one of a finds: drums painting

Each drums painting is an original handpainted oil painted canvas—numbered handsigned by one of an almost extinct community of Bollywood artists known for their kitschy, glam movie posters and sets.

With the Mumbai film industry’s move to digital vinyl billboards, the talent of these fine artists is no longer in high demand. In an effort to keep this art form alive, these limited-edition signed paintings from the hands of the original masters are commissioned exclusively for CB2.

Once required to produce up to 20 posters a day during their movie careers, this special initiative provides the artists not only a new source of income, but the opportunity for a slower pace focused on their skills and passion for painting.

Abstracting dance, music and pigment in a vibrant stylization of subjects—both representational and cubist, Eastern and Western—these elements speak to the universality of the drummer’s beat.

One of a Finds original works are offered one time only in a small reserve for collectors and enthusiasts. This special CB2 find has a limited edition release of 360.

artist profile: anne connolly

Continuing our partnership with the Creativity Explored studio in San Francisco—a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit and sell art—painter and printmaker Anne Connolly deftly layered 12 colors to create an energetic abstract piece for the color field rug.

Born in 1951, Connolly has been an artist at Creativity Explored since 1987. While often using contrasting colors for greater impact, her distinctive style features bold, forceful brushstrokes that create multiple layers. The interaction between layers produce interesting results—when opaque, one layer obscures another underneath it. And when diluted or transparent, the layers combine to produce new colors, dynamic compositions, and visual depth to each piece.

spring top 3: curtis

hitch marigold stool
construction site chic. nara stacking candleholders set/6
definitely buying these for my next cocktail party! luck side table
a great design—and with a pop of my favorite color.

10 essentials: darryl

1. I’ve been living in the States for almost a year but I grew up in downtown Toronto so it’s pretty cool to be back here to open the first CB2 store in Canada. Toronto’s very multi-cultural and has so much diversity—all those different personalities melt together and give it its unique artistic vibe.

2. I’m a very visual person so I’m obsessed with photography—especially architectural. Wherever I travel to—even if I’m just going somewhere nearby—I take one of my 12 cameras with me.

3. Recently I discovered a passion for tattoos. It’s true when they say they’re addictive…I’ve three and getting my sleeve done soon.

photo by: underbiteman4. Anything to do with airplanes. My friends sometimes freak out that I can usually tell what’s flying overhead by the noise it makes. I’ve taken flying lessons but I don’t have a license…yet.

5. Traveling off the beaten path is a chance to experience the real life of someplace else…digging into its history…seeing its old architecture…like the cemetery in Savannah…

6. The special, unique finds I picked up in each country I’ve visited. In a little farming community in the middle of nowhere Thailand, we found a mom-and-pop trinket shop where thankfully he shared the carved bronze sculpture of a warrior on an elk he had hidden in the cellar.

photo by: JSF3067. My t-shirt collection which numbers over 200. I may never wear them all but—even if they don’t fit me 100%—if they have a cool, graphic pattern, I’m sold.

8. Great storage ideas keep my pack rat tendencies my secret.

9. A dream kitchen with two refrigerators…an indoor bbq grill like restaurants use…a big, old chopping block from 1800s as the island…the best knives out there…but the pots…my grandmother had the most beat up pots and with them she cooked the best meals.

10. And someday I’ll have a black lab.

Thanks to darryl, store manager queen west toronto, for this submission and personal photographs.

opening day: queen west toronto

This past Saturday, January 21st, the newest CB2 store opened in Queen West Toronto.

With sincere gratitude, Thank You to everyone who had a hand in getting our orange doors opened—
one of the most challenging, long, and rewarding projects we’ve undertaken.

We’re especially grateful to Trevor at Starbucks Queen West/Bathurst—who kept us caffeinated during the week then welcomed guests with coffee and hot chocolate all opening day long—and to everyone who granted us a photo opportunity with their dog and who braved the elements to say hello. We’re thrilled to meet you and look forward to being neighbors!