Looking back, moving forward

As in previous years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), here is my annual recap of how my year unfolded.

In January, my article for UPPERCASE Magazine hit the stands. 

February was mostly dedicated to paint explorations (The results come later in the year...)

In March, I completed a couple of fun sign and mural projects for a boutique toy store.

In April, I released a collection of paintings called "New & Improved".

May was more studio painting time, which lead to the release of my "Painted with Pride" collection in June.

In July, I completed some custom lettering for a theatre game show called "Whose Land is it Anyway". I also completed some custom sign painting for one of my favourite local shops, Secret Planet. As well, I did some custom lettering for the cover of Reader's Digest (in English and French!) July was also my birthday month and I painted a self-portrait to mark the year.

In August, after weeks of preparation, I launched a series of 21 paintings called The New Pop. I also painted a couple of interior murals for a new pediatric clinic.

In September, I jumped on a plane to NYC for a top secret project (more details in December...)

In October, I designed a new album for local musician Jeremy Voltz. I also snuck away to visit my family - and the Rocky mountains.

In November, I refreshed my "Not Amazing" campaign to encourage people to shop local. I was also thrilled to share that my Rotary Calendar was now available at the Art Institute of Chicago gift shop.

The biggest news of the year came in December. My new online course, Sign Creation with Hand-Painted Lettering, was launched on Domestika. It is so exciting that I'll be able to share my passion for sign painting with students from around the world. And to cap of the year, I received a most generous mention of my Rotary Calendar from Martha Stewart in her holiday guide, 54 Holiday Gifts Perfect for the Guys in Your Life.

2021 was another topsy turvy year. I am endlessly grateful to be able to do work that I love. This also marks 10 full years of freelance life (more to come on that in the new year...)

Have a safe and happy holiday!

New & Improved prints

By popular demand, three of my “New & Improved” paintings are available as prints in my shop. 

The original paintings have been scanned and reproduced as 12" x 16" prints, printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite 120lb matte fine art paper using an HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press. 

Limited quantities available. 

Available for purchase in my shop. Free local delivery and pickup available. 

Thank you for your support!

Frosted Flakes

Laurentien

Pine-Sol

New & Improved

Now more than ever, we allow advertising to disrupt our audio and visual environments, under the presumption that corporations are looking out for our best interests — that it is simply part of our modern world. But at what cost?

Juxtaposing the benign familiarity of readymade thrift store paintings with artefacts of legacy packaging and advertisements, Christopher uses nostalgia and wordplay to make us confront complex questions about our relationship with consumerism:

Is the current advertising model sustainable? What is the future of targeted advertising?

How do corporations manipulate our emotions — and purchases — with branding and language?

Can artists survive without sponsorship? Can art exist without ads? Can ads exist without art?

Christopher uses traditional showcard and sign painting techniques to create a false screen print overlay with acrylic, making creative nods to Wayne White, Andy Warhol, and the Dada art movement. Through careful construction/destruction and the use of scale/contrast, he makes us look closer, and urges us to think more critically about marketing language and our everyday consumption.

Laurentien

Acrylic on paint-by-number

48cm × 38cm, framed

$140

Sunlight

Acrylic on paint-by-number

20cm × 25cm, unframed

$80 (diptych)

Life

Acrylic on paint-by-number

69cm × 54cm, framed

$280

Thrill

Acrylic on paint-by-number

38cm × 48cm, framed

$280 (diptych)

Snowy

Acrylic on oil painting

52cm × 42cm, framed

$170

Star-kist

Acrylic on paint-by-number

31cm × 37cm, framed

$175 (diptych)

Joy

Acrylic on paint-by-number

54cm × 44cm, framed

$180

Bounty

Acrylic on paint-by-number

31cm × 27cm, unframed

$130 (diptych)

Pine-Sol

Acrylic gouache on paint-by-number

41cm × 31cm, unframed

$100

Tide

Acrylic on paint-by-number

32cm × 27cm, framed

$130 (diptych)

Frosted Flakes

Acrylic on paint-by-number

41cm × 31cm, unframed

$100

Swan

Acrylic on paint-by-number

33cm × 43cm, framed

$220 (diptych)

S.O.S.

Acrylic on paint-by-number

61cm × 46cm, unframed

$220

Cap'N Crunch

Acrylic on paint-by-number

35cm × 45cm, framed

$225 (diptych)

-

First come, first served.

Prices listed in CDN, and do not include taxes or shipping costs.

To claim, please contact me via email: hello [at] christopherrouleau [dot] com

Local delivery and pickup available. Shipping within Canada and USA based on size and destination.

Thank you for your support!

Looking back, moving forward

As in previous years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), here is my annual recap of how my year unfolded.

In January, I created some custom lettering for the cover of Chatelaine magazine.

In February, I lettered a unique note for a Maison Simons advertisement. I also got the chance to do some window painting at Type Books.

In March, I created a quick custom letter animation for the new H Word podcast.

At the end of June, I released three Pride graphics to share on Instagram.

To mark this bizarre year, and my 38th birthday, I did a self-portrait in graphite in July. I also released a couple of new custom signs in August: Start & 100% homo milk.

In September, I launched two new online course books: Brush pen lettering, as well as Showcard and Sign Painting. I also released my new Rotary calendar. Also, Life is Good!

In October, I created a small campaign called Not Amazing to encourage people to shop local. I also teamed up with some amazing Toronto artists to do a special Holiday card sale - it was a huge success! I also had the chance to paint the window of the new Craig's Cookies.

In November, I was featured on the podcast Talk Paper Scissors (thanks again, Diana!) My work was also featured for four weeks at the Window Gallery exhibit on Church Street (thanks again, Sonja!)

And before the year came to an end, I painted a special note on the The Theatre Centre windows, and also created a unique Parkdale High Park custom lettering commission.

2020 was a year like no other. Thanks to everyone for your support. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Showcard & Sign Painting workbook

Sign painting is a perfect blend of draftsmanship and artistry, of rules and intuition, of precision and incongruity. With the emergence of the “slow movement” in the last decade, and a renewed interest in analog techniques – perhaps a reaction against the technologies that dominate so many aspects of our lives – the demand for traditional sign painting has returned. Many small businesses prefer signs made by humans, not machines. People want art in their homes made by people, not factories. And those with an interest in typography and handmade letterforms (both professionals and hobbyists) are interested in painting letters by hand. 

These 10 worksheets will help you navigate your sign painting journey. This booklet contains an overview of supplies, techniques, stroke practice, as well as full reference alphabets and guideline sheets. Please let this workbook inspire you to embrace your own personal style, and create your best sign painting work.

No experience required, but you will need your own paint materials, which are thoroughly discussed in the kit.   

Available as a physical booklet or digital download in my shop.

Looking back, moving forward

As in previous years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), here is my annual recap of how my year unfolded.

In January, I was featured in UPPERCASE Magazine's beautiful new book, The Encyclopedia of Inspiration: Ephemera.

After months of preparation, I revealed a new look for my personal brand in February. Posts here, here and here.

In March, I hand-painted some signs for The Theatre Centre, and painted the windows at Type Books. I also offered hand-letter cards at She Matters, a fundraising brunch in support of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, which offers legal representation, professional counselling and multilingual interpretation to women who have experienced violence.

Village Juicery generously displayed some of my collection for the month of April. I also had the privilege of painting the windows at the new Wonder Pens Clinton St. location. And I checked one thing off my bucket list: I played my first-ever ukulele recital!

In May, I had fun painting a special pantry sign.

June was a busy month! I offered my first sign painting workshop, in partnership with Above Ground Art Supplies. I designed a super fun t-shirt for the Stratford Festival production of Little Shop of Horrors. I designed the poster and graphics for the Vintage Taps' production of The Laundry List. I did some fun sign painting for LeTao and Kilogram. And I got a chance to help out the 519 with some huge hand-painted pride protest signs.

In August, I had the privilege to do a sign painting treatment on the cover of Chatelaine Magazine.
I also did a fun sign painting / pop art homage.

In October, I did some custom lettering for Tafelmusik's Haus Musik series in Toronto. I was the feature artist at Italic Press. And my sign painting article was featured in Issue 43 of UPPERCASE Magazine.

November was a big month. I had new work at the Buddies in Bad Times Art Attack auction. I had fun painting the window at the new Craig's Cookies on Church Street. And I also got to paint a lovely Joni Mitchell lyric for the holiday window at Type Books. But the biggest news on the month (and year) was being part of the One of a Kind winter show. Months of preparation all led up to joining 850+ vendors for 117 hours over 11 days at Toronto’s biggest gathering of local makers. I feel privileged that was included in this world-class event, and thankful for every single person I’ve met during this experience.

This year would not have been possible without the support of everyone.
I wish you all the best in 2020.

CR

Processed Canada postcards

Hand-painted with acrylic and One Shot enamel paint, available as a set of five 4.5"x6" postcards, printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite 120lb matte fine art paper using an HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press.

Available for purchase here.

True North Strong & Free

Hand-painted with acrylic and One Shot enamel paint, scanned, and printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite 120lb matte fine art paper using an HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press.

Available for purchase here.

Product of Canada

Hand-painted with acrylic and One Shot enamel paint, scanned, and printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite 120lb matte fine art paper using an HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press.

Available for purchase here.

Made in Canada

Hand-painted with acrylic and One Shot enamel paint, scanned, and printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite 120lb matte fine art paper using an HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press.

Available for purchase here.

Inhabitant of Canada

Hand-painted with acrylic and One Shot enamel paint, scanned, and printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite 120lb matte fine art paper using an HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press.

Available for purchase here.

Canada Eh?

Hand-painted with acrylic and One Shot enamel paint, scanned, and printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite 120lb matte fine art paper using an HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press.

Available for purchase here.

Holiday cards 2019

This 4-pack of festive, A2-size greeting cards were hand painted with acrylic and enamel paint, scanned, and printed in Toronto on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite 120lb matte fine art paper, using an HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press. Blank inside, envelopes included. Includes:
-Cooked Ham
-Fresh Egg Nog
-Instant Stuffing
-Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Free delivery within Toronto may be available; please contact me for details.

Available for purchase here.

© Christopher Rouleau 2019. All rights reserved.

Learn Sign Painting

Learn Sign Painting with Christopher Rouleau. This new two-day workshop teaches the fundamentals of traditional sign painting. Participants will learn about best practices, sign painting tools, and have the opportunity to paint up to four styles of alphabet using both showcard tempera paint, with a demonstration on how to use professional enamel paint. This is an intermediate level workshop. All participants should come with a working knowledge of typography and hand-lettering fundamentals. Experience with type design, drafting, drawing, and painting is a bonus. Materials will be provided, and all participants will take home their own brushes & sign painting workbook. Space is very limited. Sign up today!

Sat. Sept. 28 + Sun. Sept. 29
Uppercase Magazine
Calgary, AB
https://www.uppercasemagazine.com/learnsignpainting

Sat. Oct. 19 + Sun. Oct. 20
Watson & Lou
Peterborough, ON
https://www.watsonandlou.com/collections/workshops/products/sign-painting

Pride is political

Pride is political. Keep your eyes out for these protest banners this weekend at Pride Toronto. Hand-painted by Paul Dotey and myself for The 519. Thanks Kilogram studio for their superb protest modelling skills.

Kilogram

I had such a fun time painting this door for Kilogram studio. Painted by hand with 1Shot paint. Pop by the laneway at 175 Lisgar to check it out. Thanks, Kfir!