Riding across the Maisonneuve bike path in downtown Montreal and you start to realize that sunlight is a valuable commodity in the city. From Atwater market all the way to Place des Arts, there is hardly a sliver of light. After they finished the massive condo towers recently, the last remaining sunlight is all but gone. Standing in the shadow of Montreal, I thought, might as well embrace the situation and paint the scene as it is, giant monolith-like condo towers blocking the sun entirely.
Montreal Shadows, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, December 2025
Off towards the Place des Arts building, where they hold the University convocation and other types of entertainment, there was a sliver of light coming through. I've painted this snow pile before, for the same reason, its one of the few spots that gets sun this time of year. Those condo towers get plenty of sun through their all-glass exteriors... the condo owners, no doubt, are sitting up there having a cup of coffee with sun in their living room. While the rest of us plebs down on the street walk in the shadows.
Sliver of light, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, December 2025
Turning south I rode towards Old Montreal and stopped off at Viger square, a recently renovated park area with seating and about a million interlocking bricks. Heavy snow fall, undisturbed, cast a warm glow and produced flat blue shadows. A single trail of footprints cut through the snow. Framed structures sprawl throughout the square offering a Stonehenge-like display of concrete.
Viger Square snow shadows, watercolour 6 x 7.5" cold press, December 2025
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