Caught in a rain storm

Optimistically, I headed out after work despite an ominous looking sky. Sticking close to home, I rode down the Terrebonne path to Girouard and got mostly through a few paintings before it really started to pour. Next to the local Domino's pizza, there is a small garden full of towering sunflower plants. At this point the wind was whipping up a fury making it hard to hold on to the paper and palette, and rain started to come down which hastened the speed of painting. Rushing the painting may have helped with the effect, you can practically see the wind, and literally see the rain since some drops hit the painting while it was still moist on location. 

Sunflowers stormy sky, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

Here is another painting of the so called 'demo mall' it was supposed to be demolished November 2024 but its still hanging around for awhile more. The painting was done just before the sunflower painting, and the sky was a mosaic of purple and yellow. The sun almost popped out for a second giving me hope, but it was soon clear that we were in for a deluge. 

Maurice Coiffure, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

 

Across the street there is a shuttered optician store that has a covered drive through area in the rear which offered nearly complete shelter from the massive downpour. Taking the opportunity to paint a few more, I did a scene looking out onto Côte st Luc road, which was covered in water and rain drops as the cars went by. I was just dressed lightly as if for a summer day, so the cold wind was like being in a cold shower. 

Cold shower on Côte st. Luc, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

With the rain storm continuing, I made another painting of the shuttered optometrist called Optica. Its closed for good, but the interior still had a lot of stock and other items lying around including a desktop computer, and products on racks and in display cases. I was looking through the rear entrance doors towards the front entrance doors opening onto Côte st. Luc. So its an unusual painting that I never would have done in a million years if it weren't for the rain storm forcing me to stand under the parking shelter. Okay, if I painted for a million years I might have got to this scene, its just a figure of speech. 

Optica Interior, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

Construction Site #3: Notre Dame and Dollard

Continuing my fruitless quest of painting all 44 construction sites currently in Montreal, here is number 3. Where highway 20 merges with highway 138 in st Pierre, there are soaring overhead highways going every which way. I have included them in many paintings over the years. In this case, I was featuring some of the imposing orange signs indicating construction ahead. Turn left, or merge, or right, or something something. 

Signs under overpass, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

Here is closer to the action, at the corner of Notre Dame and Dollard streets. The large arrow sign was blinking on and off, and there was one sign that had another sign inside of it. Genius, I thought, a sign within a sign, that costs at least four times more than just one regular sign. Cars and a bus were working their way through the pylons and confusing arrows, while the highway 138 ramp was still visible in the background.

Sign in sign, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

If you were driving and wanted a donut, it was not a simple matter. They did however, have custom printed signs telling you where to turn to get into the Tim Horton's. Somehow, a giant potato was growing in the background. If you look hard enough maybe you can spot Waldo too! Just kidding, no Waldo here, maybe next time.  

Donut anyone? watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025 

Lachine old Dominion industrial lot

On the east side of Lachine there is a large, abandoned factory that used to be the Dominion Bridge plant according to the all-knowing internet. Actually, I found an article on the Heritage Montreal web site that talked about the plant which was built in stages between 1883 until 1947, presumably to make large parts of bridges. That explains the huge steel railing that run the length of the lot, they would have been for maneuvering massive lengths of steel. As you can see, steel rusts! 

Dominion Bridge plant, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

Here is a different angle, I am standing on rue st Louis, you can see the length and shape of the overhead steel spans. The actual factory is also enormous, I just showed a segment of it on the left. Apparently, according to the article, permission was not granted to demolish the structures, so now there is a 'for rent' sign. If anyone needs to make a bridge or two you know where to call. But seriously, the entire east area of Lachine is in the midst of a 20-year development plan that mostly entails condos. 

Overgrown lot, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

Just to make it three paintings, I did one more of these two trees with the factory warehouse, and some dry looking tall grass in the middle ground. It was nice and shady were I was standing on boulevard st Joseph. 

Two trees warehouse, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025

Summerlea Park, rocky shore views

Things started off simple enough with a bike ride out to Summerlea park where I used to play with my family as a child. Most of the shore is covered in growth, which was done to protect the waterfront from erosion. I found a few spots to see through and make a painting or two of the rocky shore line. Today was the last day of my extended time off, of course its labour day too so everyone has it off. It was fun being an almost full-time artist for the past few weeks, I learned more about my limits. The main thing is my legs are in need of rest and recovery, or steroids... not too many artists would consider taking anabolic steroids just to keep riding. Just kidding though, some rest will do. 

Rocky beach, watercolour 6 x 7.5" hot press, September 2025

In this section there were large boulders in place to protect the shore from erosion. This painting was actually done on the front of an old painting I cut up.. sections of the original just had some bland washes on them which I could over-paint. The yellow leaves were done with bismuth vanadate (PY184) yellow, it is so thick that I can apply it like acrylic over top. The watercolour police might be upset through, its not 'transparent' Whatever, they haven't arrested me yet. 

Rocky shore, watercolour 6 x 7.5" hot press, September 2025

A launch wharf was here, part was wood the other part was some kind of floating plastic. Most people were just pushing off their kayaks from the rocky shore though. On the top right you see the end of a very small island, from Google maps it is called Dixie island. 

Rocky wharf, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, September 2025