Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Brasserie du Quai, Quai de la Megisserie

9 x 12 oil on panel
Last year at this time, I spent ten days in France. It was a wonderful time and I took several photos. To commemorate my time there, I decided to do a few studies from the photos I took. Most of the time the weather was overcast, but once in a while, the sun peaked out. We also had a couple of nice rainfalls. This scene is on Quai de la Megisserie, a street in Paris, adjacent to The Seine, just east of The Louvre.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Saturday Shoppers, Dundas Ontario

8x10 oil on canvas
I don't often paint sunny days, normally preferring the moody atmosphere of rain or snow. In this scene I liked the backlit figures with their colourful clothing in contrast to the figures in the shadow under the store awning.
. This scene features shoppers walking past Picones in Dundas. Picones is a wonderful store that has been in Dundas over 100 years. It features the best of everything from produce to baked goods and irresistible prepared foods.Dundas is also where I have my studio.
Summer isn't here yet, but it won't be long!

Monday, April 10, 2017

Bay Street Blues

12 x 12 oil on Canvas
Last Thursday. during the downpour (with lots of wind and squalls thrown in) I was able to get some great reference photos. It was not easy, trying to stay somewhat dry and protecting my camara from water damage.. A couple of times I was splashed from head to toe by passing vehicles, but I guess its all in a days work!. Luckily I had purchased a four dollar plastic cape which worked quite well.
In this scene, a "suit" walks south on Bay Street towards the Go Station. On the right the pillars and blue signage of the BMO building are visible.

Friday, March 17, 2017

Waiting in The Rain at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)

12 x 12 oil on panel
I thought it was time for some warm rain instead of the snow we've been having lately. After all, it is spring next week.
Film goers stand in line to get into a feature at The Toronto International Film Festival.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

A Cool Day in March. Queen Street

12 x 12 oil on canvas
After being spoiled in February, winter has decided to come back for March. I guess things have to balance out somehow. I took this photo reference on a blustery cool day in March in late afternoon when the sun was still high enough to peak through buildings and create some nice highlights. This scene is on Queen Street and the fence at Osgoode Hall is visible across the street.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Hey Lucy Cafe, King Street, Toronto

 
24 x 24 oil on canvas
This is the larger version of the 6x6 from a recent post. I tightened up a bit but I'm still happy with the result. I still love that sign and the cow. So unique!
I will be showing this painting at the Artist Project, Feb 23 in Toronto.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Winter, Queen and University

30 x 30 Oil on Canvas
This is a typical slushy wet winter day in southern Ontario. After a snowfall, the streets are cleared and salted resulting in a wet slushy mix on sidewalks and streets. This scene features the fence at Osgoode Hall on University Avenue in Toronto.

Monday, January 2, 2017

Hey Lucy, King Street, Toronto

6x6 oil on paper
The colours of evening or night are always difficult to portray. What colour is night? Night is all about reflected surfaces. It is the surrounding lights and nothing maintains its daylight colour. I have had a difficult time with some sections of King Street. The mixture of greens and reds and yellows can make for a mud colour, so its important to avoid too much mixing. The red signage resulted in pink snow which worked well with the cool green streetlights. I am doing small studies almost all the time now before starting a larger version.. I have wiped so many paintings where the colour has just been WRONG! Its much easier to make mistakes on a small study.
Evening strollers walk past the Hey Lucy Restaurant on King Street. Part of the "cow" on the building is visible top right.