It has been a while since I've last made a post and in that time a lot has happened which I hope to cover in the following weeks ahead. I still have yet to make some travel related posts about places I've been to (Philippines, New York, Elora-Ontario). But right now I'll cover something that happened just a few days of getting back from the Philippines (straight to work instead of rest!) and that was The Rosedale Art Fair.
The official graphic used on signage/posters.
Firstly, The Rosedale Art Fair is an annual weekend long event that took place at Scrivener Square with big tents to showcase artists who applied and got accepted to show. There were also artists chosen through OCADU to show work in collaboration with local Rosedale-area businesses. I was paired with a flower shop called Thriving Metropolis Flowers, who were very kind and accommodating to me.
THE MAKING OF:
In the Philippines I was contacted by a friend of friends (but I would like to say we're friends now) who happened to be curating/organizing the event, Courtney Gillatly. With my struggle to find wi-fi, I saw the message request much much later after she had sent it. I told her I was interested, though thinking it was too late, but luckily there was one more spot left. I managed to land a spot, but knew that I had to start grinding some new stuff as soon as I landed back to Toronto for this event the following weekend.
Because this was a flower shop, I knew I could have fun drawing foliage and plants alongside my usual girls in fun outfits.
I had work from my thesis show and previous prints to use but I didn't know what to expect from this venue or event at all! Especially before having an in-person conversation with Ingrid (owner of Thriving Metropolis) and Courtney for the first time at the shop. I knew I wanted to make more paintings on display so I bought some wood panels as soon as I could and scheduled a work day with my friends who were also showcasing.
I saw this long wood panel that was 12x24 that could make for an interesting painting. Though I didn't know what to do with it when buying it. It's the biggest of them.
I'm always amazed at what I can push out at the hands of a crunch time deadline. I ended up creating four new paintings (though I planned to do six) in a very short time. Though I like them, I wished I could have made them in a more leisurely way. At least looking at them now, I can go back and spend more time on some areas that I know in my heart can be better--despite others telling me it's good enough.
THE SET UP:
Setting up at the shop took no longer than thirty minutes, which is a very short time compared to other set ups for other things, which usually took hours. Ingrid was very helpful and I suppose, as a florist, had a good handle on how colours and shape work in a space. We put some paintings out in the window and some prints sitting on the shelves. And with the space itself, covered in green foliage, it made my work look cooler than it probably was.
THE ART FAIR:
I was fortunate to be at shop where I didn't feel constrained to my little booth and could go out and see my friends /how they were doing. I do wish I stayed in the shop longer and interacted with others more, that's something I need to practice and hone with time. The area is outside of my friends and I's usual demographic which proved challenging in finding footing of things to talk about/make any sort of sale--but everything is valuable experience. If it is anything, it's first hand experience. Here are more photos of the final weekend display.
One of the shop's regular customer even got me a coffee, so kind!
Thanks for sticking this far! Until next time...