Expo 67 Place des Nations amphitheater

This area was blocked off for as long as I can remember, it was originally an amphitheater built for Expo 67 called Place des Nations on the western-most tip of st Helen's island. The architecture used big concrete geometric structures shaped like triangles, pyramids and towering monoliths. Now the area is open to the public to wander around safely, its a very large expanse of gravel lined by baroque structures and seating.  

Place des Nations shapes, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

More concrete step-seats, with a warm caramel colour they worked nicely against the autumn red orange yellow in the background. I used a greenish umber (PBr7) from Shin Han, its the best one out there to paint old Montreal concrete, along with a dab of raw sienna (also PBr7). Some deft brush-work created the grainy textural effects. 

Concrete step seats, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026

A prominent airplane trail in the sky was composed neatly against a row of middle-ground trees, with a yellow block and orange pylon in the foreground. It was quite fun to paint this one, in fact, a very  pleasant afternoon all around, with just a cool breeze. 

Plane trail pylon, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, October 2026