Lab Book #22: The End of 22 (Lasers)

 

With the lousy weather this week and 8PM curfew I decided to embark on the final doodle painting from Lab Book #22. There were about 50 doodles left in the book, none of which had much thematic cohesion. I envisioned a futuristic landscape at the top left and a psychedelic waterfront complete with a disco island and giant cannabis leaf. The theme of lasers was from one of the doodles, I incorporated colourful beams of light throughout the design including in the water. In the lab book, I wrote "the end of 22" in the margins hence the name, which also symbolizes the end of 2020. This painting seems like a fitting tribute to end 2020.

Lab Book #22: The End of 22 (Lasers) 15 x 22" cold press, watercolour, April 2021 (No. 1936b)

 

 

Lab book 22 (Lasers) was painted on the back of an old one based upon some sketches from the grad club shortly after arriving in Montreal. It had quickly become a favorite location due to the ambiance and extensive selection of beer on tap. The actual painting is even darker and richer than it appears in the photo, today the sun was strong when I took the photo. But you get the idea, a dark atmospheric hangout paneled with wood and stocked with books, board games and pints of beer. The mug in the foreground was my beer... I needed an excuse to sit there and make sketches after all. At this time I was exploring the splash technique, which is explained in the link.

McGill University Grad Club 15 x 22" cold press, watercolour, 2005 (No. 1936a)