Train bridge with boat and geese

At some time in history this bridge probably rotated to allow tall ships to pass, but now it is permanently fixed across the Lachine canal, it connect to the Mercier car and train bridges that go over the st Lawrence river to the south (left in the painting). As I painted an inflatable boat went by, and there was a gaggle of geese in the middle of the pillars. Its always a joy to paint this bridge, it has a dark neutral blue covered in shades of iron oxide rust. The giant 'fly' on the furthest pillar is actually a motorcycle that was reconstructed to look like a bug with wings by some intrepid artist.

Train bridge with boat and geese, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September  2024

 

In Ranger park, Lasalle, I found a winding path down to a small rocky beach with a view of the Mercier bridge. It splits into three branches for trains and cars on the far side of the river. The wind was so strong it was blowing my bike and palette around something fierce. My new boonie hat has a good chin strap which kept the hat in place despite the powerful wind gusts. Some dark looking clouds were rolling in and the forecast called for severe thunderstorms in the late afternoon.

Windy shore with Mercier Bridge, watercolour 8 x 10" cold press, September  2024