Skating Rink Nathan Phillips Square

Nathan Phillips Square is at the center of downtown Toronto, across the street from the hotel I was staying at for the multiple sclerosis conference. It was steadily snowing on this day, which created a mottled effect on the painting that looks like actual snow. I did this by intentionally standing in the snowfall while painting. The arches span the entire width of the rink, and have lights on them for night time.

Rink with Snow, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, December 2023 (No. 3667a)

Done on a clear day, this scene of the rink is looking south where I got a glimpse of the CN tower through the sky scrapers. Due to the format I had to compress the tower a bit, wish I had the 12 x 4" paper with me but I traveled light, and I was there for a conference after all! The main part of the composition was to keep the people and skating rink area high contrast, with the rest of the scene being grey and brown. 

Rink with CN Tower, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, December 2023 (No. 3667b)

This was the first painting of the trip, I stopped in front of the hotel, bag on tow, and attempted a complex night scene of a illuminated rink with the vast city hall in the background. It worked out all right all things considered, although I had to touch up the bottom part back in the room due to the moisture. Most of the painting on this trip was a collaboration with the elements!

Rink at Night, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, December 2023 (No. 3668a)