A Fine Spring Day Around Verdun

 Between NDG and Verdun lies the sprawling Parc Angrignon, a favorite of picnicers and partiers. I've painted there occasionally over the years usually on my way to somewhere. The last I remember was during a cold winters day when I rode my little winter bike all the way down to make frozen paintings. To make the grass really glow here I applied nearly pure yellow (PY154) then tinted with a thin layer of yellow plus green (PG36). The water base was indo blue (PB60) gently applied across the paper to create the sparkle effect, and some phthalo blue (PB15) to get the sky reflections.

Pond with Walking Path, Parc Angrignon, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, May 2022 (No. 3125a)

 

A bike path winds its way across the north part of Verdun following the aquaduct which is unseen behind a steep berm of grass on the left of this scene. Where the path turns you see the wrought iron fence and stylish structures of the water works facility. One of the sky scrapers in the background appears to have new solar panels that reflect an intense turquoise in the sun. I liked how the brick fence posts, the brick tower, and the skyscrapers all had similar shapes but differing scales.

Bike Path with Water Works, Verdun, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, May 2022 (No. 3122b)

When I last painted Lasalle Station there was a prominent port-o-let toilette at the entrance. This time the port-o-let was just to the left of this scene but I decided to not include it in the composition. The interesting angles converged on the bus and the metro sign in a series of interlocking triangles. There is plenty of light and shadow here to give you the feel of a blue sky spring day. I did a better job of the orange wall this time by using a mixture of pyrol red (PR254) and benzi orange (PO62), then gently scraping some darker orange over top for texture.

Orange Line Metro Lasalle Station with Bus, Verdun, watercolour 8 x 10" Fabriano Artistico, May 2022 (No. 3025a)