Between rainstorms

Planning to visit Beaubien street west, I left by bike with a nice blue sky and some sun, only to encounter an ominous purple-grey cloud looming on the horizon. I backtracked to Wasserman forest and made a few paintings before the thunderstorm really hit. This one got some extra paint on it after packing it up in a hurry. 

Ominous sky Wasserman forest, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2026

 

I had to bail on this painting, the rain started coming down and I headed for the forest to get some cover. There were cars on the road that I planned to add, but the painting was too wet and rain would have ruined the whole scene. Wasserman forest is on the right.

Grey sky Wasserman forest, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2026

 

Finding refuge in the forest, I had a view out onto the corner with rain pouring down. There was loud thunder and lightning too. It was a hard painting to do on location, I had to lean over and protect the paper from rain... I was standing under a tree and had my rain jacket on. 

Thunderstorm from Wasserman forest, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2026

 

I got as far as Université-de-Montréal when the rain really picked up again, worse than before. I tried waiting it out under a big tree but started to get soaked and hurried over to the nearby metro station. From the interior I had a good view of the rain storm, and did a painting of this view looking down the stairs, and also seeing cars on the road above. I took my time because the rain storm lasted about 45 minutes. 

Université-de-Montréal metro interior, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2026

 

As the rain subsided, I set up outside of the metro station under the roof overhang, and did this scene of a sign someone put up saying Le Québec. Next to it was a no-entrance sign, because the road is one way here, and a bunch of pylons for construction on Tour Path road which goes up to campus. Le Québec refers to the province of Québec, as opposed to just saying Québec which refers to the city. 

Le Québec no entrance, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, June 2026