Peel basin and canal frozen snowy

Making it from downtown to the peel basin, I found some more sun shine and a good view of the old pier covered in snow. At the base of the canal wall, there was a trail of paw prints, likely belonging to a fox that walks around here in the winter. I did not see the fox this time, but have painted it in the past here and here. When painting in the winter with salt water and freezing temperatures, you have to paint a lot darker knowing that it will dry light. In fact, you loose about two full shades of darkness when it dries. For that reason, I dab in plenty of darks like indo blue (PB60), dark magenta (PV55), and carbon black (PBk6). 

Peel basin paw prints, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, February 2026 

Its funny I've never really painted these old towers by the canal, they are long defunct and rusting away. Recently hydro quebec announced they will remove all the towers, but some critics are saying they are heritage objects that should be saved. From an artistic standpoint they are more of a pain, so they could take them away, but maybe they are part of the history. Seeing them up close it looks more like they are ready to fall down.  

 Old towers by canal, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, February 2026