Hotpoint

Hotpoint, originally uploaded by Umpqua.

Today I found the group Atomic Housewife on Flickr and spent a lot of time looking at old ads and ephemera of the 50s. Very entertaining.

I miss all my old magazines that I have in storage.

Fall Leaves Floral

Fall Leaves Floral, originally uploaded by Melsky.

A favorite floral painting of mine. Acrylic on canvas 8x10.

Maneki Neko Army

Maneki Neko Army, originally uploaded by Melsky.

In a shop window on Dundas Street. These are battery opperated, their hands move up and down which is why they are blurry in the photo.

Abstract Forget Me Nots

Abstract Forget Me Nots, originally uploaded by Melsky.

A very colorful painting.

Cacophany

Cacophany, originally uploaded by Melsky.

This is what I call a waste paper painting. It starts out with me painting backgrounds on 5x7 sheets of paper. I place them on the canvas when I paint and use the canvas to catch the excess paint. That makes a series of right angles and lines in various colors. Then I start filling in areas with various colors, patterns and doodles.

I used to just use paper or cardboard as background paper to paint on. Then it would usually hang around my studio and I'd add to it. It started looking better than the paintings I was actually working on sometimes. So I started using canvas.

Time-worn Paint

Time-worn Paint, originally uploaded by lookin glass.

I love the angles in this, the texture of the old wood and the way the clouds are sweeping across the sky.

water towers and nice light

water towers and nice light, originally uploaded by niznoz.

An amazing light, and it's surprising to see so many water towers in NYC. They seem like something that would have gotten torn down a long time ago.

illum

illum
Originally uploaded by steevil.

Great atmosphere in this photo, it projects a feeling of warmth.

Night Streetcar

Night Streetcar
Originally uploaded by Melsky.

Streetcars are one of the things I love about Toronto. Riding a streetcar always seems more enjoyable than riding a bus.

Missing: My pothead son Brendan

Missing: My pothead son Brendan
Originally uploaded by Melsky.

I saw this on a pole in the annex. The text reads:

2 all my sweet neighbors in The Annex, please don't be alarmed - Brendan's just an irresponsible kid who does this sort of thing all the time (rest assured, he's done this before!) Anyway, on Satureday he went to a house party at Jacob's house. It's Sunday afternoon right now and he still hasn't called home to let me know he's ok, and what his plan is, as we promised before he took off. If anyone knowz Jacob's telephone number, pleeze send me e-letter at my website.

(p.s. Brendan, if you're reading this, I'm sorry to embarrass u, but you drove me to it with your irresponsibility. To any of Bren's neighborhood pals reading this, please mind your own beezwax!! This is between a diztressed father and his son. Thanx!)

Fall in Trinity Bellwoods Park

Fall in Trinity Bellwoods Park
Originally uploaded by Melsky.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the colors and how cool the weather is after the hot and humid summer. Looking at all the colors I feel inspired to paint. Many of my paintings have falling leaves on them.

Art Storage Boxes

Art Storage Boxes
Originally uploaded by Melsky.

These are recycled boxes covered with acrylic paint and collage. Lately I haven't been concentrating on selling my art so much. I've been making a lot of art for our home instead.

I had been keeping things organized in these shoeboxes and was looking for some more permanent boxes to keep them in. But one night I just started painting the boxes. I like how they turned out.

I painted the table they are on also.

Anti drunk driving storefront

Anti drunk driving storefront
Originally uploaded by Melsky.

This is a very odd building I passed on the streetcar the other day. It reads:
Drunk drivers are Lousy Lovers
Sober Drivers "Puck" much better

Drunk drivers
kiss and neck
wet and sloppy

Sober Drivers do not
Slobber and drool

The building looks like a former convienience store, now perhaps someone's house. It's not a store anymore.

in Toronto

A new blog

This is where I show my artwork and photos, and also other people's artwork and photos. Sometimes I will probably talk about stuff too.

My name is Melsky, I'm an artist from California who somehow ended up in Toronto. Before I lived here I lived in an isolated Mohave desert valley called Wonder Valley. It's been quite a change living right in the middle of a northern city.

I like Toronto

This albino squirrel lives on the grounds of a large mental hospital in Toronto. We used to live close to the hospital and I'm glad we don't any longer. But I miss the squirrels. Mostly I just wanted to put a photo on my blog and this is one I like. First posts in blogs are as akward as first dates.

Enjoying a Walnut, originally uploaded by Melsky.