Interesting culture can exist anywhere including near the highway overpass here in ville st Pierre, technically part of upper Lachine. I painted this
blue house a few times in the pandemic, and
with icicles in winter 2021. This time I wanted to depict the environment which includes elevated highway overpasses in the background. Two people from the hair-and-nails place next to where I was standing came out and looked, they seemed impressed. I enjoy when locals see me as an artist finding subject matter in their area.
Blue house highway, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, June 2025
Apparently a boy named Tyrell Sterling died in a bike accident here in 2012, and the Montreal ghost bike initiative installed a memorial consisting of a bike painted white locked to a white poll, with a plaque. Mourners put plastic flowers, a picture, and scrawled thoughtful notes on the seat. It was not the same bike as was in the accident, they use old bikes for the memorial. I did another painting of
a ghost bike from the same area, on the opposite corner closer to the highway. As a cyclist, you wonder if its safe here, and it is only if you pay attention and follow the traffic signals.
Ghost bike Tyrell Sterling, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, June 2025
La Belle Province is a famous Quebecois eatery featuring burgers, hotdogs and french fries mostly. This outlet looks to be from the 1960's or 70's, the sign on top is quite impressive, and the contrast between bricks and blue paneling was neat. Although, the whole place seems rather run down, a look I tried to emulate with side-drag brush strokes to create texturing. Two of the chefs also came out and looked at me painting, they seemed impressed by the effort, and somewhat surprised that I was painting the scene. I said the sign is old, and they agreed. I was well known today.
La Belle Province, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, June 2025
No comments:
Post a Comment