Crossing In The Rain, Dundas Square

12 x 12 Oil on Canvas

I am drawn to scenes of Young Street in Toronto and keep going back to them even though I find them very challenging. I like the variety of colours and activity, but finding harmony in all of this proves to be quite difficult. (Harmony defined as the colour of the light that acts as a common denominator to visually unite everything it illuminates.)

Beck Taxis are everywhere, and I like the spark of colour they create, but often they contrast with the other colours in the scene.

Here, a young woman crosses Young Street at Dundas Square. The Guitar from The Hard Rock Care is in the background.

 

Rainy Day at St. Lawrence Market

12 x 12 oil on canvas

I think I'm done with winter and snow. Its still -20 C, but my thoughts are green with misty warm rain, and flowers.

A young woman goes shopping at St. Lawrence market on a rainy Saturday.

Toronto Traffic in Red and Gold

24 x 24 oil on board

I did this in an 8 x 8 and really liked the abstract effect and wanted to try it on a larger scale. I think I still like it, and it definitely has more punch in this size.

Gates at Osgood Hall, Queen Street

12 x 12 oil on panel

When I like an image, I want to jump in and paint it on a large canvas right away. I'm glad I did the smaller version first. Painting the intricacies of the gates and fence proved to be very difficult. I try to do a painting from start to finish while the paint is wet, and work wet into wet rather than letting it dry in between. This allows for lots of blending, but makes it difficult to add any fine details.Here, I mostly suggested the detail with a more impressionist style.

These wonderful gates and fence have been in front of Osgood Hall since 1868. Osgood Hall is home to the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Lights at Old City Hall, Toronto

12 x 36 Oil on canvas

We never know what might inspire us. Looking through Pinterest I saw a photo of New York on a snowy day featuring a beautiful light standard with buildings in the background. Unfortunately, I don't know who the photographer was but I loved the way the photo looked. While taking photos during a very snowy day, I took this image of the light standards at Toronto's Old City Hall. I had a 12 x 36 canvas in the studio, and decided it would be a suitable size for this image. I don't normally paint this size, but a suggestion from artist Mary Karavos inspired me to paint something in a different size. Mary does beautiful collages using imported papers. Check out her work here.
The light in the background on top of the Canada Life Building is a weather beacon, in use since the 1950's.

After The Snow, Adelaide Street, Toronto

24 x 24 oil on panel

I like the "glistening affect" that happens after a snowfall when the streets are cleared and the clear air and blue sky reflect on all surfaces.

This scene is late afternoon on Adelaide Street West when the sun is beginning to recede.