Soggy Saturday Ride to Canal

The ride started off with a slight drizzle which developed into a downpour by the time I reached the Maisonneuve bike path. Standing under a tree next to my bike, with my umbrella, I managed to make a painting of the flowers growing next to the bike path and the pedestrian/bike overpass that goes over the train tracks. It was full on raining but somehow I managed to hold the palette, paper, umbrella with my left hand although I spilled a bunch of paint on my shirt. The painting turned out better than I thought. You can see the overpass structure behind all the trees, and the ramp off to the left which leads up and around.

Flowers near pedestrian overpass, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2023 (No. 3534a)

The st Armand paper makers are an old couple who have been hand crafting art paper for decades. Recently there was an article saying that the rent had gone up too much and they were leaving their Montreal location to go somewhere cheaper. It turns out that they are still at their Montreal location down by the Lachine canal at least for now. This painting shows their store, which is actually just the yellow door on the basement floor, you can see the top half of the door, accessible by a descending staircase, and a small sandwich board. No wonder I never noticed this store before, I would have gone earlier!

La papeterie Saint-Armand, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2023 (No. 3535a)

On the way back I saw this and stopped my bike immediately. Every now and then, that happens, where a spectacular scene emerges out of nowhere that  has to be painted. The structure is that famous old granary/malt building that is long since defunct. Some street artists painted the small house-like buildings pink about 5 years ago, and I have been painting it ever since. The clouds were the main subject matter here, I used various wet-in-wet techniques, and paint lifting to create the sun beam effect. A sliver of the Lachine Canal is at the bottom of the painting. For some reason I forgot to initial this one, I will do so at the next opportunity.

Sunbeams on Pink House, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2023 (No. 3536a)