Lachine used to be a major trading point due to its proximity to the Lachine rapids. The traders would have to stop here before making a portage. Nowadays the river is dredged and wide open for ships, but most of the goods go by train and truck not by boat anymore. The building in the painting is the old fur trading post that was preserved and now acts as a museum. It wasn't open today, we visited it a few years ago and saw all the examples of furs, and the story behind the industry. There is a well used bike and walking path that goes along the river bank and offers spectacular views of St. Lawrence river. I used a new kind of watercolour paper by Stathmore called Aquarius II. It seemed extremely thin but handled the paint well, in fact it was fantastic. Instead of rag pulp (cotton) it uses some kind of synthetic alternative.
View from Fur Trading Post, Lachine, watercolour 8 x 10", aquarius II, April 2022
This building used to be a church or a town hall or something, but now it is a retail store. Cars were winding up and down the main drag, St. Joseph Blvd, and the beginnings of the canal can be seen at the bottom of the painting. It was supposed to be warm and sunny today but it was cool and overcast.
Main Drag, Lachine, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, April 2022 (No. 3096a)
I found a very small park located just off the main drag with a view of the canal. There is actually a smaller part of the canal that effectively acts as a water access for some houses. I suppose it used to be for waiting on the locks or something. The walking train is seen through the trees, and then the boat docks in the background.
View through Trees, Lachine, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, April 2022 (No. 3097a)
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