Scenes around the Old Port

After painting up in the Plateau I rode down the Berri bike path to Old Port and looped around to Dieppe Park where I painted in a blizzard earlier in the year. This time it was an easy bike ride as compared to the winter slog on foot. At the end of the park there is a viewing platform with a prime view of the bridge, the Molson brewery, and to the left is the Old Port not seen in the painting. The river is moving fast here, which creates powerful swirls and cresting waves which I enjoy painting. Painting the Cartier Bridge is no small feat and it has never quite turned out right in my paintings. Today the colours and values were bang on, but the left support appears to be listing. Have to try it again next time, its a great location to paint!

Jacques Cartier Bridge from Dieppe Park, watercolour 7 x 10" cold press, July 2023 (No. 3612)

 

Here is a another view of a massive cruise boat across the river. I was standing next to the bike path that is across the street from the famous Habitat 67 apartment complex. The scene was composed with the boat at the bottom, and just a thin strip of the river showing, and the Montreal skyline off in the distance. I would have used a larger paper but I was getting tired in the muggy hot weather. At least the rain held off.

Cruise Boat in Old Port, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, July 2023 (No. 3486a)

 

This unusual scene shows the Montreal Street Food festival where about a hundred booths set up and sell snacks, beverages, arts and crafts. It is situated on a pier in the Peel Basin, which is part of the Lachine Canal system where it connects to the Old Port. I was set up across the basin on the south bike path. At the time it seemed like a bit of disaster this painting, but the heat was playing with my head. Now that its scanned on the blog it looks just like the scene was, with an impressionistic flair. And the smell wafting across the water was fantastic.

Street Food Festival, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, July 2023 (No. 3486b)