The ice on the Lachine canal was fast melting, patches of water were visible here and there. Most of the bike path was clear although I had to walk through various segments and gave up around here with Lachine in view. The path was icy and wet all the rest of the way so I stopped and made some paintings, looking west along the canal. Embellishment of colours evoked the feelings of the sky, rather than realism which may have been bland. I let the paint do the work, and applied daubs of yellow ochre (PY43) to simulate warmth of sun.
Colourful sky over canal, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, March 2025 (No. 4196a)
A train passed by as I painted the other scene, so I turned and started a new one. The bridge is a simple mix of red ochre (PR101) and indo blue (PB60), with carbon black (PBk6) detailing, while the train is done with Ferrari red (PR254). The toasty lawn in the foreground is primarily yellow ochre (PY43) with burnt umber (PBr7) detailing. The new effect here is the smoke coming out of the engine, which I dropped in while the sky was still semi moist. It reminds me of a Monet painting of a train.
Train over melting canal, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, March 2025 (No. 4195b)
In this composition the melting surface of the canal was emphasized. pools of water were on top of the ice, and some parts were completely exposed. Trees from the background reflected in parts of the water. The railing looks simple enough but it is a tricky thing to get right. After 5 years I have painted these railing many times before. I recall the first time I was able to ride the canal bike path and thinking that there was a whole lifetime of scenes to capture.
Melting canal, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, March 2025 (No. 4284b)
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