Treasures in the Rough

 

Not far from where we live there is a light industrial area that runs along the bike path on Maisonneuve next to the train tracks. For an artist these are treasures in the rough. We never know what we have until we miss it, and just in the last month they knocked down three of these old buildings and prepped the land for condo development. It may not be long before these remaining few memories are gone so it seemed worth a few paintings. The alley has been painted 'powder blue' also known as periwinkle. It is a tough colour to get right, I worked out the best formula while painting the cultural center. The car wash entrance is just visible to the right, it is fully functional although closed on Sunday evening apparently.

Atlas Car Wash with Alley, watercolour 8 x 10" Fabriano Artistico, June 2022 (No. 3035)

 

This is a profile of the structure, it was the first painting I made upon arriving on location. To prepare I wore high socks, jeans, and solid boots because the only place to stand between the bike path and the fence is known to be full of poison ivy. It was also very humid after a whole day of rain. To get the brick colour I applied burnt yellow ochre (PR102) and then lifted some areas to give the old faded white wash appearance.

Atlas Car Wash Perspective, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2022 (No. 3135)

 

I painted a similar scene in the winter on a cold day. Today the sun was down and the light from the yellow sports car was reflecting on the entrance and surrounding bricks. The yellow reflections were exaggerated quite a bit, I even put some in the sky, as if the car were radiating yellow light. It does create an eerie scene.  

Atlas Car Wash with Yellow Sports Car, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2022 (No. 3136)