Ride Around Côte st Paul East

 

With summer-like weather I did another bike ride around Côte st Paul East which has the autoroute A15/A20 and an old industrial area. Approaching the area from Rue st Remi took me under the canal where I made this painting of the underpass road looking south. It was very cool and windy in the tunnel, and cars noisily passed. A few pedestrians walked by as I painted. This painting was all about the composition and value contrasts. Just a tiny sliver of light at the end of the tunnel indicates a bright day outside. In the tunnel a variety of grey shadows mixed with an eerie orange glow.

Under the Canal, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, November 2022 (No. 3281)

Along Rue Angers is an enormous, dilapidated factory/warehouse with broken windows, boarded over sections, and plenty of graffiti. There was a row of creepy looking trees that had completely lost their leaves. Apparently 'creepy' was today's theme, a little late for Halloween though!

Dilapidated Factory Warehouse, watercolour 8 x 10" Strathmore Series 400, November 2022 (No. 3339b)

From Cabot street looking northwards I could see the pink house on the horizon, with more industrial buildings in the foregound. The building on the left has an enormous mural on the front of it, the side has more graffiti on the sidewalk level. 

View of Pink House from Cabot st., watercolour 8 x 10" Strathmore Series 400, November 2022 (No. 3342a)

 

On my way back this scene caught my attention, the sun was creating a highlight in a puddle, and the autoroute was backlit against an impressive sky. I did a few more paintings on this trip and will make a few more blogs about them.

Puddle Highlight near Autoroute, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, November 2022 (No. 3282a)