Brian Croft
Painting the History of Vancouver and British Columbia

Newsletters

(posted on 23 Jul 2023)

Hi everyone!......Bringing together 25 exceptionally talented artists took some doing and required the procurement of more show equippment and when we set it all up, I'm proud to say, this will be our "biggest art show ever".  Presented inside the stunning Cascades Ballroom at the Coast Hotel & Convention Centre, 20393 Fraser Highway, in lovely downtown Langley, this will be the show you dont want to miss.

This show is in partnership with Langley Hospice Foundation and our artists are thrilled to be able to continue our long history of supporting this vital community service.

Admision and parking are free.

At the top of the escalator, a full bar and light lunch counter will be available at the show entrance.

Here are our open hours:

Friday: noon - 9pm,     Saturday: 11am - 7pm.

Our show poster is below and you can find out much more by going to our website at:

 www.westart.ca

 

(posted on 16 Feb 2023)

Hello everyone,  Brian Croft here to tell you about my next art show appearance.

Its about time for another art show and Ive been working hard organizing the next one which is just two weeks ahead.

The next West Fine Art Show involves a move to a larger venue and this means we will be presenting 22 exceptional artists in one of our biggest shows to date.

This show is staged at Yorkson Creek Middle School, 20686 - 84 Ave., Langley, BC. 

The three day show is set for March 3 - 5, 2023 so please add that to your calendar and let friends and family know.

Partial proceeds of all art sales will be donated to our charitable partner the Langley School District Foundation to assist in a wide range of initiatives that benefit students.

I hope to see you at the "West" !!

Brian Croft

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(posted on 4 Sep 2022)

Join us Sept 16-18, 2022

Hi folks, I help organize one of BC’s most popular art show and sale events, where we present an exceptional line-up of 18 artists and the rare opportunity for visitors to meet each artist.

This destination art show, with free admission, is organized in partnership with Langley Hospice Society and 25% of all art sales at the show will be donated to the society by the show’s artists.  Lots more details at:   www.westart.ca

This show is graciously hosted by Glass House Estate Winery, managed and operated by JRG Group of Companies.

Find Glass House Estate Winery, at 23449  0 Avenue. Langley, B.C V2Z 2X3

Show hours:

Friday,   September 16        5:00pm - 9:00pm

Saturday,  September 17   11:00am - 7:00pm

Sunday,   September 18     11:00am - 5:00pm

John Gilliat will perform all weekend.

See you at the WEST FINE ART SHOW!

Brian Croft

 

I hope you can join me at the next West Fine Art Show. (March 4-6 2022)

First, I'd like to thank you for signing up for my newsletters which I generally send out just prior to art shows and new art-releases.  As many of you know, I also organize the West Fine Art Show and our next show is coming up.

While the official start of Spring is March 20th... we are not waiting for that and have planned our 2022 Early Spring show for March 4-6.  Best of all, regardless of the weather, our show, inside the fabulous Glass House Estate Winery in Langley will be warm and bright and filled with amazing art.

Our show is one of BC’s most popular art shows. Once again we will create a destination art show, with free admission, that will welcome visitors throughout the weekend at the beautifully situated Glass House Estate Winery in south Langley. A portion of all art sales will go to the Langley School District Foundation and will benefit Langley students.

This amazing weekend of fine art, will offer breathtaking interpretations of our western Canada lifestyle as well as the rare opportunity to meet and speak with each artist.  The show features 18 artists from Western Canada.

See You...at the "West"!

Brian Croft

More information about artists and their work can be seen at:  www.westart.ca

 

 

Glass House Estate Winery is located at 23449  0 Avenue Langley, B.C V2Z 2X3

Parking and Admission: Free

Show hours:

Friday        5:00pm - 9:00pm

Saturday   11:00am - 7:00pm

Sunday     11:00am - 5:00pm

COVID-19 info:

  • All visitors (+12) must present a BC Vaccine Card QR code for show entry.
  • Face coverings must be worn by everyone (+5) inside the show.

 

First, I'd like to thank you for signing up for my newsletters which I generally send out just prior to art shows and new art-releases.  As many of you know, I also organize the West Fine Art Show and our next show is coming up.

ITS ABOUT TIME WE HAD AN ART SHOW!!    We’re PLANNING, PLANNING, PLANNING to bring you 19 exceptional artists.

Langley Hospice Society and Glass House Estate Winery are hosting our West Fine Art Show on the weekend of Sept 17-19.  One of BC’s largest and highly popular art shows, the West Fine Art Show will once again create a destination art show, with free admission, that will welcome thousands of attendees throughout the weekend at the beautifully situated South Langley Glass House Estate Winery.

This amazing weekend of fine art, will offer breathtaking interpretations of our western Canada lifestyle as well as the rare opportunity to meet and speak with each artist.  The show features 19 artists from Western Canada:

Brent Cooke, Jodie Blaney, John Ferrie, Richard Brodeur, Emily Lozeron, Lorn Curry, Joyce Trygg, Jim Pescott, , Ken Nash, Graham McKenzie, Felicity Holmes, Serge Dube, Alison Philpott, Drew Keilback, Judy Vanderveen, Catherine Traynor, Lizete Dureault,  musician, John Gilliat , and me,....Brian Croft.

 

Glass House Estate Winery is located at 23449  0 Avenue Langley, B.C V2Z 2X3

Parking and Admission: Free

Show hours:

Friday, Sep 17   5:00pm - 9:00pm

Saturday, Sep 18   11:00am - 7:00pm

Sunday, Sep 19   11:00am - 5:00pm

COVID-19 info: Visitors require a BCVaccination Card or other proof of a single dose Covid-19 vaccination, attendance numbers are controlled, face coverings are required, and for a complete view of the show's Covid Communicative Disease Plan, please visit www.westart.ca

 

Hello everyone,

Over the past month, as we, at the West Fine Art Show promised, we fully supported the restrictions of our provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and embraced her now-famous call:  "Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe”. We pivoted our show plans and moved our show online, running April 9-30.

The show is in its last few days and so I'd invite you all to take a few moments and make a visit with our 28 artists, the largest number we have ever hosted.  Leave a note in our guest book before you leave and tell us about your experience with at the show.

This is the fourth year partnered with the Langley School District Foundation. The amazing  work that this foundation performs in support of students can be seen at: https://www.langleyschooldistrictfoundation.com

During our show, artists are donating 25% of their sales at the show, to this foundation; this means, when you purchase art, you are also helping in this important work.

We have made it very easy to contact all our artists directly to make purchases and to find out more about their work. You will find live-contact-links on each artists mini gallery.

And please do enter our art draw with four prizes, the first being a Richard Brodeur print, “The Captains”.  Tickets are easy to buy, just click on the poster. All proceeds to the foundation.

Please do forward this newsletter to friends and family, and thank you for your support.

 

Here is a Direct Link to the Show:  www.westart.ca

Brian Croft

President, West Fine Art Show Society

And just a reminder that my latest limited edition print is in galleries; I pasted that image below for you to see.

 

(posted on 4 Apr 2021)

Hi everyone,

Im pleased to say that stretched canvases of my new giclee print Theatre Row, Granville St. - 1965 are now available in galleries as I promised they would be.  The galleries which represent me can be found on my website or by simply clicking on this link:   https://briancroft.com/page/where_to_purchase.

And now, about the West Fine Art Show!

About a week ago, faced with high Covid counts and talk of a third wave, I decided to move our next West Fine Art Show online.  So on April 9 we open and run three weeks until April 30.

This will be new territory for the show but in a nutshell here is what we have planned so far.  First we added a few more artists.  We will have our usual art draw, a few "Meet the Artist" Zoom sessions and lots of art for visitors to see and buy.  Visitors will be able to connect quickly with each artist if they wish to make a purchase and 25% of all sales will be donated to our partner the Langley School District Foundation.

Here is the show poster and, over the three-week run, I do hope you will drop into the show at www.westart.ca and join us. And, please do pass this on and help us connect people with art, artists and charitable purpose.

Brian Croft

 

 

 

Hi everyone, 

I hope this short note to you finds you all in good health.

As an old fighter pilot I'm always looking far-ahead and thought you might like to know, I believe I can see "sunshine" coming our way!

Thanks for your patience over the past few years; I have finally finished my latest painting titled:" Theatre Row - 1965".  The previous three paintings on this subject are almost sold out and this painting continues that journey into 1965, the year that I was in grade 11.

Here is a short video about the making of this work:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO ABOUT THEATRE ROW - 1965

Of course you can always find me at:   www.briancroft.com

For collectors of low-number-signed prints, now is the time to place your order at a gallery that represents me and these galleries are listed on my website.

If you know any other "youngsters" who were in high school around 1965, I'd appreciate your forwarding this to them!!

See you soon...in the sunshine!

Warm wishes,

Brian Croft

P.S. I will be at the West Fine Art Show April 9-11. As always I will send you a little reminder about that show as we get closer because COVID restrictions may cause us to pivot the show to an online format...so I will let you know.

 

 
 
 
End

 

(posted on 11 Sep 2020)

 

Appologies if you have already received this email.

We just discovered a database problem which prevented most of you from receiving this.

Thats fixed so hopefully this is the last try and I hope to see you all soon at the show.

Brian Croft, checking in from the West Fine Art Show....here we go everyone; I hope you can join us.

West Fine Art Show - Late Summer Edition

September 18-20, 2020

Hi everyone, 

Im pleased to announce that the eleventh-annual Late-Summer edition of the West Fine Art Show is upon us; it promises to be a perfect weekend adventure. Hosted at Glass House Estate Winery in beautiful south Langley, the show will feature 18 exceptional artists in a three-day exhibition.

This amazing weekend of fine art, will offer breathtaking interpretations of our western Canada lifestyle as well as the rare opportunity to meet and speak with each artist.  The show features 18 artists from Western Canada.

The new artists at this show are Jodie Blaney, Tony Mayo and John Ferrie.  Appearing again at our show are artists from Alberta and British Columbia, including Richard Brodeur, Emily Lozeron, Lorn Curry, Joyce Trygg, Jim Pescott, Patricia Falk,  Ken Nash, Graham McKenzie, Brent Cooke, Felicity Holmes,  Lynn Sykes, Drew Keilback, Judy Vanderveen, Victor Gligor, and Brian Croft.

Our show will also focus on raising awareness of Langley Hospice Society and its important work, both in the past and the years ahead.  The show is graciously hosted by Glass House Estate Winery and JRG Group of Companies. Partial proceeds of all art sales will be donated to the Langley Hospice Society.

A complete list of participating artists can be found at www.westart.ca.

The show runs September 18-20, 2020  at the beautifully situated South Langley Glass House Estate Winery.

Please pass this on to your friends and family; we hope to see you all there!

Brian Croft, president, West Fine Art Show Society.

_______________________

GLASS HOUSE ESTATE WINERY is located at 23449  0 Avenue Langley, B.C.   V2Z 2X3

Parking and admission are free.

Show hours:

Friday, Sep 18   5:00pm - 9:00pm

Saturday, Sep 19   11:00am - 7:00pm

Sunday, Sep 20   11:00am - 5:00pm 

_______________________

This event is planned in accordance with the latest BC Provincial Order. As we work hard to protect your safety, we also ask you to familiarize yourself with the following procedures that will be in effect. If we all contribute by being informed, KIND, CALM and SAFE, we will have a wonderful artistic event. See you there!

COVID-19,   WHAT TO EXPECT

Parking and Admission to our show is free of charge

If you are not feeling well or have any Covid-19 symptoms, please do not attend this event.

We do not supply PPE or NMM or face coverings. We recommend that you bring your own facial protection in the event you feel the need to wear them.

Covid-19 Event restrictions apply in accordance with the most recent Provincial Order.

Patron-Attendance numbers at this event are controlled and limited as per Provincial Order.

Patrons may encounter an entry line-up to the single entry to the art show during busy periods.

Patrons must maintain Social Distancing (2 metres) while in a line-up to the art show.

All patrons must give name & (phone no. or email) per Provincial Order, relating to contact tracing.

Social Distancing (2 metres) is to be maintained at all times inside the art show.

Direction of Flow is denoted on signs and all patrons are expected to follow these directions.

Hand Sanitizing Stations will be available inside the art show.

Washroom facilities are available.

Exit from the show will be by the (signage-designated) Exit.

 

 

(posted on 26 Feb 2020)

 

Hi everyone,

Its been a while since I released a new limited edition print but Im pleased to send this news about my latest:        C-FUN 1410 - 1965.

Last Fall, I got word that the old CFUN studio building in Vancouver was going to be demolished for a redevelopment. This news triggered a great deal of "oh my gosh" from old fans and radio employees and in particular, deejays like Red Robinson and John Tanner. It was Red who put it to me that a painting might be the best way to remember this great radio station; what could I say, I was mesmerized by C-FUN back then and still am.

I was in grade 11 in 1965 and it was a very cool time to be a teen. Learning to drive was liberating and once you got your licence you also got control of the car radio, yours to operate as loud as you wished.  Although I had a transistor radio, it didn’t compare to the car radio and the first pleasure was setting up those radio push buttons. For me there was only one worth setting; “14", or as we all knew it, C-FUN at 1410 on the dial.  C-FUN 1410 with rock-solid programming, great deejays and lots of fun was where it was at. The deejays were local celebrities and teens knew their names and followed the station all day. In the Fall of 1965 the line up was: Tom Peacock at 6:00am, Al Jordan at 9:00am, Red Robinson at noon, Fred Latremouille at 3:00pm, Ed Karl at 6:00pm, Mad Mel at 9:00pm and John Tanner at midnight. 

Well, I could go on but instead will simply attach this link to my website where you can see the painting in detail.

https://briancroft.com/image/vancouver_collection/image

By the way I will be appearing at the West Fine Art Show March 6-8 and the new print will be on display there. More details on the show at www.westart.ca

Hope to see you all there.

Warmest regards,

Brian Croft

Photo below: Red robinson and I at the mid-point in the painting development.

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