End of summer scenes along the Peel Basin

With the leaves starting to fall off and the squirrels running around digging, we know the summer is drawing to a close. Typically we get a long warm September and last year, we got several months of Autumn or so it seemed. This scene shows the Lachine canal on a windy day, the water was rippling and reflecting the sun. The canal bed is a brown sludge, and that colour comes through the waves especially near the shore. To paint this, first I applied the blue with a few white spots showing, then over-painted waves using short impressionist-style brush strokes.

Lachine canal windy day, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, August 2025

These towering condos in Griffintown are visible from the Peel Basin, they make for great background elements. Today they were reflecting the nearly setting sun as a commuter train rolled by. Under the bridge you see some pedestrians, they would be walking on Peel street right next to Wellington street downtown.

Commuter train condo highlight, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, August 2025

In the background is the famous Farine Five roses, nowadays a Malting company. Several photographers were around here taking shots of the panorama. Mostly, I featured the highway overpass in the composition, leaving the Farine sign unseen off to the left. Its a little cliche to paint the Farine Five roses building, but then again, there is probably a masterpiece somewhere on this location. 

Peel basin panorama, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, August 2025