At the end of the Mile End is a small vacant lot next to a disused warehouse. Since 25 years ago a local artist has been installing iron sculptures in the area, there must be over a hundred now including some artistic iron benches and seats. To paint this one I did the background first, let it dry, then over-painted the details. The last thing I added was the sculpture itself which completed the composition. I had to leave a spot for it, and set up the contrast between the pastel sky, the fall colours in the background trees and field, with the dark rusty colours of the structure.
Iron Sculpture Mile End, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2023 (No. 3578b)
While the background paint dried for the first one, I turned right and painted the scene looking up the highway off-ramp and the disused warehouse with iconic water tower on top. If you are into painting rust this is the place! Of course I used burnt ochre (PR101) which is the exact same colour as rust, along with some carbon black. With the low light, car headlights were popping. The sculpture garden is tucked away in the bottom left of the composition to give you a feel of the entire environment. There are plans to modernize this building but its a tricky thing because it is also a heritage building and it defines the local landscape in many ways.
Sculptures and Warehouse Mile End, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2023 (No. 3580)
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