at the window on a sunny day when the birds are chirping. Or when I put down a drop cloth, or decide to work on the floor, they are right there on top of it all, toes in paint. Let me introduce you to my studio cats.

As wee kittens

 IGGY

her full name is Ignatowski Popoloni

I'll guard your canvas

NAMI

Nami was named after our favorite sushi restaurant

waterpark

I am Batman!

 too much catnip

sorry this sink is taken

I can help you with that

nom nom nom

drippies

sisters

My Year Ahead.

I'm back in the studio after two meetings this morning and am super motivated. I've been meeting weekly with another artist/friend since last November. These meetings are all about goals, both career and personal, and keeping each other accountable and on track. Of course there is some small talk and plenty of coffee involved.

The Cityline crew taping in my home/studio.

Much was accomplished last year and probably the highlight was my art/design segment that I worked on with Sharon Grech for Cityline. That dream/goal was a year in the making and well worth the effort. The summer months brought some excitement when I noticed that a couple of my published posters were bestsellers online. Travel is oh soooooo inspiring and there were three trips to Vegas (I know!!) and one to NYC. There were also plenty of field trips to the AGO and local galleries, and I said good-bye to an artist friend that left the country to follow her heart (brave soul)

This coming year is being planned and mapped out. I didn't always do this in fact for so much of my life I just 'let it happen' but now I know that once written down, that dream becomes a goal and attainable.

What I know for sure.

Exercise and eating right are key for me to stay motivated, inspired and happy. Not so much the eating right, that I'm quite good with, but when I get really really busy, the exercise is the first to go. I won't do that this year. The workouts are scheduled in and will happen regularly!!

I need to get out!! Long days painting in the studio can be isolating. I need to get out every day for a twenty minute break, grab a coffee or just a walk around the block. 

A few goals from the past couple of years that were put on hold for one reason or other will be on my calendar this year. The timing is right.

I am going to ask for what I want. Step out of my comfort zone more often, and dream big. I'm not going to let my 'inner critic' screw with me as much. Look out 2015, I've got this!!!!!!

Join me on Instagram.

 I'm really enjoying Instagram these days

 It's visual and I get that. A picture (to me) really is worth more than a thousand words.

 If you haven't already, follow me on Instagram

 You can get a glimpse into my muses and inspirations, what I'm working on, upcoming shows and events, and what's going on in my world.

 There might even be surprise sales and a 'giveaway' now and then.

Just sayin :-)

Bare Walls are Sad. Hang Some ART!

A few years ago when we lived in a north Toronto neighborhood, I used to go for walks after dinner. It was at this time of year when the days were getting shorter and people were turning the lights on earlier, that it was easy to see what kind of art was hanging on the walls. I always thought it strange when there was nothing at all hanging. Not a painting, not a print, not a photograph. Nothing. Bare walls.

My gallery wall, front entrance

Hanging wall art is the easiest way to add personality to a room, to add color, soften hard edges, and even improve mood. Original fine art is a great way to go (I say that because I'm an artist with lots of original art to sell) but anything goes, at least in my book it does. 

Photography, posters, decorative wall art, your kid's art, souvenirs from trip. Whatever it is that you hang, it should be something that you like and makes you happy. Whether its framed vacation photos that stir up great memories, your child's finger painting from grade one , or a small canvas you picked up at an outdoor art show, hang it. Bare walls are just sad. Hang something that speaks to your soul.

Main living space, doors to master bedroom

 Master bedroom, door to master en suite

vignette with painting and objet d'art

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.

New Cityscapes Available at Art Interiors

Started this Saturday morning with a trip to Art Interiors. Three new cityscapes are now in the gallery. 

 Downtown Core

40x30 Acrylic on Canvas

SOLD

 Yellow Cabs

40x30 Acrylic on Canvas

SOLD

City Transit

36x12 Acrylic on Canvas

$750.
Available at Art Interiors

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.

My Studio Table Uncensored and Unedited.

Today's blog post is part of a collaborative pop-up on Seth Apter's blog 'The Altered Page'. Seth has asked all participating artists to share their studio tables uncensored and unedited. After reading my post you can head over to the Altered Page and find links to all the other participating artists. Join the party!!

My studio table was purchased at Ikea about 10 years ago. I wanted to get one with a glass top so I could get messy on it and any acrylic paint or mediums could just be scraped away with a paint scraper. Quick and easy clean-up. I fell in love with this one at the store and the fact that it's the color of beach glass was a bonus. It was table love at first site.

When we moved 4 years ago my trusty studio table now had to double as a dining room table. Not a problem except that I'm not really big on tidying it up at the end of the day so we are usually eating dinner 'Big Bang Theory' style, on the couch holding plates in our laps.

As I am a fine artist and use my easel for large canvases, my studio table is usually piled high with art supplies that I'm using, inspiration sketches, tear sheets from magazines, and just about everything that I might need while working. And of course much needed mugs of coffee or green tea.

When I'm working on small paintings or mixed media work, I can pull up a chair and work right at my studio table. It's large enough to hold supplies with room enough for a nice work area too.

And when we have dinner guests invited my studio table gets the full treatment and gets used for dining. Cheers.

New Urban Landscapes at Canvas Gallery.

I've received quite a few inquiries about new citysapes lately. I'm working diligently on this series and I'm thankful that they are selling just about as fast as I can finish them. Major gratitude here. I did mange to drop three off to Canvas Gallery this past weekend and it's so nice to be featured on the Canvas Gallery blog today. 

 Grab a Taxi

$800.

15x30 acrylic on canvas

available at Canvas Gallery

 One Way

$750.

36x12 acrylic on canvas

available at Canvas Gallery

King West Early Eve

$2500.

36x48 acrylic on canvas

available at Canvas Gallery

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.

Grab a Taxi.

Grab a Taxi

15x30  acrylic on gallery canvas
$800.

Available at Canvas Gallery

Today I wanted to share with you one of my most recent cityscapes. I finished a few new paintings in this series a couple of days before we were off to New York. These new works are heading out to a gallery soon and I'll be sure to post pics of them all with links as soon as delivery is confirmed. In the meantime, if you have any questions or need more info please feel free to drop me an email. I'm email friendly.

New York was a blast as usual. We were in NYC for a quick drive through last summer on our way to a wedding in Long Island. And then there was this trip a few years back when we stayed at The Plaza Hotel. 

 Oh New York!! There is soooo much inspiration in every inch of that city. We stayed at a small boutique hotel just off 5th Avenue and 56th Street. Chambers Hotel. It had excellent 'walkability' , a second floor mezzanine art gallery and library, and a Momofuku Milk Bar in the lobby. That was dangerous but oh so yummy. We also did alot of driving and visited different parts of the city. Of course I took a ton of photos so there will be future posts. Stay tuned.

It's Nice to be Included.

Urban Center  36x48

acrylic on canvas

Available at Canvas Gallery

Thanks to Canvas Gallery for the mention on your blog today. Grateful to be included in the continuing post HGTV's Income Property : Beautiful designer rooms featuring Canvas Gallery artists.

A Little Studio Update.

The Gathering  36x48  acrylic on canvas

Finished 'The Gathering' yesterday. The newest painting in the pigeon series. It's off to XC Art Restoration along with 4 others this weekend.

I've started using 'gallery wrap canvas' for my urban landscapes. The wide sides (1.25" or approx 4cms) take me a lot longer to paint and finish. 

I have 18 large canvases in different stages of completeness on the go at the moment. I'm aiming to get 12 of them completed and off to 2 separate galleries by the end of the month. Really enjoying the long work days.

This (hopefully brief) spell of cooler, cloudy weather is helping me stay focused on painting and all things that need to be done in the studio. While anticipating an up coming beach day.

Hotel Costes is my music of choice while I paint right now.

Serendipity - Following an interior designer on Instagram because you like her style and then getting a comment from her on one of your photos saying she just used your work in a project she's working on.