Infrastructure paintings around aqueduct

Running through Verdun from the river is a long aqueduct that ends right around where the highways meet and there is an electrical station. There was a lot going on in this scene, with a building, trees, the driveway and sidewalk, then the station itself which is a tangle of posts and wires. Seeing the perspective though the trees is important here, everything was on a two-point perspective meaning that things are drawn out to the left and right. I used to only paint things square-on to avoid perspective as much as possible, but I got a lot better at it over the years. 

Electrical station Verdun, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, July 2025

 

A large field sits adjacent to the aqueduct, one can safely assume there is a water reservoir underneath else the land would have been developed. Its also raised up about 4 or 5 meters from street level, so there is clearly something underneath this enormous field. It is used to play cricket, and offers up good views of the downtown panorama. For composition, I included a sports bench at the bottom left to give an angle and some foreground depth element. The grass was quite dry, parts of it were painted with yellow-orange (PY110).

Aqueduct field, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, July 2025

 

Here is one of many such structures next to the aqueduct, in fact, there is a whole building that looks like a castle almost. A tall fence separates the aqueduct from Verdun so the sight lines are limited. At night the buildings are lit up, I eyed the scene once at night but passed on it. Instead, I did a painting called 'Moon over power station' that turned out well, and I just noticed that blog had 67 views. I notice that the older blogs seem to accumulate more and more views which is cool. I will keep it going. 

Aqueduct structure, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, July 2025 

Happy Canada day! Painting in Verdun

 

Its Canada day, so what better painting to do than one of a pile of tires... at the local Canadian Tire store in Verdun. The real Canadian Tire sign has an inverted red triangle with a green maple leaf on the top, but I used artistic license to change it to the center piece of the Canadian flag. And there was something for everyone in this scene, I got to paint two more dumpsters, red and green. The rest of the scene is typical Verdun with its tall three-level condos clad in brown brick surrounded by plenty of green trees. Verte et Brun is the nickname of Verdun. 

Canadian Tires, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, July 2025

 

 

This flower shop is on the lower floor of a triplex on Wellington, the bike path is running perpendicular from this point. Canadian tire is just behind me on the left. Getting all the shades of brown and brick textures was a lot of fun... I started mixing the green umber (PBr7) with burnt sienna (PR101) to get the right colour. The little balconies had ornate iron railing painted black. 

Flower Shop Wellington, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, July 2025

 

 

On the Verdun street bike path there is a fresh fruit and vegetable market called dépanneur Regina. Like many of the shops it is on the bottom level of a triplex. Wellington street, which runs parallel to Verdun street about two blocks south, was closed off from traffic to create a sidewalk sale for pedestrians. 

Fruit Store Verdun path, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, July 2025