Blue sky frigid day for a bike ride

It was a frigid day for a bike ride with fierce wind but the sky was blue and the low winter sun was shining. On the way back I stopped at Peel Basin to make this painting of the frozen snow-covered water and multitude of condos in the background. I remembered the last time I was here I saw a fox and included it in the painting. Just as the thought crossed my mind, so did a fox cross through the scene and I captured its image in this painting. I had longer to study its shape and colour which allowed for a more realistic depiction. Maybe it just waits for someone to make a painting or take a photo before trotting by for posterity?

Peel basin fox return, watercolour 8 x 10" cold press, February 2025

Up near the train tracks in the Mile End they sectioned off some empty lots and earmarked them for preservation. The forest is starting to grow back here, and just a walking trail cuts through. In the background is one of the many clothing manufacturing buildings that was transformed into condos. This used to be an industrial manufacturing area back in the hey day, now its a house farm. At least the city preserves what they can where they can.

Forest regeneration, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, February 2025

A little further up the street there was a tent in the middle of the snowy forest. The whole scene was back-lit creating some interesting angled shadows and an intense glare. I managed to do the entirety of this painting on location which yielded a smooth consistent finish. In the previous painting, I had to let it dry and apply the trees at home so it looked a little more choppy. I prefer to finish painting on location but sometimes in the winter I have to pack it up and keep moving. It was definitely tough riding today, a good workout for sure.  

Tent in forest, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, February 2025