What is lost, A parking lot in Montreal

Recently I visited the area just next to the Bell Centre where I made some painting years ago, only to find the whole area filled with towering condos. The painting above was done in 2007, there was already a big sky scraper just to the left of the milk bottle landmark. On its right is the Le 1000 De La Gauchetière edifice, one of the tallest office building in Montreal, which was opened in 1992. The little condos in the foreground are park of the block I recently painted.
 

Big Bottle, Summer,  watercolour 4.5 x 8.5" cold press, 2007 (No. 1088)

This painting was done 10 years earlier than the previous one, during winter. The snow was literally falling on the painting which created some neat snow -like effects. The milk bottle landmark is seen over the tops of the condos, made to look small by the big sky scraper which I think is a hotel. You can see the outlines around the shapes, that was to prevent the colours from bleeding together, like around the top of the building you see the brick colour seeping into the sky colour. This is hard to manage in the winter when painting outside.

Big Bottle, Winter,  watercolour 5 x 8" cold press, 1997 (No. 1056)

 

This was done at the same location a little earlier, the sun was starting to go down. I loved the contrast between the small car and the mountain of snow. You can see the puny buildings in the background which are now replaced with the sky scrapers. In fact, the whole scene here is gone. I will go back and try to paint something here soon, but the only decent views now are looking straight up!

Red Car Snow Pile,  watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, 1997 (No. 1061)

 

This was the last painting of that trip, it took some real confidence to take on a winter sunset, perhaps the hardest combination of things to paint in watercolour. When the sun goes down the paint stays wet, and the scene changes rapidly. I can also recall being very cold at this point I had been sitting in my camping chair for several hours. The result is remarkable, the lilacs and peach colours contrast nicely with the warm concrete of the apartment and glowing snow piles.

Apartment Sunset Winter, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, 1997 (No. 1062)