De la Savane, Namur Stations, Orange Line Metro

 

The orange line metro has many little stops that only the locals would know well. Other than this painting, I have only been out to de la Savane a few times over 16 years of living in Montreal. It was crafted from that old 70's era brown concrete and had an industrial bunker design similar to Vendome. I rode around the small station trying to find the best place to paint the scene. Where could I paint this station? The front looked okay but was backlit, the back was nicely front lit but looked like a pillbox. An impressive pine tree, possibly a cedar, was growing on the shady side, it was held up with several steel poles so I could tell somebody had tried hard to preserve it. The tree was thriving, at the top of the scene you see little pine berries growing. For a few moments I was transported to Algonquin park, painting tree bark and smelling pine needles. 

De la Savane 1, Orange Line metro, cedar tree, 5 x 7" cold press, watercolour, May 2021 (No, 2670)

 

The feeling of being in Algonquin park did not last long. This station is right beside the Decarie and appears to be under heavy development as you can see in the background all the cranes. Overhanging the entrance was a broad concrete floating roof with lamps, it was similar to the construction of the Cadillac station. Controlling all of the browns and greys was easier than before with all the new paints, especially umber (PBr7) and caput mortem (iron oxide violet PR101). I used magenta (PR122) to make the metallic shadows, and cobalt blue (PB28) and indo blue (PB60) in the sign. I like the way the interlocking brick worked out, and the overall busy feeling.

De la Savane 2, Orange Line metro, overhang 5 x 7" cold press, watercolour, May 2021 (No. 2671)

 

Not far from de la Savane is Namur, a busier station located near the big box store shopping district. The station itself was a big box of bricks with two standard entrances. Surrounded by the Decarie and with tight sidewalks there were not too many options to paint this one, so I found a spot standing near the entrance, partially standing behind a map-sign. With the hot press paper, paint tends to dry fast and you see the brush strokes more than with cold press. All you need is grey, green, brown, and blue, that's Montreal!

Namur Station Orange Line metro, 5 x 7" hot press, watercolour, May 2021 (No. 2672)