Saturday, December 31, 2022

Walk through Forest to Downtown Bolton

At the end of Humberview Park on Crestwood road there is a footpath leading to the escarpment. About half way down the steep path there was a large tree that had fallen. Snow was covering its top, mushrooms adorned its lower stump. Painting in the winter is very monochrome, white, grey, and subtle shades of brown.

Fallen Tree Covered in Snow, Bolton, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, December 2022 (No. 3314)

One of the main reasons that Bolton exists is the Humber River which used to power a mill just upstream. At this location, just to the east of Humberlea road, the water was cascading down a small rapids, which prevented ice from forming. The river was a mix of white, grey and green-blue.

Humber River Partly Frozen, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, December 2022 (No. 3315)

 

I stopped along King street for a painting of the sun reflecting in the partially frozen river. Water flowing down the center of the river was preventing it from freezing. This was an ambitious painting. Sometimes I pass on a scene thinking that I will try it the next time, but then I remind myself that scenes like this may never appear again!

Sun Reflecting in Partly Frozen River, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, December 2022 (No. 3316a)

 

The beating heart of downtown Bolton is the corner of King and Queen highways. To paint this scene I stood near the bank, looking north along Queen street. Despite my clever cardboard and wood contraption, the painting still smeared a bit and lost definition on the top portion. It still captures the essence of a bitterly cold day downtown.

Downtown Bolton Winter, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, December 2022 (No. 3317a)

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