Summit Park, Westmount, Montreal

High up in summit park you can see all the way past the St. Lawrence river to the horizon. Summit park is part of Mount Royale although it is separated by a steep valley that is not easily traversed. The park is surrounded by mansions that must have incredible views. It took me awhile to find a good view, finally I found this spot to sit, looking 'over the shoulder' of one of the mansions. The buildings barely visible in the distant middle-ground are the mega Hospital situated on the old glen train yards. It was very hot that day, which is why I headed to the nearest forest to get some cool shade.

Recently I acquired some new earth colours made by Da Vinci Company, sold out of Studio Six Toronto. They were recommended by Jane Blundell a prominent watercolour blogger and teacher from Australia. I made an abstract painting featuring each one which I will blog about soon. In this work, I used the burnt sienna deep (PR101) to create the brick colours and the neutralized brown. The yellowish tree bark in the foreground tree was using raw umber, although it was the old one I had from Holbein Watercolour Company. I used some cobalts in the sky and horizon. Since this painting (done last Tuesday) I removed all cobalts, and the Holbein raw umber from my palette.

7 x 10" rough press, watercolour, May 2020