Category Archives: Sketches, etc

Always when I travel to a new destination, I feel the unfamiliar and the uncertainty of what to paint or sketch. The light is different here, airy and fragile. The colours are tints of purple, thalo, pinks with hits of venetian red, the yellows are creamy white with shots of cadmium orange.

I resort to the old standby, “paint what is familiar”. The second floor of our hotel has a small shrine with the Virgin Mary portrait, a small pedestal with baby Jesus in the arms of Saint Anthony, sea shells and a large bouquet of fresh Calla lilies. It is cool and sheltered from the sun, my kind of place for today.

I start with a quick sketch but quickly realize I need to have my own Calla lilies. The” floristeria” shop is nearby. But before paying, the salesclerk shows me a variety of white and orange lilies on his cell phone. He is telling me without a word the Calla lily is not a lily but belongs to the Araceae plant family. Here they grow naturally in the marshland of Oaxaca, purifying the soil and retaining the moisture of the wetlands.

How did the lilly get here? Juno, the ancient Roman goddess is breast feeding her son, Hercules. She decides to express a little extra. First the droplets form the milkway and then fell on the earth to give us the beautiful Calla lilly.

Shrine for Virgin Mary, watercolour, 2018

Early morning, I decide the stone statue La Musica del Mar is a my kind of subject matter – quiet, serene, and reliable.

La Musica del Mar, watercolour, 2017

We come for the sun, beaches, culture and food. Puerto Escondido is all of these plus beautiful sketching and painting spots.

Parksville, Vancouver Island, 2017

This month we made a trip to Parksville, Vancouver Island to visit friends. November is the rainy season and it did not disappoint with torrent downpours each day.

We managed well staying at the Beach Club, visiting multiple “friperies“, vintage, secondhand stores or rummage sales. There are other gems in this village; glass blowers, and potters but best of all at Coombs, Goats on the Roof  a “must” tourist destination. The locals visit often to shop and to dine at Cuckoo Trattoria & Pizzeria. It is open throughout the year.

When I decided to sketch in watercolour, I needed a dry spot and the saleslady pointed to the adjacent boutique filled with carpets, armoires, clay pots, water fountains and a collection of steel weathervanes.

My space out of the rain, watercolour, 2017

Courtyard at Coombs Market, watercolour, 2017

For sale Weathervanes, Coombs Market, watercolour, 2017

Stewart Hall Art Sales and Rental invites all to attend their 50th anniversary. This exhibition of 150 paintings titled- The Art that inhabits Us is from October 28 to December 3, 2017 and will have a vernissage Sunday, October 29, 2pm-5pm.

My painting of the wetlands along the St Lawrence was chosen in the Ambassador category. It is in recognition of my continued acceptance into their juried shows and sales of my works.

Low Tide, acrylic, 36×24, 2017

I look forward to meeting you at the vernissage this Sunday, October 29, 2017 at Galerie d’art Stewart Hall Art Gallery, 176, chemin du Bord-du-Lac, Pointe-Claire, Québec, H9S 4J7, 514-630-1220

Free admission-accessible via elevator

L’Art qui Nous Habite,  Communique de presse/ Galerie d’art Stewart Hall.

L’Art qui nous habite Les 50 ans de l’Artothèque Du 28 octobre au 3 décembre 2017 La Galerie d’art Stewart Hall est fière de présenter l’exposition L’Art qui nous habite, qui célèbre le succès de l’Artothèque et son demi-siècle de services auprès de la communauté. Depuis sa création, l’Artothèque a accueilli plus de 1 050 artistes, dont beaucoup reviennent participer chaque année. Afin de mettre en lumière ces talents, la collection 2018 propose 150 oeuvres d’art de 150 artistes, répartis en trois catégories (50 ambassadeurs, 50 artistes initiés et 50 artistes de la relève). Nos ambassadeurs sont des artistes qui se sont démarqués par le nombre d’oeuvres vendues ou louées, par leur reconnaissance au sein de la communauté artistique ou leur nombre de participations dans la collection. Les artistes initiés sont des artistes qui sont nouvellement représentés dans la collection ou ayant déjà participé à l’Artothèque. Les artistes de la relève sont des artistes qui n’ont jamais été représentés dans la collection et ont moins de 10 ans d’expérience. Dénommé le « Studio 67 », en l’honneur du centenaire du Canada, le service de prêt et de vente de Pointe-Claire est entré officiellement en fonction le 4 avril 1967. Au cours des tout premiers mois, le succès remporté et la réaction positive du public a encouragé le comité à poursuivre l’expérience sur le long terme. Cinquante ans plus tard, le renouvellement de la collection continue à grandir, avec un peu plus de 500 oeuvres d’art présentées à un jury professionnel chaque année. Après avoir été présentées à la galerie, les oeuvres choisies – incluant dessins, peintures, photographies, estampes et techniques mixtes – sont disponibles pour la location ou la vente à l’Artothèque, située au deuxième étage de Stewart Hall. Vivre avec l’art offre tellement d’avantages, que ce soit pour embellir son chez-soi ou pour nourrir sa curiosité intellectuelle. Nous vous invitons à visiter l’exposition et si vous ne l’avez pas déjà fait, à louer une oeuvre d’art. La longue durée de vie du service prouve qu’il est digne d’intérêt; vous ne serez pas déçu. VERNISSAGE : Dimanche 29 octobre, à partir de 14 h

This month we spent 4 days in the Quebec village of Kamouraska. It is a plein air painter’s destination but also fulfills my needs to have gourmet food, interesting architecture, beautiful sunsets, and friendly locals. The food trail begins with the restaurants-–L’Amuse Bouche, Côte Est Cafe, Bistro de la Mer/Poissonnerie Lauzier, the bakery-La Boulangerie Niemand, the brewery- Tête d’Allumette Microbrasserie, the chocolate shop, La Fée Gourmande.

The village architecture is influenced by what settlers had in France and the need to adapt to what the lower St. Lawrence could supply. The Côte Est Cafe is located in the original Presbytery built in 1848 with a “neo-classical influence”.  The former court house built in 1888 is located midway on the main street and often called the “chateau” but in the tourist information they are more specific saying ” second empire, la renaissance française”. As all French Canadian villages the church is the heart. The recent building was constructed in 1912, after four previous churches perished, by the architect Joseph-Pierre Ouellet with a “neo-renaissance influence”. For an interesting insight into this village the booklet  Carnets de Kamouraska ( french only) is an informative source.The text is by Paul Louis Martin and illustrations by resident artist Anne Michaud in watercolour and ink.

My contribution on how I see the village is through my sketches in watercolour & gouache on Arches and Fabriano paper. My interest in gouache started with my Chinese painting workshop last month. At the time of buying my supplies I was told gouache would be a good substitue for the required Chinese paint. Liam Quan Zhen our instructor, quickly, told me this is the sequence, watercolour, chinese paint, gouache. So I put aside my gouache and bought the required paint brand, Yasutomo. Liam pointed out the need to read the label on artist quality paint. A common colour name is not enough if you want exact results. For example, when he called for vermillion the number on the tube is #51 or phthalo blue #57 or light green #55. He pointed out the need for pigment colour index names and numbers   Often paint colours that have the same name or slightly different name can vary greatly once on the page. If you wish to have similar results to your instructor pay attention to the brand name and paint type.

Sketching from street bench, watercolour & gouache, 2017

Sketching from Church parking lot, watercolour & gouache, 2017

East Shoreline from Wharf, watercolour & gouache, 2017

Tide is Out, watercolour & gouache, 2017

Former Palais de Justice (1888), watercolour & gouache, 2017

This summer is wet, humid and cool. But on Tuesday, when we sketch outdoors the rain clears and gives us a few hours of sun and clear skies. We all have noticed the continuing high levels of river water throughout this summer. This spring we had abnormal high level of flood water from the Ottawa River which attributes into the  St. Lawrence, at the westerly tip of Montreal Island. Here in Quebec, the St. Lawrence River is often referred to as the “Fleuve”. The french take pride in knowing the difference between a fleuve and a rivière- Ce n’est pas une rivière . C’est un fleuve. My take on this is the English vocabulary of river does not designate the grandness of the St. Lawrence.

At St-Anne-de-Bellevue the water level in June in certain parts was over the boardwalk and later in the summer over the ‘tie up’ area for boats in the locks.

Waiting for the Lockmaster, watercolour, 2017

At Coteau-du-Lac, the St. Lawrence River is flowing high and quickly, covering rocks and the feet and ankles of willows along the shoreline.

Willows on shoreline, watercolour, 2017

When we painted at the Parc des Rapides, in Lasalle we were restricted to the entrance area. The island and bird sanctuary has a large steel gate with a notice “closed due to high water levels”. The following excerpt is taken directly from Montreal.com and will give you inside to why we enjoy this park.

The Parc des Rapides is a 30-hectare waterside park, containing marsh, pools and walkways and stretching out into the St. Lawrence River.
Located in Lasalle, at the foot of 7th Avenue, the park gives unequalled views of the river rapids, with a view across to the Heron Island bird sanctuary. The park allows the walker to really get out on the river and observe the birds that are the main focus of the park: 225 species are said to have been observed here, and the flora is also diverse and interesting. Many avid bird watchers and nature photographers find this park an unequalled site of interest so close to the city.

The Parc des Rapides is part of the Lachine Rapids ecoterritory, which extends over the park, Heron Island, and parts of Nuns’ Island downstream.

If you want to see Great Blue Herons in the Montreal area, in an area accessible by public transit, this is one of the best places to go. It’s the largest heron species in North America and the birds look especially majestic when taking flight.

If you are interested in this area and the bird sanctuary this site is helpful. ( les ami du parc des rapides).

Montréal Skyline from Parc des Rapides, watercolour, 2017