Category Archives: Sketches, etc

Last Saturday, we visited the paintings of artist Claude Monet (1840-1926),  A Bridge To Modernity, at the National Gallery in Ottawa. There are twelve paintings (1871- 1878) in this exhibition completed at Argenteuil where Monet lived in the village – close to Paris and on the Seine River. It was here he used the scenery and the bridges to further explore his composition and impressionist approach. Prior to his return to France, Monet lived in Holland and England to avoid the Franco-Prussian war (1870-1871). The devastation of war was here when Monet and Family arrived. One of his first paintings was Argenteuil, the Bridge Under Repair. To be informed about this period of Monet’s life go to the National Gallery website where Katherine Stauble writes about  Monet’s Impressive Bridges at Argenteuil.

The Gallery has made the exhibition interactive. You can pose in front of a vintage postcard, activate the computer camera and e-mail the results. There are different props and enough room for a family photo.  Secondly, a separate room supplies four iPads with the app Art Set. Summer scenes of Ottawa bridges are cast on the wall for you to interpret. Again, you can email your results or see it with many others on the side wall. The beauty of Ottawa bridges is well worth a visit to this room. There are benches at the back to sit and view these rotating videos.

This month I sketch my local bridges.

Looking towards the bridge, Rigaud, watercolour, 2015

Train bridge, Rigaud, watercolour, 2015

Under the bridge, Rigaud, watercolour, 2015

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My Dad, of Irish blood, would say “If a circle forms ’round the moon, ’twill rain or snow soon”. Until this week we have enjoyed warm sunny weather (12-18) but now rain and occasional snow flakes have arrived. Intuitively, my friend Chi Mai sent me this photo by Michel, of art students outdoors sketching in China; dressed for the weather and focused.

Photo by Michel Goossens, Plein Air China, 2015

For myself, plein air makes me paint in the moment. I lose track of time. I become responsive to the elements and answer back. There is a strong cool wind, the sun is low but gives warmth. I sit on the bank of the Soulanges Canal looking east. Time to sketch quickly. The sun will set soon. By the end of the month one hour of daylight will disappear.

Coteau Landing, Soulanges Canal Aquaduct, watercolour, 2015

One week later I return to the canal and paint towards the west. The canal water is dense and opaque with little reflections. The trees along the shoreline have lost their leaves and the brilliant colours have passed.

Coteau Landing, Soulanges Canal, watercolour, 2015

Coteau Landing, Abandoned Canal, watercolour, 2015

There is still time to paint and enjoy the last flowers of the season.

Gift of Summer, watercolour, 2015

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Stewart Hall, Point Claire, Qc  presents the 2016 Collection of Art Rental from October 31 to November 2015. The vernissage is Sunday November 1 at 2pm. You can rent or buy a piece of Art.

Linda is in the show. This piece was selected by the jury.

Tidal Flats, St. Joseph de la Rive, 50cmx50cm, oil, 2015

The weather continues to be ideal for plein air painting. We paint boats at St. Anne de Bellevue and Beaconsfield Yacht club before they are moored for the winter. Then take a few days in Kamouraska to enjoy the tidal flats, churches, and salt marshes. This weekend, 26-27 September the Hudson & Region Studio Tour opens their doors to 12 artists. Linda is on the tour and welcomes all daily from 10am to 4:30pm.

Beaconsfield waterside, watercolour

Beaconsfield Park, watercolour

Route de la Gréve, Kamouraska, watercolour

Kamouraska wharf, watercolour

And, there is time to paint some of my garden flowers.

Kamouraska, Québec City, Île d’Orléans are some of my favourite places to visit and sketch in Québec.The village of Kamouraska is well known for its bakery, fishery, eateries, heritage buildings, and scenery. The light is airy even on a rainy mist filled day. I decide to paint the stone house looking out towards the islets at high tide.

House on the Edge, Kamouraska, QC, watercolour, 2015

Vignoble, 1A Chemin du Boût de I’île, Ste Pétronille, QC, watercolour, 2015

We visit the  Vignoble de Sainte-Pétronille on Île d’Orléans. It sits high above the St Lawrence River giving a spectacular view of the grape fields descending towards a Normandy farmhouse, the Montmorency Falls and the bridge to the mainland. We sip a bottle of white wine , enjoying friends and a world class view.

The Musée Nationale des Beaux-Art in Québec city presents  Japan Inspiration until September 27, 2015 – a visit is a must on my list. Firstly, the location on the Plains of Abraham is a present day grand park filled with greenery and flowers sandwiched between a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence and the Grand Allée. We forget the past battle fought between Montcalm and Wolfe. Within this park sits the museum comprised of three pavilions; a 1933 neoclassical building by architect Wilfred Lacroix, a old prison from 1867, a central transparent pavilion of glass, granite and a rooftop garden. The recently completed glass entrance on the Grande Allée by the Netherlands architectural firm of Rem Koolhaas and Montréal architects Provencher Roy gives the modern touch to this site filled with our history. Inside, the exhibition is well worth the visit. I see first hand the direct influence of the Japanese woodcuts on the Impressionists; the light tonality and large bold masses filled with colours.

To finish my month of sketches, I looked to my garden and pick some August flowers.

Garden Flowers, watercolour, 2015

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