Cadillac Station, Green Line Metro, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

For the first time in the series, I went to three stations on one trip. The only adjustments I made were to bring more water (2 L) and a larger snack including two hard boiled eggs and leftover pancakes in addition to the usual peanuts and dates. I also brought a small vial of instant coffee so I could have a cup of cold coffee. Cadillac station has two nearly identical structures on two sides of Sherbrooke street, they are concrete boxes with tinted windows and wide overhangs. I liked the contrast between the white siding of the background house which framed the angles on the metro overhang. The values and colours are right on, but I had some trouble with the perspective lines on the house and the under hang which was mind boggling. 6 x 7.5" cold press, watercolour, July 2020

By the time I was doing these paintings the heat and exhaustion was getting to me, not to mention I was wearing a mask on this location due to pedestrian traffic nearby which further compounded the heat. This scene had a garden box that had been taken over by climbing vines which  had nowhere to climb so they were spilling out into the sidewalk. The perspective on the station and the angles geometric supports were pretty cool. The window had a combination of reflections from the exterior, and elements from the interior of the station. In the far distance, right center, there is a weird building that was for the athlete's village during the Olympics and is now condos. 8 x 10" cold press, watercolour, July 2020

For the last painting I chose a simpler design, a direct view with no perspective because my body and mind were at their limits. When I finished the painting it looked fine but when I looked at it later I saw the roof line was all crooked! Anyways, the main thing was the beautiful colour and texture of the concrete, a combination of earth tones (PBr7, PR101) and indothrene blue (PB60), and the lady waiting for the bus wearing a blue mask due to COVID-19. I captured the reflection in the window which was from the building and trees behind me. My image was also in the reflection but I was struggling to finish the painting and so I decided to leave my reflection out of it. After packing up my bike I looked eastward in the direction of the next station (Langelier) but wisely headed westward to home. I got to make two 'optional' paintings on the way back, where I just stop somewhere usually in a park and make a painting. 8 x 10" cold press, watercolour, July 2020

Before the last painting, I made a sketch of the under-side of the over-hang, while sitting on the narrow concrete bench that surrounds the station walls. The door to the metro was open. Where you see the squiggles near the sidewalk (right center) there was a great place to sit and a great scene to paint, but a number of people were milling about, smoking, waiting for the bus. The spot I sat was away from the people. I had my mask on anyways to be safe. I was also at the end of my energy, which is why I skipped painting this complicated scene and saved a simpler frontal view for last.

Saturday was the first time I tried a lengthy, ambitious painting trip, which turned out to be 10 hours, 11 paintings, 3 drawings (and a palette cleanser at home). It was the most I have painted in one day, ever, including Spain where the most I did was 8 small paintings (5x7") inch on foot in an unfamiliar country. Testing my limits was interesting, I could have done more since there was still 5 hours of light or so, but my focus was waning. We also had a guest arriving at 4pm, so real life was calling. I will post the two optional paintings I made in parks on the long bike ride home.