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.

Kensington Market

12 x 12 oil on canvas

This is another image from Toronto's  Kensington Market. When walking through the streets at the Market, its hard to imagine that such a funky eclectic mix of stores, restaurants, fruit and vegetable stands, graffiti,  and vintage shops exists so close to downtown Toronto.

Luckily, In 2006, Kensington Market was officially recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada for its dynamic character and eclectic variety of architectural styles.

Afternoon Traffic, King and University

30 x 48 Oil on canvas

I've been working on some larger pieces to take to The One Of a Kind Show in Toronto, Nov. 24.  to Dec. 4. I had forgotten how much time, energy and paint the larger canvases take! If you are planning to come to the show, come and say hi at Booth K34.

King Of Kensington

8 x 10 oil on panel

A week ago Saturday during an all day rain, I took several pictures of various Toronto Neighbourhoods. I walked from The Distillery District through downtown, then Kensington Market and finished up in Little Italy. There is no better way to take reference photos than walking a long way, even if tired and wet from the rain.

Kensington Market is a very eclectic mix of markets and stores, as Blogto says: "Toronto's most unique neighbourhood, Kensington Market retains its charm and wonderful diversity through its eclectic mix of vintage clothing stores, Latin American grocers, fresh produce, cafes and watering holes. Defiantly independent and progressive"....its definitely worth a visit.

While walking through the streets, this unique automobile came down the street and parked under a King of Kensington sign. I could't resist doing a small painting of the scene. The graffiti added an interesting touch.

Night Snow at Queen's Quay

12 x 12 oil on canvas

I used the study from the previous posting to recreate this scene on a larger canvas. Doing the colour study helped a lot in choosing my colour palette. It is much better to experiment on the small size on canvas paper. I'm happy with the results. I decided to add snowflakes to enhance the mood of a "first snowfall" .

This painting will be available at The One Of A Kind Show in Toronto in November.

Toronto Chinatown

4 x 4 oil on paper

I haven't posted a painting in over a month. It has been a difficult summer with the heat. I believe it is our hottest summer on record, here in Southern Ontario. My studio is in the attic and when the temperature outside is above 27 degrees celcius (81 F), even with an air conditioner, it is impossible to work. I spent some time doing plein air and catching up on some art reading and research. 

When I decided to do this image of Toronto's Chinatown on Spadina with the lights under the umbrella and awning contrasting with the grey of the rain, I thought it would be worth trying a few studies with different undercoats to see which one I prefer. I don't always use an undercoat, but thought a different approach might have better results. The 4 x4 squares were coated with a wash of transparent oxide red and the other with Indian yellow. I then painted the same image on both.

I'm not sure which one I prefer. Any thoughts or opinons are welcome!

March Sun, Late Afternoon on Adelaide Street

24 x 24 oil on panel

The sun after a snow storm can be brilliant, the moisture having cleared the particles from the air. This street is Adelaide at Spadina with the sun sinking in the late afternoon sun.

Grace O'malleys, Snowy Evening

8x10 oil on panel

I'm working on a few "vignettes" while I get ready to start some larger paintings. Its always good to get a sense of composition and colour before getting out the large canvas.

Grace O'Malleys is an Irish Pub on Duncan Street in Toronto's entertainment district.

Crossing at King and Simcoe

8 x 10 oil on panel

Our weather has been all over the place, from spring like conditions with rain to the snow storm we had yesterday. I have been wanting to add some warmer colours back into my palette. I have been using a predominately cool palette, but some scenes call for warmer colours. I have added transparent oxide red and terra rosa into the mix. I thought this scene was a good way to start with the warmer building colours and a spring rain.

This small study is at King and Simcoe in Toronto's Entertainment District. The Elephant and Castle Pub is on the left.

Umbrellas on King Street

12 x 12 oil on canvas

I take hundreds of photos on rainy and snowy days. Sometimes a really fun image shows up, and that was the case with this photo. Umbrellas are mostly black and boring so this scene provided a nice change. I often change things in my paintings and rarely paint the photo as is, but in this instance very little change was needed.

Decisions, Yonge Street Tattoo

12 x 12 oil on canvas

I really like this vignette of three young people in front of Yonge Street Tattoo. One wonders what is being said, what decisions are being made. 

Thanks to Ben Roffelsen for the photo reference.

Wet Snow on Wellington Street

30 x 30 oil on canvas

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and also thank those of you who commented, or just stopped by for a look.  I'm looking forward to a year of creative challenges, and hopefully will have some fun along the way. Artist Barbara Muir mentioned that a colleague of hers referred to 2016 as sweet 16, so with that in mind, lets start this year on a positive note!

This painting features the TD centre on the right, with the Toronto club visible on the left. The Toronto Club is one of Toronto's oldest private member's clubs.

Follow me on instagram: @cjeffreystudio

Snowy Day on Queen Street

30 x 40 Oil on canvas

I've been working on this one for a week, and I think its time to put it away to dry and come back for a look later. I still find it difficult to portray the large buildings and have them recede into the distance with the proper greys.

Gooderham, Flatiron Building in Rain

24 x 24 oil on panel

The Gooderham Building, also known as the Flatiron Building, is a very interesting and historical building.It is also extremely difficult to paint. It stands out in front of the new high rises, an imposing red brick building in front of the soft blues of the reflected glass.

I thought I would give it a try again...I think I need to blur the receding sides a bit more to accentuate the "triangular" shape of the building.

Late Afternoon Shadows, Bay Street

8 x 10 oil on panel

When I do a study, I don't know if I will do a larger painting from it. I like the composition and the colours of this image, and so I think it will work well on a larger scale

.The  sunlight shining down Queen Street is reflecting off of The Old City Hall tower and spilling onto the adjacent towers. Suits head home after a day in the financial district.

Wet Snow on Wellington Street

12 x 12 oil on board

After doing three shows in four months, it has been difficult getting back to the studio. I took some nice rain/snow photos the other day and was inspired to paint this scene. I liked the reflected lights on Wellington Street, walking past the TD Centre. I would like to paint this on a larger scale, so tried it first on a 12 x 12.

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.

 

I Dreamed in Pink and Purple, King Street, Toronto

8 x 10 oil on canvas

I've painted this corner before.The rotating light on the Standard Life Building changes the colours on everything around it. It is a perfect example of how light changes the colours of what we see and perceive. I captured this photo as the light was pink/purple.

The colours this young woman was wearing added a nice moody feel to the scene. She is crossing York Street during a misty rain.

 

8 x 8 oil on canvas

I think it is almost impossible to take a photo of downtown Toronto without finding a beck taxi or streetcar in the picture. (The same goes for New York City and their yellow taxis). The colours can be challenging, but in this picture, the turquiose of the taxi and the highlights of the Sunlife Centre at 150 King Street West harmonized nicely.

This is late afternoon in the financial district of Toronto.

T.G.I.F, Queen and University

12 x 12 oil on canvas

On an early rainy Friday evening, a "suit" walks down Queen near University, heading home after a day of work in the Financial District of Toronto. The wonderful wrought iron fence of the The Law Society is visible on the right, illuminated by passing cars and the various lights of the city.