Saturday, October 1, 2022

Ride to st Helen's Island

Today was a cool and cloudy beginning to October. The leaves are just starting to turn yellow, orange and red, most trees are in shades of olive. I was standing on a small bridge connecting the main part of st Helen's island to the other part with the casino, looking East. To paint the river, several layers of small brush strokes were built up from light to dark.

Turquoise river with Cartier Bridge, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2022 (No. 3250b)

 

This is the same bridge but standing on the shore looking back. Turquoise water was rippling under the bridge creating twisting and turning ribbons of colour. For composition I included the warning sign int he foreground which brings in a strong red contrast with the greens. The water swirls look like serpents!

Flow Under Turquoise River, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2022 (No. 3251b)

 

The Cartier bridge has elaborate structures that are probably as old as the bridge. Closer inspection revealed crumbling plaster and mortar. Elaborate mosaics are on the structures, they seem to be morocco-inspired. A yellow tree announced fall.

Cartier Bridge Structures, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2022 (No. 3254a)

For quite some time I searched for a view of the amusement park and finally settled on a spot high up on the road that goes from sea level to bridge level. There was a neat synergy between the bridge with its cars flying by and the gravity-defying rides in the background. I could hear people screaming (in delight) the whole time as the rides were running. 

What Goes up...(La Ronde with Cartier Bridge) watercolour 8 x 10" Strathmore Gemini, October 2022 (No. 3333b)

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