Vancouver On Canvas

Amazing Self-Adhesive Cloth

2011-09-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

At Vancouver on Canvas we now have an exiting new product for designers and crafters. It iscalled Removable Adhesive Fabric and it is unlike anything I have everseen.

This material has thetexture and durability of cloth, but has a self-adhesive backing likea sticker. It can be stuck on most surfaces, and even better, can beremoved and re-positioned without loosing it's stickiness. It is alsowater resistant and very flexible, so it can be used to wrap aroundcorners.

Of course, the bestthing about this material is that it is receptive to the Gicleeprocess. It can be run though our fine art printers, so we can printit with any image you can imagine in beautiful full colour.

One obvious idea forthis material that would be of interest to people designing beautifulinteriors is that they could be used to create wall decorationssimilar to vinyl cuts. It could be a simple and original way to adinterest to many surfaces. One creative customer is planning printingsome self-adhesive images and mounting them on old wake-boards for anoriginal display idea.

Businesses could alsomake good use of this easy advertising solution. We have already hadan order a full fridge door sticker, with a beautiful full colourimage related to the organization’s philosophy. The great thingabout this material is that it can be used to turn any surface intoan opportunity for delivering a message.

There are also manysmaller projects that could be done with this material. It could be:

---Placed on the frontof a light fixture or lamp shade for a personalized back lit image.

---Made into stickersto hand out in gift bags at events.

---Used for decorationson computers and personal electronics.

But my favourite ideacomes from my own love of bookbinding. With this material it would beeasy to design and create custom cloth book covers – think the oldfashioned Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, but in cloth! With alittle measuring and cropping, and some text, any journal, note book,old, beloved hardback, or hand-bound book project can have customdesigned cover art! No gluing required! I for one can't wait to trythis, and I am exited to see

Personalized Greeting Cards Now Available!

2011-09-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

Vancouver on Canvas now offers personalized art cards! Printed with our high quality pigment based ink on luxurious cardstock, these cards are great for artists, as well as for weddings, birth announcements, Christmas, birthdays, or just because!

Our new card printing service allows you to upload you own image for the front of the card, and put any text you like on the back. This is a great way to make classic art cards of your paintings, drawings or photos. Art cards are a great way of making your beautiful work accessible to more people. Your customers can use them to send a message to a friend, or keep them to display in their own home.

It is great that the ease of giclee printing means that anyone can use their own photos to to make personalized cards of their own. You can use an engagement photo to create wedding invitations, or wedding photos to create elegant thank you cards. Your guests will appreciate the personal touch as a keepsake of the event. You can also use your own photos to design birth announcement cards, Christmas cards, or invitations for other special events. The possibilities are endless!

Visit Vancouver on canvas and order your custom greeting cards today!

Father's Day

2011-06-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

Father's day is just two weeks away, so it's time to get down to the Tie Shoppe and pick up another silk noose, just like we did last year. Or maybe a humorous beer stein or golf club cozy. Wait, does dad even golf? Why are we doing this anyway?

(fathers day coupon code at Vancouveroncanvas.com: LOVEDAD. 15% off until the 19th)

Lets face it, when it comes to days, fathers tend to get the short end of the stick. It has been estimated that at least 4 billion less is spent annually on fathers day than on mother's day. There are many possible reasons for this. It could be that Mother's Day has been around for longer and just gets better hype, maybe our moms are just better at making sure that we don't forget. I could be, though, that the traditional fathers day gifts seem pointless and impersonal, and it is hard to think of good alternatives. Maybe dads are just harder to buy for.

When you think about it, thought, the point of fathers day is not to buy presents, but to show our appreciation for the wonderful role-model, supporter, teacher and general all-round dad that our dad has been to us through the years. The best gift will express this sentiment, and make dad feel like he really is special and important to you, and most of all that he did a good job.

The best gift is something personal and special that has meaning both for the giver and the receiver. This is why photos are so great. Photos are mementos of the people, places and times that we love, and the memories that we share. Both professional and candid photos, when enlarged and printed on canvas, can make beautiful works of art that are at the same time very personal gifts. At Vancouver on canvas, it is our business to turn your photos into canvas art. We would love to help you create a gift for dad this fathers day.

The best and easiest way to do this is by going through the photos on your digital camera, and finding the perfect one to surprise dad with. This could be a photo of the family, of his children, or even of his grand-kids. Something that shows him the results of all the hard work he put into parenting. Upload the photo on our website, place the order and it will be ready for pickup in three days. Another good idea is going through the family album. At Vancouver on Canvas we have had a lot of success with scanning and blowing photos and printing on canvas. Another great thing to do with smaller photos is make a custom collage on canvas. A collage can collect different people across different times. This is a great way to tell a story about how your dad has influenced your life.

And on that note, ever heard the old axiom, “if you want to send a message, write a telegram?” not such a bad idea actually. What is wrong with saying how you feel with actual words? At Vancouver on Canvas we are offering a new design service we are calling “Text Art”. Here is how it works. You send us a text file, and we will make it into a piece of canvas art that can be printed on canvas. There are some examples on this post, but for more check out our facebook page. It can be complex or simple. A message to day, or just your favourite saying of his. There are so many possibilities, there is no excuse for the necktie this year.

New Framing Service

2011-05-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

At Vancouver on Canvas, we are experts in creating one of a kind fine art canvas Giclees. We want to give our customers a full range of options when it comes to their giclee prints, so we not only print, we also stretch the canvases and finish them so they are ready to hang. We manufacture our stretcher frames on site, so we are able to customize the finished piece to any size that our customers desire. Since many of the equipment and expertise required to build stretcher frames are the same required to make decorative frames for the finished canvases, we wished to offer our customers the option of custom framing for their canvases and fine art giclees. We are pleased to announce that we have recently upgraded our shop in order to provide our customers with this additional service.

Vancouver on canvas, we are able to create custom frames from a large selection of decorative moldings. The complete selection can be seen either in our showroom or on our website. The frames are grouped into 5 categories, organized by the width of the molding, and are priced accordingly.

One of our most popular frame is our floater frame. Unlike more traditional molding, the floater frame does not have a lip that overlaps the front of the canvas. Instead, the frame is designed to leave a small space between the frame and the canvas, making the image appear to 'float' within the frame. This simple and elegant frame comes in white, black, gold, and espresso. It is especially suited for giclees, and our customers have been very pleased with it.

We can also create custom frames for works on paper, such as photographs, drawings, posters, or fine art prints. In this case we recommended protecting the work with plexiglass, and we offer the UV protective and non-glare as well as standard variety. We offer mat cutting to order, in a wide variety of colours and textures. In the case of fragile paper artwork, framing is a way to protect and display work at the same time. At Vancouver on Canvas, we can help you select the appropriate mat and frame to perfectly set off you image.

Many people purchase unstreched canvas from artists while travelling in foreign countries, as they are much easier to bring home. Bring your souvenirs to Vancouver on Canvas to have them professional prepared to decorate your walls. We can stretch and frame the canvas for you, even if we did not print it. Please see our pricing for custom canvas stretching.

One of the advantages of giclee canvases is that they do not need to be framed. They are finished pieces in themselves, and at Vancouver on canvas we offer a variety of edge selection options for those who would rather have their canvases without frames. However, for those who want an extra little something, we now offer custom framing as an option.

Takayuki Hori: Innovations in Print

2011-04-28T15:33:00.001-07:00

Print has always existed at the intersection of technology and art. As new technologies develop, artists make use of them in creative ways to make new kinds of art that convey new or re-imagined ideas and feelings. As printing technology continues to develop, it is not surprise that artists have taken on these innovations to make new and stunning works of art.

Japanese artist Takayuki Hori's new piece “Oritsunagumono” is a perfect example of artist's innovation in using new technologies combined with centuries-old techniques. Oritsunagumono means “things folded and connected” and the piece makes use of origami as well as printing on new material in order to make a stark cometary on the environmental threat to Japan's coastal waterways.

Takayuki Hori prints on transparent paper, so that when his prints are folded the bones come together to make a complete skeleton. The three-dimensional X-ray like image created sometimes includes a small piece of man-made trash that ends up in the paper animal's stomach. In this way, the garbage we throw away can end up hurting or killing wild animals because we do not recognize our place in the overall design.

The origami technique used in this process is an ancient Japanese art form, but the paper and print technology is very new. Paper that has this level of transparency is most likely actually a kind of plastic, but in order for it to be used for origami it must fold like paper.

The printing that has been done in the making of this artwork could have made use of a wide variety of technologies. The detail and precision of design suggests that it was probably digitally rendered and printed using modern ink-jet printing. Ink-jet printers, like the one we use at Vancouver on Canvas can reproduce delicate detail at very high quality.

At Vancouver on Canvas we are always trying to find interesting material to print on to add an extra element to you artwork. Check out our posts on Satin Cloth and Metallic paper and get inspired!

Mother's deay special offer

2011-04-18T11:51:00.001-07:00

Stumped about what to ge tmom this mother's day?

Well, to help you decide we would like to offer you a discount of 15% on any canvas or picture frame service we offer at Vancouver on canvas. Use the coupon code "lovemom" at the checkout to receive the discount.

Remeber that at Vancouver on Canvas you are creating a personalized gift. You can upload you mom's favorite photo, something that reminds her of her favorite child, maybe? or just something that you know she will love. We will turn you picture into a beautiful and lasting canvas print.

If you don't have a picture in mind, Visit our gallery of Classic art paintings, or Or images of Vancouer

Mothers day is May 8th, so order now for peace of mind.

don't forget the code "lovemom"!

Gifts for Mom

2011-04-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

I am sure that many of use are starting to wonder, and if we are not we should be, what to get for mom this may. The yearly question, what to get for the woman who says she has everything, and all she wants is for her family to be happy, honey. At least that is what my mother always says. But you know, and I know, that at least one part of the family (namely her) would be a little happier if she got a thoughtful gift this year. And, seriously, what is nicer than making your mother happy?

This is not the easiest thing to do, though. Mothers are notorious for telling us that we are girt enough, or that just hearing from us is all the present they need. But perhaps we can take a clue from this to get her something that she really would cherish. What if you could give her a present that would memorialize that happy times, and remind her how wonderful and beautiful her children are? What about those photos of your wedding, her grandchildren, or of you and your brothers and sisters smiling? Who is more likely to appreciate a beautiful print of these special moments in life than the woman who watched you grow up and helped you along the way?

Another gift that would make her happy is a picture of her with her own children. Help her to remember that no matter how far the family has spread over the city or over the world, you share a bond that will always bring you back together. I reminder of those happy moments, whether they where years ago or only yesterday, will have special significance to her for years to come.

It might be nice even to make a collage of the most favorite pictures in the family album. You can even add a special message. This collage can be printed on fine art paper or stretched on canvas, and it will become a valuable piece of family history. At Vancouver on Canvas we can design and print collages for you, all you need to do is provide the photographs.

Speaking of family history, Do you have any old photographs of Mom from before she had kids, or when she herself was a kid. You could plan a great surprise for her by having some of these photos scanned and restored, and printed on canvas ready to hang on her wall. What better way to show your mother that you love her as a person, and not just as a mother, than to remind her of her own past, and all of the experiences she has had that have brought her to this point.

Carnival, Lent.

2011-03-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

We are Now two days into Lent, the Catholic festival of fasting and renunciation, so I thought now might be a good time to look at some of the beautiful, colourful photos people have taken of of the Carnival celebrations that ended on (shrove) Tuesday.

This post does not really relate to Canvas art prints or fine art Prints, but i though it might be interesting to do a little history on a holiday that has inspired thousands of art pieces through the ages, and today generates millions of photographs a year.

For all of those not familiar with this festival, Lent is the time between shrove Tuesday and Easter, which is 40 days (excluding Sundays). The 40 days represent the time that Jesus is said to have fasted in the desert before starting his ministry. Lent ends on holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. During Lent, it is traditional to fast and abstain from indulgence.

Photo by rcstanley

The period before Lent begins was traditionally a time of confession and repentance, but it developed over time into a celebration of excess and of indulgence in pleasure, all of the things that would have to be given up for the next month. Around the world in countries with catholic traditions, festivals are organized to showcase the exuberance and creativity of the people. It is a time of colour, costume, art and beauty, as well as the consumption of traditional fatty foods.

These celebrations are called by different names in different places. In New Orleans they Celebrate Mardi Gras, french for “Fat Tuesday” on this day the streets of the french quarter become a canvas painted with the riotous colours of costumes and floats. People bring their cameras along and capture photos of the living artwork on display. There is dancing, revelry, and one might even say debauchery, until the stroke of midnight, when the streets are cleared, and lent begins.

Photo by Martin Gautron

Another celebration that takes place at this time is Carnival. This word literal means “to remove meat” and it refers to the catholic tradition of eating no meat during the days of lent. It is celebrated all over Europe and in north and South America. On of the most famous carnivals takes place in Venice, where it is traditionally seen as a time of “misrule” and masks are worn so that people can go through the city without being recognized. Carnival can explore the dark side of human nature, Edgar Allan Poe's very creepy tale “the Cask Of Amontillado” was set in Venice during carnival.

photo by Nemodus

Photo by Flawka

It is a wild and beautiful world out there, full of creative people. thanks to all the photographers who capture it and bring it back to us!

Selling Your Artwork Online

2011-03-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

Our Artist's Gallery Program is a great way to make your art available online, and make money without hassle. All you need to do is create an account, and you can direct interested buyers to your page, where they can order prints-on-demand of your work. This is a detailed run-through of how it works. For a quick overview see the page on our site.

The Purpose of the artist gallery program is to provide local artists with an online space to display their work and sell on-demand prints. This allows artists to take advantage of our expertise in creating custom art works, and our shipping system. Artists can sell reproductions to customers all over Canada and the USA without the time commitment and cost of printing and shipping themselves. This gives you more time to do other things, like make work!

Get Started

1) Register online at Vancouver on canvas. Please ensure you have entered your billing address, so we know where to send you your checks! Please note that at this point you are registering as a customer. We will create you artist account later.

2) Send us an email indicating that you want to be part of the Artist Gallery Program. Include a link to your website, if you have one, or 5 examples of your work.

3)We will send you an email once your account has been created. You can then log on to your account and upload high resolution JPGs of your artwork.

How to Upload:
1) Log on to you account
2) Click on the "My Uploads" tab at the top of the screen
3) Click the "browse" button and select the files from your computer, then hit "upload". (the file type must be JPG, and the maximum file size is 16 MB)
4) Once the image has been uploaded, click the "add to my gallery" button under the image.

Complete your profile

Your patrons will want to know some information about you and your work. Completing your profile will give them some extra information if they are curious.

All of this information can be added and adjusted under the "My Gallery" tab in your profile.

You can include a Bio by in the "Gallery Settings" section. This will let people know a little more about you and the ideas and experience behind your work.

In "My Gallery" you will see two words under each image you have uploaded, "edit and "del"

If you click edit, you will be taken to a page where you can enter a description of the work and keywords to help people search.

clicking "del" will remove the image from the gallery.

This is also the page where you adjust your pricing.

Don't forget to hit "save" at the bottom of the screen when you are done!

Pricing

Now you get to define the price we will sell your work for. Vancouver On Canvas makes its money from the printing cost, so you may increase the price by adding a percent of the printing cost, all of which you will receive. We set the base price at printing plus 10%, so if you do not adjust the price you will receive ten percent of the printing cost whenever your work sells.

Since we offer your customers the option of ordering your prints in a variety of sizes an media, the base price is variable. This is why your commission is a percentage and not a strait dollar amount. An example might make this clearer.

If you upload an image and leave the price as "base price", and someone orders a 16X20 gallery wrap, they will pay $121.00 (before taxes and shipping). You will receive $11.00. If they order a 20X30 gallery wrap, they will pay $161.70, and you will receive $14.70.

If, however, you set the percentage in the dropdown menu to 30%, they the customer would see the price as $154.00 for a 16X20, and you would receive $44.00 (30+10(base commission)=40% of printing price).

Getting Paid

If your account balance reaches $100.00 in any month, we'll send your payment before the end of the following month via check or PayPal. For example, if your account balance reaches the payment threshold during August, we'll send you a payment at the end of September.

if you have further questions please check our FAQ, or contact us.

Product Review: Metallic Paper

2011-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

Here at Vancouver on Canvas we have been printing on metallic paper for a while. It is a great product with a unique effect that has become popular with professional photographers. Since it is a relatively new paper for the inkjet process, we thought our other customers could benefit from knowing a little more about it.

This innovative product from Lexjet (maker's of last week's Satin Cloth, go Lexjet!), when printed with pro-quality pigment based inks, gives the final print a deep metallic sheen that is unlike any other photo paper. It works amazingly well for textures like satin, chrome, and glossy skin, and gives prints the sense of luxury that those materials imply.

Until the development of Lexjet Photo Metallic paper, results like these where only available to photographers using chemical photo-processing equipment. This Lexjet product makes the process of getting stunning metallic prints simpler and more environmentally friendly. At Vancouver on Canvas we can print directly from digital files from your camera onto metallic paper, giving your pictures that extra 'pop' that catches the eye.

What others are saying:

Photo bloggers are have posted some rave reviews of this paper. Ron Martinsen of Ronmart.Blogspot.com raves about this paper in an article with the provocative title “This Paper Sells Prints”. He makes the point that a beautiful, eye-catching print is more likely to attract attention that an image on a hard-drive. Brian Hampton told the Lexjet blogger that the paper gave him the best of both worlds -durability and excellent detail, such as he had not found in other products.

Photo by Mario Werder, via Flikr

TIPS: Which images to try

Not all images benefit from this paper, and from what I have read there is no hard and fast rules about what works and what doesn't, but here are a few tips on what images to try, based on my experience and discussion forums by those far more experienced that me.

-try black and white images, the metallic paper gives them a silvery sheen

-images of naturally glossy or shiny things, like satin, water, or new cars.

-images with a lot of high-impact reds and oranges (like sunsets)

-High-contrast images with deep colours.

-Very sharp images.

We invite you to try out your images on the Lexjet Metallic Paper available at Vancouver on Canvas. You just might love what you see!

photo by Shadowgate Via Flickr

Why Choose Water Resistant Satin Cloth?

2011-02-10T14:49:00.000-08:00

Satin cloth is a new material developed for the Giclee process. It has many of the advantages of canvas, and offers new possibilities for displaying your art.

-Satin cloth can be sewn, stretched or hung like canvas

-It's water resistance makes it more suitable for outdoors

-Satin Fabric has a very smooth texture which does not conflict with the fine detail in your image

-Bright whites give it superior colour response

-Translucency allows for highly creative and beautiful mounting options.

attributes	Lexjet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth Giclee	Canvas Giclee
texture	Smooth texture, good for capturing fine detail and sharpness. Vellum-like feel	Woven texture, good for softening images and masking defects, traditional canvas feel
Colour response	Excellent. Accepts high levels of ink saturation. PreLume technology provides brighter white points.	Excellent. High levels of ink saturation and bright white point.
opacity	90% (translucent)	Greater that 99%
weight	Very light-weigh (130g per sq meter)	Heavy (410 g per sq meter)
Stretch-mounting?	yes	yes
Water resistance	Very high	High

Mounting Options:

Lexjet water-resistant satin cloth is stretchable like canvas, and can be mounted for wall-hanging. This option shows the material's fine texture and the detail of your image.

Other mounting options offer the possibility of taking advantage of the material's transparency. Mounting using back-lighting works very well with this material, because the smooth weave of Satin Cloth acts as a natural diffuser, making the whole image glow with light.

Window Display:

One simple option is to use poster hangers to create a banner that hangs in front of a source of light, like a window or a indirect light source. This could be done by using poster hangers like these:

or these,

OR by sewing a pocket into the top and bottom of the cloth, and inserting a dowel to suspend the banner from.

The satin cloth is water resistant, so consider using it in outdoor applications as well. Here is story from the Lexjet web page that attests to the durability of this material

“ [the artist] took the [satin cloth] screen down to the beach for a marketing shoot, he placed it in the water and shot it. Then, the screen tipped over into the surf and was soaked with salt water. He took it home, rinsed it off with a garden hose and left it standing outdoors exposed to the elements for two months. The colours remained totally colourfast.”

Commercial Banner Display

Another mounting option is using a commercial banner displays like these, which can be back-lit, or use the ambient light in the room or outdoor area to show off the Satin Cloth's transparency. Displays like these are available here.

Ligh-boxes

A very beautiful and original option for displaying your Satin Cloth print is to create a light-box. [pic] A light-box is a framed box that with light mounted inside, and a translucent image on the front. They are often used commercially and by professional artists, but Satin Cloth printing allows them to be created affordably for home decor.

A Light-box turns your image into a creative ambient lighting solution, as well as highlighting the particular beauty of your image. Back-lighting increases the presence and richness of saturated colours, it lends an ethereal quality to soft or misty images, and it makes skin really glow in portraits.

Cost comparison: Satin Cloth Mounting Options

for a 20x30 print ($61 printing cost)

mounting	Do we do it?	Cost	Advantage
Stretch mounting	yes	$62.00	Finished and, ready to hang. Beautifully textured fine wall art.
Poster Hangers	no	$16.95	Simple to order and install, can be hung on wall or window for natural light back-lit effect.
Commercial banners	no	$49.00	Professional displays for trade shows or point of sale displays
Light Boxes	No right now: check back soon	$250-300	Original and beautiful wall are and lighting solution. Makes any photo come alive.

Google Art project

2011-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

Here is something really new and exiting, although really it is just the logical extension of an already existing idea. The Art Project, powered by Google takes the street view technology of Google Earth, and uses it to create virtual walking tours of famous museums.

“A unique collaboration with some of the world’s most acclaimed art museums to enable people to discover and view more than a thousand artworks online in extraordinary detail.”

This is the next step in virtual tourism, and it really is pretty cool. It is interesting that the very first “virtual tour” was done by a museum, and they are used by museums everywhere to give visitors an opportunity to have a guided tour of the artwork.

Google's virtual tour includes the Artwork View feature:

“ discover featured artworks at high resolution and use the custom viewer to zoom into paintings. Expanding the info panel allows you to read more about an artwork, find more works by that artist and watch related YouTube videos.”

That high resolution is really high, you can see the brushstrokes and cracking in the old oil paint. The info panel (click on the (>>i) icon to get it, it's not obvious) has historical information, links to you tube curator discussions and viewing notes.

Another feature allows you to create your own collection:

“the ‘Create an Artwork Collection’ feature allows you to save specific views of any of the 1000+ artworks and build your own personalised collection. Comments can be added to each painting and the whole collection can then be shared with friends and family.”

I am not sure how useful this feature is, but I like the idea of it, because it lets users achieve some kind of ownership over these masterworks. Art has always appealed to our acquisitive instinct, so if the Google art project offers users a sense of virtual ownership, they are much more likely to take an interest in the preservation of their 'property'.

I would love to see this project expand, and I am sure it will (the folks at Google are good at that). It includes a good selection of galleries from around the world, but the collection on display are limited. All of the art seems to be paintings on canvas. I for one would like to see this 360-degree street view technology used to get a look at some sculpture.

Back from my vacation

2011-01-26T14:19:00.000-08:00

I have just had a Luxurious vacation and am just settling into back-at-work mode, so I apologize for my protracted absence. I will get back to talking about the Vancouver art scene soon (really exiting show at the Shudder Gallery by my favorite artist collective DRIL tomorrow), but first: What I Did on My Christmas Vacation:

On my Christmas Vacation, I visited the fair city of Toronto, far in the east. While there I finally visited the

Which I have been planning to do, and putting off, for years. this is an Art

Gallery dedicated to ceramic art, and it has a beautiful and extensive collection of both historical and contemporary works. My highlights included the collection of Comedia Dell'Arte figurines, and the Exhibition of new ceramic art, Breaking Boundaries.

"Four young Canadian artists will rock your perception of ceramic art! Shary Boyle, Marc Courtemanche, Carmela Laganse and Brendan Tang will challenge your perceptions and expectations about materials, form, function and meaning with this daring exhibition of works that are both accessible and ambiguous, drawing on objects and images familiar to us from popular culture. From ceramic furniture for bloodletting to mash ups of the Ming dynasty with sci-fi robots, BREAKING BOUNDARIES asks you to question your expectations and engage your imagination."

The work is beautiful and new, and shows the thinking, craftsmanship, and tradition building practiced in modern ceramic sculpture. Brendan Tang is a Vancouver-based artist whose work was on display at the VAG "how soon is now" exhibition last year. The other artists where new to me, but I will certainly be keeping an eye on them.

Patric Cruz at Shudder Gallery

2010-11-25T15:16:00.001-08:00

Here is some V. exiting news: My friend the crazy talented Patrick Cruz has a show on December 2 at the Shudder Gallery.

Patrick is a ridiculously prolific artist who works in many mediums, including painting, sculpture, sound, and the internet. Patrick's art, Which I have had may opportunities to witness first hand, is wild. As in the opposite of banal. it is joyful, insouciant, and hilarious, and yet brings to my mind a sense of disintegration and abjectness. he manages what few artists, and few people, manage: to talk about the present without being depressing.

His work makes me think of Apocalypse, by Willima S Burroughs:

"Neon explosions and tornados splash through ruined cities. Volcanos spew molten colors as the Earth's crust buckles & splinters into jigsaw pieces."

I am sure I am not getting it all. Dec 2, just go look for yourself.

The East Side Culture Crawl is almost here!

2010-11-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

As fall tumbles into Christmas, there are always a plethora of craft and art events at which to spend your time and money. there is the venerable Cirlce Craft next weekend, and the Toronto export The One of a Kind Show the first week of December. Between these two, however, is arguably the best art event of the season, the Eastside Culture Crawl.

the argument for the Eastside Culture Crawl's superiority runs as follows:

it is free.

It is an open studio event. Rather than going to a convention center, visitors get to see the artist's working, and often living spaces. these are often housed in large buildings like the ARC at 1701 Powell street, or the Murgatroid building, at 975 Vernon drive. So with minimal walking you can cover allot of ground, and see not only the art, but where it is made.

The fee for artists is affordable, so you get much more variety than at other events. You are not just going to see stocking suffers. There are all kinds of art on display here, including performances in the evening.

and finally, the coup de gras: the Eastside Culture Crawl is the social and cultural even of the season, if not the year, because Yours Truly is going to open their studio doors to you all. At the very top of 1701 Powell. see you all there.

Cute Buttons!

2010-10-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I am a little late with this, but last Friday I went to Hot One Inch Action at the Gallery Gachet, and I had a great time. I heard about this show last year, and when it came around again I penned it in on the old social calender. To inspire you to do the same, I'll tell you the deal:

You walk in, there are little cards pinned to the wall with one-inch buttons on them, you know, the kind everyone has. Except these ones have some neat (and sometimes lame) art and design on them. in the middle of the room is a kiosk where for 5 dollars you can get 5 randomly selected buttons. You get some you want and some you don't want, of course, and so does everyone else. So you put the ones you don't want on your hand, and so does everyone else. Then you trade.

What I found cool about this was that it illustrated the proverbial but often not fully felt truth that everyone likes different things (well, to a point, we all like buttons). One person's lame is another person's neat. I walked away with 10 (the trading was so fun I bought a second bag) buttons that I really like, and with a concrete illustration of the economic principle of trade creating value.

If you missed this event due to my tardiness in reporting, you can still catch it in portland Thursday November 11, 2010 (8-11pm) at Backspace (115 NW 5th Ave, Portland OR). Invite your friends to the Portland show on Facebook. The deadline for Portland is 12pm (noon) on Friday November 5.

I for one will be submitting my designs to next year's Vancouver show.

Robots and Monsters at the Ayden Gallery

2010-10-19T17:01:00.001-07:00

As we approach the scariest/funnest day of the year, one of the funnest galleries in Vancouver is putting on a show that might scare the party into you.

I like the Ayden gallery because it always shows a wide variety of art and craft mediums, including wearable and furniture. The work they show is always extremely visually engaging and in direct continuity with contemporary culture. I really enjoy the fact that they are located in the same building as Tinseltown. their openings are great parties, and it is always fun to drink at the mall.

Their opening this Friday looks like it will continue this positive trend. Their list is packed with artists, and their website offers drinks and live painting performances.

and for someone like me who thinks that Halloween should be a statutory holiday, it is always nice to have another day to celebrate.

I take the batton

2010-10-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

After a more or less hectic first two weeks at KeenArt Media, I finally have time to sit down and write my first blog post! I'm happy to be here.

I'd have to say that what I enjoy most about this job so far is getting the chance to see all the great work people send in. Cute babies, lovely wedding dresses, great photography and two-dimensional art, what is not to like? I think I like the old photographs best, I like the texture of the film grain, and the feeling of looking into the past you get from an image recorded 40 or 50 years ago. There has been a lot to learn as well, and a lot I still don't know, but I am defiantly more knowledgeable than I was last week this time!

It is Friday today, and if you need something to do, Tonight is Chris Brown's opening at the Fall Gallery (644 Seymour St) at 8:00 pm:

"Chris Brown is an emerging painter from Surrey BC.
His work consists of mostly black and white paintings with selective, very intentional use of colour. His work discusses themes of life and death and provides a perspective for the viewer which is often uneasy and awkward. This creates high emotive content and is illustrated with labored intensity."

quoted from the facebook event, and here is one of his pieces!

well, that is enough for today, but stay tuned.

Bye Bye Blogger

2010-09-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Just a short post to let you know that the blog will be changing hands after today. As much as I have loved writing for Vancouver On Canvas over the past couple of months, I will be returning to school, so Kathleen will be taking over operations here. She is a Visual Arts graduate from Emily Carr university who, undoubtedly, has a firmer grasp on the contemporary art scene in Vancouver then myself!

I hope you have all enjoyed my e-musings and that you will continue to read and enjoy this blog!

Thanks for reading,

Erica

Fall and Film

2010-09-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again - the leaves are starting to turn and the air has an unmistakable chill signaling the start of a new season. Fall is here. For many of us it means new beginnings, and even if we have been out of school for many years, the season will always hold that feeling of starting something new.

Although it has felt like fall for a few weeks here in Vancouver, the season officially starts today with the equinox, and soon enough the leaves will start to turn color and shed as the winter approaches; but despite the cold weather and short days, I love fall. It is the most beautiful season, and if you are a photographer then there is no better time to get out there and take in the natural splendor.

However, if the natural beauty of fall is not enough to make you change your view on the season, then maybe an international film festival will warm you up to it. The 30th of September marks the start of the Vancouver International Film Festival being held here in the city. The festival will run from Sept 30th- Oct 15th and will feature various genres such as:

"Africa Today, Ecologies of Mind, Arts & Letters, Audience Award Winners, Canadian Images, Cinema of Our Time, Dragons & Tigers, Films for youth under 18, High School Program, Nonfiction Features (Docs), Galas, Spotlight on France, and Special Presentations"

Visit the VIFF website for more details here

Vancouver Fringe Festival

2010-09-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

The annual Fringe Film Festival will be held in Vancouver from September 9-19 in various venues around the city. The festival started as an alternative to traditional film festivals, allowing smaller films and individual performers to get in on the action. In addition to traditional theater viewings, artists are encouraged to "bring your own" venue, which involves staging productions in unorthodox setting such as a boat, car or stairwell.

All of the events are centered around the festival mantra of "theater for everyone" which is encouraging to those who lack the financial and promotional support to be a part of the larger international festivals. To make the event even more open to aspiring artists and film makers, the participants are chosen in a lottery style draw to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to take part.

More information about the event can be found on the Fringe website, and a general description is as follows:

"Every year the Fringe delivers an eclectic mix of un-juried, uncensored theatrical offerings. Presenting live theatre in an informal, accessible and inexpensive environment, the Fringe strives to break down traditional boundaries between audiences and artists, encouraging open dialogue between theatre-goers and theatre-creators. Audiences are invited to experience the work of emerging artists and seasoned veterans. Local, national and international artists benefit from working together and learning from each other in a vibrant and exciting festival atmosphere." (Fringe 2010)

8th Annual Grand Wedding Show

2010-09-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

If you missed us at the Vancouver Home+Design show, you can find us this weekend at the 8th Annual Grand Wedding Show at the Vancouver Convention Center. The show, which will run Saturday and Sunday this weekend, will showcase all of the newest trends in wedding decor and design:

"Organizing your wedding will be a labour of love—a page in the personal history of your new family to be shared for generations. And the GRAND Wedding Show is your resource for anything wedding. For two exciting days, Vancouver's finest wedding suppliers will gather to offer you a sneak peek at upcoming trends in fashion, food, wedding decor, and so much more. Whether your inspiration is Midnight Roses in Milan or Bollywood Bling, the GRAND Wedding Show is your perfect starting point to ever after."

We will also be offering exclusive discounts and prizes to attendees, so don't miss out!

Home + Design Show

2010-09-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend marked the first appearance of Vancouver On Canvas at the Home+Design show in the new Vancouver Convention Center. The four day event, held from Sept 9-11th, was a great opportunity for us to meet and interact with Vancouver consumers. We also gave out some great prizes (congrats to all of our winners) as well as exclusive discounts!

If you missed us at the Home+Design show and are planning to tie the knot, then visit us at the 8th Annual Grand Wedding Show this weekend!

Unusual Art at the PNE

2010-09-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

Rides, cotton candy, clowns and...art? Though it sounds strange, the art exhibits at Vancouver's PNE have been wildly successful for artists and organizers alike. Works of art showcased in cargo containers involve everything from metalwork installations to re-vamped cars.

The unusual exhibit has been drawing huge crowds and giving the artists involved unprecedented exposure, one such artist, Ken Gerberick, explains "I'm totally stoked having my stuff at the PNE.. Look at how many people are looking at it". However, it is not just the artists that are befitting from the event, "the introduction of the installation type of art set inside unused shipping containers also won the PNE an industry award for the most innovative new concept in the business in 2009" (the province).

So if you are planning to hit the PNE, which is in town until September 6th, make sure you check out the art between arcade games and candy apples!

Tasty Treats on Granville Street

2010-09-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you are walking by the Vancouver Art Gallery this weekend, don't be surprised when your stomach starts to growl. But fear not, there will be street vendors on hand to serve up cultural creations from Taiwan.

"This weekend, anyone passing by the Vancouver Art Gallery and the 600 and 700 block of Granville Street can experience a bit of Taiwanese life, including its food carts. That’s because the annual Telus TaiwanFest (running September 4 to 6) has taken to the streets. Previously held at the Plaza of Nations and the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Center, this year the festival is centered on Granville Street between Dunsmuir and Robson streets. The celebration extends to the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza (facing West Georgia Street) and CBC Studio 700. Unlike last year at the Plaza of Nations, admission is free. (It’s a street party, after all.) That means you won’t need a ticket to access the culinary offerings." (The Straight)

So make sure to hit the streets with empty stomachs and open minds this weekend. Enjoy!

Last Chance: Artful Sundays

2010-08-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend is your last chance to enjoy Artful Sundays, an outdoor art market located at Napier Square; the market features local artists, art demonstrations and workshops, music, community groups and special events. Each Sunday the event features artist from various backgrounds including jewelry, pottery, painting photography and much more.

Visit here for more information.

Artist Spotlight: Bahram Javahry

2010-08-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about writing this blog is getting the chance to check out great local artists, and Bahram Javahry is no exception. The Iranian born artist specializes in paper sculptures, and will be showcasing his works at the Silk Purse gallery from August 24th- September 5th. Below is a description of the exhibit:

"Iranian artist Bahram Javahry brings his unique collection of paper sculptures to the Silk Purse. What started as a childhood fascination with the beauty and versatility of paper and the field of animation, has turned into an internationally acclaimed career. He has exhibited throughout BC and has won awards in film and animation in the US, Canada, Egypt, Korea, and the Czech Republic"

After having the opportunity to see his works prior to the opening, I highly recommend a visit to the exhibit. The craftsmanship and patience displayed in his sculptures are second to none, and the detail work has a soft and almost erethral quality. To see more of his works, you can visit his website here.

Calling all Photographers: Capture Vancouver Photo Contest!

2010-08-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

Vancouver On Canvas is seeking submissions for our "Capture Vancouver" photo contest. The contest, which will run from August 15th - September 30th, will award prizes to those able to capture the most interesting and beautiful images of our wonderful city. The submissions must be cityscape with Vancouver as the subject (think English Bay, Gastown clock, Kits beach sunset, etc)

Below are the details:

Deadline for submissions: September 30th, 2010

Theme: Vancouver

Entry fee: Free!

Now for the best part...

Prizes:

1st Place: $300 printing credit from Vancouver On Canvas

2nd Place: $200 printing credit from Vancouver On Canvas

3rd Place: $100 printing credit from Vancouver On Canvas

How to enter: send up to 3 of your photos including your details by email to info@KeenArtMedia.com with "CAPTURE VANCOUVER - PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST" as the subject. Winners will be announced on October 6, 2010.

The Art of the Heist

2010-08-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

Art aficionados the world round were shocked to hear that the famous "Poppy Flowers" painting was cut from it's frame and stolen in broad daylight on Sunday. The work by Van Gogh, worth around 50 million dollars, went missing from the Mahmoud Khalil museum in Cairo, sparking controversy over the lack of security. Despite holding around 1.2 billion dollars worth of art and original paintings by Van Gogh, Degas and Monet, only 7 of the 43 security cameras were working and none of alarms attached to individual paintings were turned on.

The utter lack of security is almost comical, unless of course you are the culture minister or one of the four museum employees who ended up behind bars amidst claims of negligence. All five have been charged and are currently facing trial, but many feel it is just a smokescreen; they could not have been the only people who knew of the museum's security problems as it is not the first time "Poppy Flowers" has been stolen. In 1978, the work was taken from the museum in much the same manner only to be found over two years later in an undisclosed Kuwait location.

The theft has left Egyptian officials red-faced and scrambling to find the perpetrators by alerting all points of exit from the country and promising a massive security overhaul. However, despite claims to the contrary on Sunday night, the fugitives are still at large. The only upside to the whole debacle is the possibility that George Clooney and the Oceans 11 team have found the screenplay for "Oceans 14: Vanishing Van Gogh"...

Artist Spotlight: Brent Wellander

2010-08-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

The next artist to be featured in our spotlight series is Brent Wellander, a BC native with a passion for the outdoors and the life within it. Brent's photographs depict a quiet consideration of his subjects, resulting in stunning photographs of animals in their natural habitat. Read on to find out more about the man behind the lens:

Erica: How did you get into photography?
Brent: I developed a love for photography at an early age when my Grade 7 teacher provided darkroom instruction and had us create a manual on the photographic and developing process.

E: What do you love most about it?
B: Being able to freeze a moment in time and sharing it with others. Also the challenge and the satisfaction of capturing an image you can be proud of.

E: How do you choose your subjects and/or locations?
B: Usually they are places I've visited in the past, read about, or tips I’ve received from others.

E: Why did you choose to shoot nature and wildlife?
B: I've always loved the outdoors and wild animals. Photography is a great way to slow down and really take a closer look at an animal’s life and its habitat. Through my photography I’ve also developed a greater appreciation for the natural world and the importance of protecting it.

E: Ever had a scary or interesting run-in with the wildlife you shoot?
B: I can't say I've had a scary experience although there was one Moose I photographed on a couple of occasions who was quite inquisitive and would get quite close. Even though she wasn't aggressive, a wild animal this size in close proximity can still be a little daunting.

E: Favorite photography style?
B: At the moment it would definitely be nature photography with birds in particular, and landscapes a close second.

E: What kind of camera do you use?
B: My newest camera is Canon 7D coupled with a Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens and a 1.4x Extender.

To view more of Brent's work, visit his artist page here

9th Annual Culture Crawl

2010-08-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

If you have ever felt like your life needs more culture, then this is the event for you! The 9th annual culture crawl kicked off its self-guided tour through Vancouver on August 1st and will run through the 31st of this month. If you are unsure what this cultural cruise will entail, here is the official description from Tourism Vancouver:

"Join a self-guided tour of community-initiated events including music, theater and dance performances, visual arts, festivals, museum and heritage exhibitions, culinary arts, art-walks, studio tours and more. Kicks off BC long weekend and continues through the month of August (August 1-31) Your journey begins with the Arts & Cultural Guide to BC and continues on www.art-bc.com, where you can view our virtual guide and additional participating communities. You can download itineraries, maps and find all of the resources to help you plan your crawl! Communities and www.art-bc.com will provide the resources for residents and visitors to create their own art-ful exploration of our super-cultural province! To join, email your prepared community cultural crawl or complete the BC Cultural Crawl Participant Form to update us about your communities arts and cultural footprint."

So get out there and explore the city you live in, you never know what you might find!

Spotlight on: Peter Gianfrancesco

2010-08-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

Here at Vancouver On Canvas we see everything from amateur to professional works of photography; all beautiful in their own way and each with their own style. However, we wanted to shine a spotlight on some of the artists that contribute to our Artist Gallery Program, a new service where by artists can sell their work on our site for others to enjoy. The first installment of this series will feature Peter Gianfranceso; this aussi-born brit uses his background in mental health to capture the person behind the picture and strives to create art out of the ordinary.

Erica: How did you get into photography?

Peter: I started taking photographs 20 years ago as a way of documenting my travels around the world. In the last 6 years I have developed my interest and undertaken training in the united kingdom to qualify as a professional photographer.

E: What do you love most about it?

P: I love finding photographic interest in everyday things and places - it might be a texture or an arrangement of colors or lines. Most of all I love the interesting places and people that i get to experience. The greatest thrill is when somebody gives a photograph a home on their wall!

E: How do you choose your subjects?

P: My subjects tend to choose me. I'll just be somewhere and see something as if I were looking through a lens. Sometimes the subject will look inconspicuous or mundane but I can see the final image in my head.

E: Does a background in mental health and psychotherapy help you in your work? How?

P: Yes certainly, particularly with portraiture and getting to capture the 'real' person.

E: Favorite photography style?

P: I love Weston, Ansell Adams, Cartier Bresson and most of the great black and white photographers.

E: Favorite place/person/thing to shoot?
P: Exotic out of the way destinations, particularly middle eastern places. I have a house in Maibe and love photographing landscapes as well as old and abandoned houses, cars and discarded things.

E: What kind of camera do you use?

P: I use Canon equipment. My main camera is a 5D Mark 2 and my second camera is a 7D - together they provide a versatile capability. I use premium (L) Canon lenses up to 200mm.

E: An interesting fact about yourself

P: Born in Australia, worked as a tennis coach. Live in England now and spend lots of time in USA.

Coming Soon: Affordable Art

2010-08-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

When decorating a space, often a famous work comes to mind as the perfect finishing touch. However, unless you are in the minuscule percentile of people actually able to afford a Monet or Van Gogh, the only choices seem to be posters with the name and work of art on the bottom. But what if you have long since grown out of the poster stage? What if you want a famous painting on a starving artist's budget? Well, canvas art reproduction might just be the option for you.

By acquiring the rights to famous works, a canvas art company is able to reproduce the painting at any size and gallery wrap it so it looks as it would in a museum or art gallery. In doing this, an exact replica of a famous work can be within your reach, and your price range. This is a great option for art aficionados who require custom sizes for various home, office or corporate usage.

So keep checking this blog for updates about our classical art product launch and discounts!

Interior Decisions: Finishing Touches

2010-08-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gotten a room painted and furnished only to discover that it still looks bare? This is a problem all to common to those moving into new houses, apartments or even office spaces. Its the finishing touches that transform your room from looking like an ikea warehouse to being a reflection of you.

However, it is never as easy as it sounds; finding the perfect print to complete a room can be an exhausting and very expensive journey (believe me, I have been there), so why not make your own art? Instead of looking listlessly for a piece of art that captures the feel of the room, turn your own photography into a finishing touch for your space. Not only is it an inexpensive option for those looking to decorate without depleting their savings, but it is also a way to personalize your art and get exactly what you want.

To make art out of your prints, just follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Upload a picture onto Vancouver on Canvas
Step 2: Choose the size, edges and/or framing
Step 3: Get us to send it to you or arrange for pick-up
Step 4: Enjoy your artwork!

And fear not if you are on a strict budget.. keep checking this blog as I will be posting coupon codes that are valid for 48 hours and can save you up to 50% on your order!

Paint + Plants: Art In The Garden 2010

2010-08-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

The amount of flower-focused artwork is astounding, so why not feature the art within the inspiration?

That is the idea behind Art In The Garden, hosted by the famed UBC botanical and research gardens. The gardens will serve as a departure from the traditional art gallery, instead featuring local perennial painters outdoors. In addition to seeing beautiful works by twenty-five BC artists, you can bring out your inner artiste at the activity booth, take in a performance or simply take a stroll through the many attractions.

The event will run August 7th and 8th from 10am-5pm at the UBC gardens on Marine Drive
Admission: Adults - $8, youth/students/seniors - $6, children 6 to 12 - $4, under 6 - free

Enjoy your weekend!

The Inaugural Blog Post

2010-08-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the Vancouver On Canvas Blog! Who? Oh yeah, you probably don't have any idea who we are.. Well fear not because I am about to hit you with a Bio!

Vancouver on Canvas is a family owned business run by three brothers: Reza, Rom and Moe. The business initially started with stock photography, which utilized the brothers' art, photography,and design backgrounds. However, as times changed and more people became self-professed photographers, the brothers took a shine to Canvas Art. Since 2002, they have been hard at work perfecting their craft- adding custom stretcher bars, framing, laminating, and so much more. A dedication to customer service and unparalleled quality have been the recipe for e-success, and hopefully, in time, the reason the company is locally loved.

Check out our website at www.vancouveroncanvas.com or come visit us on 54 east 3rd Ave if you are in the area!