Touristy Scenes from Old Montreal and Old Port

After picking up the bulk items at Anatol I worked my way down to Old Montreal by bike, and found a spot to set up on rue st Paul looking west. Many restaurants were open, they set up awnings to block the sun and tables and chairs on the cobblestone road. This painting looks busy, in fact, I painted the entire background first, then applied the people over top. To give the light and shadow effect, the under painting was done with bluish grey and whiteish yellow strips before applying the details. Remarkably, the painting captures the full impact of a a tourist-filled Old Montreal.

Tourists in Old Montreal, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2023 (No. 3546a)

Some book vendors set up under white tents to sell to the passer-bys in front of the Bonsecours market. To paint the cobblestones I applied grey first, then overlaid with the red stones (PR175). I'll try to go back and make some more paintings in Old Montreal, it would be neat to visit in the winter.

Bonsecours Market Book Stands, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2023 (No. 3546b)

As I was riding around I was looking for scenes that might be good for the vertical format. This scene shows the ferris wheel in the background, and an apple tree in the foreground, dropping some of its apples. In the middle is a triangle of water from the Old Port area where they built a small island. The vertical format is tricky to compose, but I can see the potential. If it works out, I saved up a bunch of 6 x 30" slices but have not figured out how to bring them on a bike trip yet. 

Ferris Wheel and Apple Tree, watercolour 4 x 12", rough press st Armand, September 2023 (No. 3644)