The rain never really stopped today, it turned the streets into a slushy mess! Looking west along Someled avenue with just a small overhang to protect the painting from the rain, I made this painting and tried to capture the headlights reflecting off the wet road. There is definitely a mushy Montreal in the winter feeling here, and we have more above zero temperatures ahead so all the snow will melt soon. I mainly wanted to test the new rack... my parents gave me some craft balsa wood, about 1/8 by 1/2 inch, which I measured, sawed and glued together into a simple 6 x 7.5" frame. This frame goes on top of the paper, which is sitting on a larger piece of firm cardboard. Two elastics hold the frame to the cardboard, creating a watercolour paper sandwich. A second piece of cardboard sits on top, which protects the surface when I put it in the shoulder bag. For location painting in winter or wet conditions this device is required to preserve the painting. When this painting was finished, the surface was moist and sopping wet, you can even see some rain specs on it, that's how wet it was. Without the rack, if I put the painting in my shoulder bag it would smear the painting. Of course, this is necessary because I am painting on location.. in a nice warm studio one can go make a cup of coffee and let the painting dry on the table in ideal conditions.
Somerled wet, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, December 2024
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