Harley street mailbox, fruiterie, flower field

I've painted this mailbox before, at night in winter, and with a green bin in the scene. Its a good place to stand the weather is bad, or today it was very sunny and I had no sun screen or hat on, so the shade was appreciated. I took on the challenge of super-imposing the mailbox on a large black SUV parked behind on Harley street. The green tint on the windows contrasted with the bright red mailbox, done with pyrol red (PR254). 

Red mailbox SUV, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

Standing across the street in the shade of a large tree, I did another painting of the City Fruterie store with some cars and trucks around. The commuter train was going by, so traffic was lined up along Elmhurst avenue. 

City Fruiterie traffic, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

Finally I took another crack at Harley beach... its an empty lot that used to have a condo building until they tore it down recently. The remaining sand looked a bit like a beach. Today it was filled with growth, including pink flowers from wild clover. Clover grows well in harsh environment and spreads fast, then it gets replaced with grass. The main reason is that clover can 'fix nitrogen' that is, it extracts nitrogen from the air and stores it as biomass, eventually enriching the earth. So what you see here is the beginnings of a restoration of the land. Unfortunately, it will be replaced with a new condo, or perhaps a small park area, regardless, it is still interesting to see nature take its course. 

Harley beach flowers, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026 

Sundown Peel street, signs signs signs

Peel street is a quintessential Montreal street, it cuts north south from the downtown core to the old port and Peel basin. Many glass skyscraper condos line the street along side of older brick buildings, mostly converted to condos. Plenty of commercial space too, including a few neat restaurants. The sun was starting to go down, creating warm colours on the glass facades. 

Sundown Peel street buildings, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

This famous group of signs can be seen at the underground highway entrance near Peel street, along with some vintage pylons including rare orange and green ones. I composed it with part of the large yellow sign, and added my initials to the green highway signs. 

Sign pylon sign, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

Long shadows cut across a wide, stylish brick side walk. The orange person-working sign was in silhouette, as were a row of trees in the middle ground. 

Construction sign shadow, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

 

Finally a colourful billboard with the elevated commuter train going by in the background. Of course my initials adorn the billboard. 

Colourful billboard, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

 

Scenes along Robert Bourassa boulevard

I was down on Robert Bourassa boulevard the other day and made several paintings. There are good sight lines there but it can be quite noisy and smoggy after work during rush hour. You see a new condo in the painting on the right, with a rare bright blue sky.

New condo blue sky, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026 

The view due north with traffic driving out of the city, including a city bus. Colourful glass sky scrapers make up the background. For the glass I use variations of blue (PB60), blue-green (PG7), and dark magenta (PV55). 

Traffic Robert Bourassa blvd, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026 

Here is the local cop shop downtown, it is very old fashioned looking with old concrete slabs and a wide staircase. Half the staircase is covered in astro turf for some reason. These doors appear to be sealed shut, at least nobody went in or out. 

Police station downtown, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026 

Out back there are many police cruisers, paddy wagons, parked. Cops were going in and out of the cruisers and driving off or parking. In the background you see the elevated train along Robert Bourassa blvd. Its an okay place to paint but one doesn't feel too safe here despite the presence of the police station.

Police paddy wagon, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026  

Scenes around elevated train downtown

Last year around this time I made a neat painting downtown near the elevated train along Robert Bourassa boulevard, called downtown rush hour. Today after work I headed down to the location by bike, and found a large empty parking lot to stand and paint this scene of a large tree and some remaining sunlight. 

Large tree near elevated train, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

On the other side, looking due south I got another good place to stand, in a triangular shaped gravel field. Plants and grasses were struggling up through the gravel. In the background there is an old A-frame brick warehouse, and behind that, a new condo with a colourful facade. 

Triangle gravel field near elevated train, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

And a scene looking up at the elevated bridge and passing train.  There are more paintings from today, but I will save the rest to post later. With cloud and rain in the forecast there might be less opportunity to do location paintings this week. 

Elevated train bridge, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, September 2026

Home views: back yard

This is the corner view of my parents' backyard, the grass is kept mowed by our generous neighbor. They redid the gardens awhile back, you see the neatly stacked bricks. Behind the backyard is a ravine forest with a large walnut tree.  

Tall shrub corner, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Looking towards the neighbor's house, that's their back deck at the top, you see the small vegetable garden. There are tomatoes, green chives, kale, and a rhubarb pant. Climbing purple clematis are on the left. 

Vegetable garden, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Looking down at these two chairs, with a view of the vegetable garden in the back. When the contractors built the deck they first dug deep circular holes about half a meter wide, I remember standing in the hole and there is a picture of it somewhere. Now you see the posts firmly in place, its a large back deck. 

Two chairs patio, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

Home views: front yard

We got the chance to visit Mom and Dad in Bolton over the weekend, here are a few of the paintings I did in the afternoons. The first shows some brown eyed Susan flowers in the front garden with some of the other plants and lawn in the background. There used to be a large pine tree that blocked the light here, now the tree is gone and things grow well. 

Brown eyed Susans front garden, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

The front patio was leveled off in recent history by my industrious parents. They also redid the decorations so you see the brick-red painted flower boxes and Canadian flag. The plant near the front of the garage is probably lungwort. 

Front patio flag, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Okay its not the front yard but the stairs from the back deck which point up the hill to the front yard. Chopped logs are underneath for the occasional winter fire. I kept the colours warm even though the whole scene was in shadow. 

Logs under stairs, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

Vanishing Landscapes rural scenes

Years ago I painted an old farmhouse, it was on Columbia way in Caledon near the neighborhood where my parents live. The old house was knocked down long ago, 25 years, and the city put a moratorium on further development of the surrounding farmland. Until now that is, the area was rezoned for development. So here is one of the last scenes from the view, looking north. 

Rural farm vista, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

On the corner with 8th line, there was a pile of cut up tree trunks and stumps... those pesky trees just get in the way of the view. In the background is a cornfield, its not part of the rezoning (looking due east). 

Trees down houses up, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026  

 

On the left is the farm, which has been growing wild for a long time, on the right is a partially completed development retail building, where people will go and pick their brick colour and tile patterns. 

Building of development, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

Looking up the 8th line, I filled in the farm-vista colours, but created tension with an obtrusive sign, and black scumbles where the lands was scraped clean (near where trees were cut down.  It been a good run, painting this area for 25 years, and there is more scenery like this just a bit further up the 8th line. 

8th Line sign, watercolour 8 x 10" cold press, August 2026 

Looking back: London Ontario a few more scenes

Just a few more paintings in the London collection, actually who am I kidding, there are like about 50 left to show! I will travel the next several days so the blog will be silent but two of my biggest fans will get to see me and Cilei, and a few paintings, in real life (IRL). This scene is Middlesex college, despite its nice outwards appearance it was a real dump inside and the University of Western was renovating it around the time I left. The best part was the Grad Club (a campus pub) with a great patio where we used to hang out. 

Sunset Middlesex College,watercolour 5 x 7" cold press

 

Seeing this painting again made me laugh a bit, so I loved painting auto shops even 25 years ago. Its surreal to think about it as 25 years ago, I can remember painting this one on location.  I was really into painting backlit scenes, not afraid to take on the shadow elements, and a range of greys. I like how the van has light reflecting off its lower portion, but its reflecting blue light from the sky on the upper portion. 

London Auto light and shadow, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press

 

Same scene, its Middlesex college but with recent snowfall. It took a touch of skill to get the tree done, I worked out some of those techniques at a conference in Keystone Colorado around that time. 

Snowfall Middlesex College, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, 

Another funny one, so I was painting orange traffic signs back then too! Its interesting because in the background there is a Blockbuster Video store partly visible, and a for rent sign over top. At the time, these video stores were on their last legs as businesses. I composed the scene to have orange-blue contrast. The yellow elements in shadow, I think its a sign and a mail box, were well done, its a hard shade of yellow to make. I have to admit looking back on my work from this era has the feel of seeing a different artist, and therefor being able to appreciate it more than I probably did at the time. 

Construction blockbuster, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press,

Busted Bentley twilight

A Bentley GT convertable sedan sped off the Decarie expressway, up to Sherbrooke street, probably going to pick up some rotisserie chicken at the BBQ Chalet? Jokes aside, its not often you get to paint a close-up of such an expensive car, like fully loaded, it costs close to half a million dollars now a days. This one wasn't worth it though, it was parked at the local Auto Mechanic who specializes in fixing expensive cars like a purple Ferrai. It happens to be a good spot to stand and paint, on the sidewalk looking due north, and there is a strong light overhead which helps. The car seems to emerge from the gloomy night, sparkling with chrome and reflective black paint. You have to imagine the noisy din of the highway with the occasional roaring engine of a motorcycle racing past. 

Busted Bentley twilight, watercolour 8 x 10" cold press, August 2026

Somebody let the professor out again

A few years ago I got stuck in at the office working on grant applications, the blog was called Somebody let the Scientist out of the Office to howl at the moon. Today was somewhat similar, grant writing, office and a full moon. The first painting is just outside the building looking due south at the rising moon. Tea-coloured due to haze and atmospheric effects, the moon hung over a parking lot, and the commuter train went by. 

Tea moon over campus, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Towards Sherbrooke and Decarie boulevard there is a KFC restaurant, I did a painting here last year from a different angle. Using artistic license I changed the sign to PJD and tried to make Colonel Sanders look a bit like me. I need to get glasses too, and some white hair is appearing, so it will come true eventually just need the goatee.  

PJD fried chicken, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Here you see the moon sitting over Chalet Bar-B-Q rotisserie on Sherbrooke near Decarie. It was a tricky painting, with several light sources popping against a purple and brown background. It was good to take my mind of science for a bit, but still more work to go on the grants. 

Moon over rotisserie, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

Looking back: London Ontario a few more memories

I always liked this one, it shows a bunch of bee bomb flowers in the background with an ashtray in a clay pot in the foreground. The textures and shadowing are quite realistic. Its done around 2004 in London Ontario at the Graduate Club, a University of Western pub. 

Bee bombs ash tray, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, 

A complex scene of concrete structures, buildings, and an ornate lamp. I was on a kick of painting lamps for awhile. The sky is neat, it has the blue-cyan transition, probably using combinations of French ultramarine (PB29) and cerulean blue (PB35). 

Lamp concrete downtown, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, 

Just outside the building I lived in for about 5 years, Bayfield hall, this shows my favorite dumpster, a crab apple tree, and a large utility shed. The sun was almost down and I really caught a nice amber-tint on the scene. 

Dumpster and shed, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, 

One of the last times I set foot in the lab, as I was preparing to leave London Ontario for Montreal. I spent a lot of time here working away on experiments for a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology. Part of the hospital can be seen through the window. That cylinder on the ground is a liquid nitrogen storage tank. 

Lab bench, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press,  

 

Verdun and Lachine canal night scenes

Here are the last of the weekend paintings, including a neat scene of a freight train going over a low bridge on the Lachine canal. In the background, you see the city skyline with Atwater Market clock tower in the middle-ground and Villa Maria building with its famous sky-light in the background. The train flew by, so I memorized the shape and colour of a few cars, settling on perylene maroon (PR179) for their colour. 

Train city lights canal, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Yes this dépanneur is called Johnny Dep, clever eh? I renamed it Dep PJD in the painting. A 3/4 moon hung low in the sky against a fairly clear sky. As usual I used indo blue (PB60) and pyrol orange (PO73) for the sky. Painting on the backs of old paintings is tricky due to paper consistency, I am looking forward to getting back to new paper. 

Johnny Dep, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Here I am standing near the canal, the same spot as for the first painting, and the same spot that I did the famous Night Goose painting. In the background, you see part of the Verdun electrical station, and beside it, one of the towers from the aqueduct water plant. They illuminate the tower with a blue-violet flood light. which I captured with phthalo blue (PB15). 

Aqueduct tower electrical, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

Pleasant scenes Lasalle and area

I generally paint what I see while on location, trying to capture the 'ethos' of the area. In the case of Lasalle it was cars, roads, and industrial themes. Not to mention, tons of duplex and triplex housing. Wanting to get away from the din of the highway, I found a path down to Lefebvre park, just a small recreational park with green grass and yellow flowers. The fence had a 'no dogs' sign, or maybe 'no dog heads' sign I couldn't tell from the graphic. At any rate, I changed the fence into a post, and included the fire hydrant to complete the joke. No dogs urinating on this hydrant please! 

No dogs hydrant, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Next I got down to the riverside, and found this view of a small recreational fishing boat moored on a dock. From this angle, looking west, you could see all the way down the st Lawrence river. 

Small recreational fishing boat, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

After the boat scene, I carried on along the path until Ranger park. Its a river-side park with great views, and plenty of thick greenery. Old asphalt and gravel walking paths wind through the park, which has benches and picnic tables. In early spring, tens of thousands of small 'may flies' congregate here. 

Ranger park green and blue, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Finally for the daytime paintings from yesterday, I found a disused pier once used for boat launches. Now it hold an 'aquatic police station' which is essentially an outpost for boat rescues. They had a giant pontoon boat with huge motors and some other crafts ready for action. The whole pier section is now open to pedestrians and bikes, so I rode to the end of it, and found this neat metal sculpture. The white-enamel slices were arranged so as to look like beluga whale tails. 

Whale tail sculpture, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026 

Lasalle: cars bridges river

As I toured around Lasalle yesterday by bicycle, there were plenty of cars, highways and bridges to paint. Here is a scene of a complex merge heading onto the Mercier bridge. I was standing on a patch of grass on the Lafleur x Airlie corner. 

Mercier merge, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

One of the many streets, Cordner, and a long warehouse in the background. It was rather noisy and unpleasant here so I painted fast. Main thing, there was a walking path going between houses that I could stand on and make this painting. The path leads to Lefebvre park where I made another more pleasant painting, will post on a separate blog.  

Cars long warehouse, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026 

 

The elevated lanes going to Mercier bridge had this tunnel underneath for bikes and pedestrians to get across the neighborhood. Connectivity is important, so that these highway structures don't carve up the neighborhood like they used to in the old days. 

Bridge underpass, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

From the same location as the previous painting, I was enjoying the sun and heat finally. You see the two halves of the Mercier bridge on a unique perspective, with a utility trailer parked in the middle. The grass embankments go up to elevated highways. 

Mercier bridge perspectives, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

 

And here you see the st Lawrence river flowing right to left, and the Mercier bridge soaring over to the south shore. 

Mercier bridge river flow, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026

Lasalle: more industrial scenes

Lasalle is a typical working class neighborhood, with the sprawling Labatt beer brewery, Fliechman's yeast plant, and numerous light industrial warehouses and factories. In this scene you see the tall Budweiser water tower with a bus waiting at a desolate stop, and the Labatt brewery in the background. I was standing in the middle of the bus depot, it was a large round area paved in old asphalt, grass was pushing up through the edges of the area. There was a cool breeze and sun shining, I was really in my element here. 

Bus depot Bud tower, watercolour 8 x 10" cold press, August 2026

 

Some kind of giant funnel attached to a blue bin, on one of the many factory-warehouses. Its near where I painted the Van Gogh-inspired tree. It was the first painting of the day, there were a lot more to come. 

Factory equipment blue bin, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026 

 

I got a view of the brewery, this part was where trucks could pick up bottles and cans I assume, although it was very quiet there yesterday. Well, quiet except for the never-ending traffic, it was amazing how many cars there were in Lasalle. The iconic Labatt sign was changed to PJD26 using my artistic license.

Labatt sign, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026  

 

Here is a view behind one of the massive brick-red factory complexes. Its the business end, where you see towering power lines feeding into the buildings and train tracks ready for cargo. I'm sure those buildings will be condos one day! 

Power lines tracks factories, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026 

 

Between the tracks and the factories there is a well grown stretch of wild plants including grasses and reeds. It makes for a mini-ecosystem with birds and insects. I contrasted the two elements with a natural bottom half, and industrial top half. 

Power station plant growth, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026 

 

Near the bus stop there was this row of empty truck trailers, lined up and opened to the air. Not sure if they were operational, perhaps when the brewery makes a big order they need more trailers. 

Row of empty trucks, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, August 2026