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DOORS OPEN TORONTO

AKIN Studios - Davisville
224 Merton Street
Saturday, MAY 23. 10am-5pm

I’m on the second floor and will be presenting an introduction to chalk pastels.

This is informal, not a workshop. You’ll take home a few samples of hard pastels, surfaces (paper and sanded) plus an information resource.

Hope you get a chance to drop by.

@akinprojects

I’m participating in the Mother’s Day Market at the Toronto Botanical Gardens in Edwards Gardens on Sunday, May 10. 9:30am – 4:30pm.

Attached is my short video.

I’ll be featuring my Serigraph and Elderly Leaves cards. Plus the Keeping In Touch series – both print and hand-crafted cards.

And the Flower, Heart and Star gift tags.

@tbg_canada

I’m participating in ELBOWS UP. Celebrating Canada at the Toronto Botanical Gardens. 777 Lawrence East. (Edwards Gardens at Leslie St.)

Time: 10am to 4pm.

I’m featuring my original giclée Leaves – framed and prints on Arches® or Hahnemühle® archival paper.

The greeting cards are also original giclée prints on Stonehenge® archival paper.

I’ll also have 20 x 16in. matted images from the Roadside Silhouette Series. These are giclée prints on Hahnemühle® Archival Bamboo paper. And they’re available in greeting cards.

Note: No audio. Enjoy another quiet minute…

@tbg_canada
@elbowsupmarket

I’m participating in the 11th Annual Spring Pop UP, April 12, at The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. West, (at Dovercourt) in Toronto.

Time: 12noon to 5pm.

I’m featuring my greeting cards (lino-cut and print), an original, framed serigraph and a “Leaves” photograph.

This is my first event with Toronto Art Crawl

Note: No audio. Enjoy a quiet minute…

@torontoartcrawl

I’m represented by ArtMatch. They had an unusual request regarding my limited-edition photographs from the Roadside Silhouettes series.

The inquiry: “Are I’m Inclined To Agree and We've Never Had So Much Fun available… both with the same issue number?”

They were.

The silhouettes were first photographed in the positive format. Years later I rendered them in negative format with titles referring to nighttime.

The first, I’m Inclined To Agree, suggests of a group forming a consensus about something or someone.

The second, We've Never Had So Much Fun, implies a group of friends enjoying an evening out.

They were purchased by the same person.

20 x 16in. Printed in Hahnemühle Archival Bamboo Paper (90% bamboo, 10% cotton). AR70 anti-reflective museum glass.

@artmatch @theframingdepot

What a pleasant surprise!

A visitor to my booth at the Toronto Botanical Gardens Holiday EcoMarket at Edwards Gardens this November said they saw my Elderly Leaves pieces at the Rosedale Art Fair in June and would like to purchase “We’re Together”.

(Float mounted giclée print on watercolour paper. Solid cherry frame with museum glass)

#ginkgoleaves, #ginkgo #museumglass, #rosedaleartfair, #ecomarket, #torontobotanicalgardens

Recently I’ve put some my art on greeting cards.

Due to mobility issues, outdoor shows have become difficult.

My alternative is to participate in indoor events. These have a smaller footprint to show your work.

I decided to make my artwork presentation smaller, using cards.

I display some of the original framed work to provide context.

The Elderly Leaves series are not reproductions. Each is an original giclee print, the same as the larger framed works. I hand cut the paper stock from watercolour paper so each card would have a deckle edge.

The Roadside Silhouettes are smaller note cards. I admire the simplicity of these wild plants. That’s why I photographed them in silhouette.

The Serigraphs are reproductions of my paintings. The original paintings use a highly concentrated silk dye. The image is painted on a silk screen and transferred to paper in the traditional way – release agent and squeegee. Only one image is possible, a mono-print. That said, a second pull of the squeegee will produce a “ghost print”. This is lighter than the first and sometimes the preferred print. “I Love It When You Whisper” is a ghost print.

The Holiday Cards are lino-cut images. I love colour. And these cards offer me the opportunity to use many colour combinations. The ink is oil based which allows me to mix on-the-fly, modifying colours, shades and tints as I print.

I’m happy to say the soft pastels “Autumn Sunburst” and “Standing On Guard III” have sold.

“Autumn Sunburst” is based on a Maple tree back-lit by the sun.

“Standing On Guard III” is based on four tall trees that appeared to be guarding an area of newly planted saplings.

They were sold through my affiliation with ArtMatch and are gifts to a person living in Paris, France.

#mapletrees #artmatch #softpastels

I’m happy to say the soft pastels “Autumn Sunburst” and “Standing On Guard III” have sold.

“Autumn Sunburst” is based on a Maple tree back-lit by the sun.

“Standing On Guard III” is based on four tall trees that appeared to be guarding an area of newly planted saplings.

They were sold through my affiliation with ArtMatch and are gifts to a person living in Paris, France.

#mapletrees #artmatch #softpastels

YOU are the soundtrack.

Happy Canada Day, 2025

#canadaday #canadaday2025

I’m participating in the 2025 Rosedale Art Fair.
This pastel is a recent work that will be in the show.
It’s “The Brickworks II” (aka Helping The Frogs Yodel, Again)

#RosedaleArtFair #RosedaleMainStreet

I’m participating in the 2025 Don Valley Art Club SPRING Awards Show and Sale.

Paper Mill Gallery at Todmorden Mill Heritage Site, 67 pottery Road.

86 artists – Hours: Wed – Sun. 11am – 5pm.

The Awards presentations are during the reception on Sat, May 10, 7-9pm.

Meet Martha Johnson who is judging the show and hear her comments.

Thank you. Best regards. David

#serigraphs #donvalleryartclub 12x12serigraphs

Consumers have for more influence that they think…

I will do my part to help support Canadian retailers and manufacturers. Here is a website you may find helpful listing Canadian products and services: https://madeinca.ca/grocery-store-guide/

My 2¢
Canadian art material manufacturer: Tri-Art, Kingston, Ontario. https://www.tri-art.ca.
And while your painting, enjoy Hawkins CHEEZIES made in Belleville, Ontario. https://cheezies.com/. OR Covered Bridge potato chips made in Waterville, New Brunswick. (they recently suffered a terrible fire that destroyed their manufacturing facility). Sooth your palette (so to speak) with glass or two of Canadian wine.

#shopcanadian #shoplocalcanada