Category Archives: for sale

My week, in Instagram photos

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I’ve been taking a much-needed break from the studio since my show the end of February, in large part due to the old post-show blues. I find no matter how successful or positive a show outcome is, I’m always left feeling incredibly low for days, sometimes weeks after the fact. It’s not uncommon for me to have a good sobby cry after all is said and done. It makes sense, though.   That said, I haven’t found myself to be any less busy. I haven’t been in the studio, but I have been on my couch, working away at custom pet portraits* and releasing a new series of necklaces.

Here’s my week in instagram photos:

From top to bottom:

  1. Trying out new ideas, animal paintings on totebags?!
  2. The giraffe version of that idea
  3. New stamp
  4. …Thus new tags
  5. What salt can do to watercolour
  6. A portrait of CHUCK!
  7. My sweet Gert
  8. New jewels

And to answer your question, no, I didn’t leave the house once. My god my life is boring.

Follow me on Instagram & Twitter: @nervrom

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*I recently decided to donate 25% of pet portrait sales to Toronto Animal Services South, check out their awesome blog here.

Custom Pet Portraits

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If you follow me on Facebook, or Twitter or Tumblr, or basically anywhere else other than here, you’ll know I’m now offering custom watercolour pet portraits for the next little while. The response has been really awesome, and so far I’ve been able to paint some insanely fluffy cats, a few siamese, a couple pugs, a dachshund, three labs, a yorkie, and a few mutts (I can’t share images of all of them since some of them are gifts and haven’t arrived yet!) This is all very new for me. I’ve never prided myself much on my ability to paint animals, or anything remotely kinda realistic. I’ve always loved to, I just never thought I was that good at it. After preparing for my show last month, I really felt burnt out from working on a huge canvas, and in need of a break from the studio. I’ve always dabbled with watercolour so it wasn’t uncommon to find me sitting on the couch painting with my little travel set.  I randomly decided to paint my dog Gert, and since then lots of people have been asking me if I could paint their pets too!

This came at the perfect time because I’m right in the middle of restocking the ol’ BigCartel store, and this listing seems to be the hottest item at the moment. However, because I still work a full-time day job, I’m allotting myself only what I can handle in the evenings, which right now is just about one portrait a night*. So with all that said, I’m offering one portrait for $65 or two for $100. *

Here are some more examples, click any of them to be taken to the listing.
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*Portraits are painted with Windsor & Newton watercolours on a 9″ x 12″ sheet of 140 lb cold press watercolour paper. Ships unframed, in a rigid mailer.

*Some people seem concerned that I’m done with my original abstract ‘style’. You people are crazy. I’m addicted to making things, this is a product of that. I have worked really hard the last couple months on new work and finding homes for those new works and now that I’ve built up a bit of inventory,  I’m sort of treating myself to a little vacation, if you will. It won’t be long before you see some new ginormous works from me again.

LE PAPILLON ON THE PARK

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Le Papillon On The Park is a delicious Quebecois restaurant in Leslieville, and lucky for me, conveniently located five minutes from my house. I’ve been there a number of times and the entire experience is definitely something to write home about. (Not to mention: they’re Toronto’s original creperie! They have their own rooftop garden! … That last one is particularly impressive if you ask me).  The food is spectacular, the service is genuine, and its not too fancy, so its my kind of spot.

Max MacDonald has been showing his work in the sprawling dining room at Le Papillon since they opened a few years ago, but recently they decided to mix things up and have invited me to share the walls with him. Max is an incredibly talented, multi-faceted artist and I’m so lucky to have met him, let alone be showing alongside his amazing work. Right now I have eight pieces scattered around the dining room, but in the coming weeks and months I’ll be switching things up and adding some more recent work as it gets freed up from other galleries and spaces. I am really, really excited about this opportunity, a public place to house my work. The Bigués are so unbelievably supportive of local artists, I could not find a better environment if I tried. If in the next little while you’re looking to see my stuff in person, this is the place to do that (and eat some gourmet poutine).

Here’s a peak at the restaurant after we got together this week to hang the work.

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my favourite of max's

my favourite of max’s

SONY DSC SONY DSC SONY DSC SONY DSC SONY DSCEDIT: For a price list of the work hanging at Le Papillon, please click here.

HOUSE OF MOMENTS

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It still feels surreal.
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Thank you so much to everyone who made this show possible: Hamid & Sil for believing in my work, Adam for his encouragement, support & frame-making expertise, Fay Ninon, all the musical acts, and all friends, family & fans who made an appearance or sent a kind word, I cannot thank you enough. I am so, so lucky.

Because these works are so insanely large I am finding it increasingly difficult to take an accurate photograph of them. If you’d like to see them in person, they can be found in the corporate room at House of Moments, 386 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto (just north of Dundas) until March 21.

HOUSE OF MOMENTS / LOVE IS FREEDOM

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I definitely intended on posting about this sooner than, say, the day before the opening, but I’ve been so insanely busy in preparation for it I didn’t change my clothes for four days.  So, here we are. House of Moments, tomorrow night!

I have nine (NINE!) new paintings to reveal, and I can’t even believe I am still alive, to say the least. Some of the work is nearly six feet tall, which is exciting in its own right  (for the first time I had to rent a truck to transport it all). I’ve never  really painted with such intensity before.

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I am really, really excited to be part of this show. House of Moments is an unbelievably gorgeous space, and I’m just feeling so lucky to have my work hanging there for ten days.  Come say hi if you make it!

P.S. I suck, the gallery is located at 386 Carlaw Avenue.

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Glory Hole Doughnuts

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Ashley of Glory Hole Doughnuts was nice enough to let me hang my small(er) work on her walls for the next couple months! This is super exciting for me because everything about this place is quite simply a work of art. They sold out of doughnuts like eighteen times yesterday, too! Definitely make it a point to try them out if you get a chance (I personally recommend the Bread & Butter)!*

I also decided late the night before to chop up a formerly 5' x 5' painting that hung un-stretched on my hallway wall. I think I was just tired enough to attempt it and I'm glad I did. I feel like it has a purpose now.

I also decided late the night before to chop up a formerly 5′ x 5′ painting that hung un-stretched on my hallway wall.  I think I was just tired enough to attempt it and I’m glad I did. I feel like it has a purpose now. They are grouped into pairs, 12″ x 12″,  but I think the whole set works together. I’ll post these separately a bit later.

SONY DSC SONY DSC*Glory Hole Doughnuts is located at 1596 Queen Street West, just past Sorauren.

SMALL PAINTING SERIES: #2-5 (MOAN MOUNTAIN, DISCOUNTABLE PINEWEED, PAINTING FOR GUS & THE HUMAN BEAT)

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I had originally intended on announcing these one at a time, but what can I say? I had a productive weekend.  They are all  around $200 (Give or take $15, + shipping). Click through for purchasing information:

The little sister to Burden of Fleece:

Small Painting Series: ii Moan Mountain

MOAN MOUNTAIN - $185 SOLD

Small Painting Series: iv Discountable Pineweed

DISCOUNTABLE PINEWEED -$215


Small Painting Series: iv Painting For Gus (I'm Sorry)

PAINTING FOR GUS (I’M SORRY) - $215

 

And, yes. I am clearly obsessed with this next colour combination, but I can’t help it.  My friend Scott reassured me Picasso had his Blue Period and so I’m allowed to have my fluorescent/muted combo period.  This is good because I find it so delicious I just want to eat it:

Small Painting Series v:The Human Beat

THE HUMAN BEAT – $200

 

I think the instant gratification of painting on small canvases has been a quiet help with my mood as of late. Or, maybe it’s due to the monkey in a shearling coat. Whatever it is, I feel pretty good for a Monday.

OF NOTE: Since my jewelry has been selling better than I ever could have expected, I decided to extend the FREE SHIPPING on wearable art over at my shop until Wednesday.  I’ll do a run to the post office on Thursday to ensure delivery by Christmas.  While I fully expect sales to decline as we get closer to Christmas, prices of jewelry will remain super cheap until the New Year. I 100% intend on adding four more window pendants  as I’ve had quite a bit of interest in those since they have sold out.  There is a good chance I may even be adding some new things tonight. There is also a good chance I will drink too much wine and forget. OH THE SUSPENSE.

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Winners & Happenings

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Firstly, CONGRATS TO MITZI DUMARESQUE, Recipient of the 500th-like Original Painting Giveaway! I can’t even believe how many people were bummed about not winning this. You, my heart. The enthusiasm for this contest made me realize I most definitely have to do more giveaways in the future.

In other news, why didn’t anyone tell me that BigCartel is so sexy? I can’t believe I’ve been wasting my time non-customizable Etsy! YUCK!

I’ve been doing lots of thinking about where I’d like to take my art in 2013. A lot of that involves getting some stuff into some decent galleries and doing more of that dreaded “in-person” networking, as the last couple years I’ve really only been focusing on online sales. In that regard, I think I’ve done okay. I’ve sold over thirty pieces in less than two years. If you had told me that would happen before two years ago, I would have laughed in your face until I cried.  I am learning every day that this is something that is possible, and I’m trying to remember to remind myself of that on the days that I don’t feel so great. And obviously, there are lots of days when I don’t feel so great.

“It’s a huge expense though. It’s crazy – but you can’t survive without it.” – Howard Podeswa, in Studio Beat

I thought I would take a break from selling jewelry/prints, but with the number of people inquiring about these little things every so often, and BigCartel’s total customization option making me salivate, I decided to open a new shop. The final shop. I’ll really be shifting my focus into producing new paintings mid-December, and so side projects will be taking a back seat until I get to announce my super awesome collaboration with my very best friends (more on that later), so now is your last chance to take these little gems off my hands. Everything is marked down insanely cheap, so get on it.

I’ll be making my last trip to the post office before Christmas the week of December 10, so here’s my final announcement because these guys are actually selling pretty fast and trust me, nobody is more surprised than I am:

ONE-OF-A-KIND WEARABLE ART: NOW $15-$18 with FREE! SHIPPING!

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Use FREESHIP When you checkout

Thank you all for your likes & shares & general enthusiasm the last week or so. I feel loved.

I think I am finally finished

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Orange Latex paint again saves a painting. I think it is about 3′ x 5′ and upon finishing with the orange drips I declared that this one is aptly called “The Hook Upon Which Everyone Hangs” - thanks (again) to Joanna Newsom, and her song’s ability to get me to just go for it. Once I get a proper (non-iphone-image) of this one I’ll have it officially listed and will be looking for a new home for it.

Finally.

In other news, I am shipping some paintings to their new owners this week, so if you have recently paid off a painting from me, you should be finding a large parcel on your doorstep in the next week or so. Here’s hoping Canada Post is more competent this week than last!