The dark grey path is made of tightly compacted gravel, it goes all along the base of the escarpment on the left, until reaching the Turcot interchange at Decarie/highway 15. In the middle of the scene runs the train line, which had stationary oil cars on the track, which I found ironic considering it was the world's worst air quality today in Montreal. To the right is the highway full of traffic in both directions. The gloomy, smoggy sky was made with a wash of benzi orange (PO36) and phthalo blue (PB15) in places, and a bit of carbon black and greys.
Path, Trains, and Highway on a Smoky Day, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2023 (No. 3480b)
The train was really interesting so I decided to get a closer look by walking about half way down the trail. Eventually the view opened up at a spot with white field flower and some Van Gogh-esque trees. The trees seemed too dark when I finished them so I put some yellow paint daubs on top thinking they would blend in, but they stayed put and created a polka-dot pattern. Together with the turquoise trees in the distant the whole painting takes on an absurd look. Perfect look for painting on a weird, smoky day.
Oil Train on a Smoky day, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2023 (No. 3481b)
As I turned to go home, the blazing orange sun caught my attention. It was a neon-red-orange sphere hanging in a dusty pink sky. Instead of trying to paint it realistically, which is not possible due to the limits of contrast in a painting, I decided to go with the tangerine approach. To complete the illusion, strong highlights were maintained on the trees and the construction vehicles. The colour of the smaller vehicle on the left echoes the sun, and I signed in the same orange paint (PO36).
Smoky Sky Impression with Construction Vehicles, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2023 (No. 3482a)
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