sketching

Last week I went on a little road trip. I started at the train station in my city. This is a view outside from the new monstrosity to one of my favourite buildings–the original 1856 Grand Trunk station. It is standing empty now, but luckily protected as a heritage site. I got the drawing done standing looking out the window, and then had to hurry to catch the train–using the two elevators (!) where we used to be able to just step outside. I added the paint later. 

This sketch if from day two of the trip. We drove to north-west Goderich on the shores of Lake Huron and in the late afternoon sunshine we leaned against  the car and sketched this imposing 1905 Carnegie Library. There are many towers in Goderich and I was able to sketch a few others. We had a week of beautiful spring weather and by Friday I could sit outside to sketch. I’ll post more sketches of the trip later this week.

Here is another page from my sketchbook, a pair of houses on Maisonneuve. The week I was in that city it was cold and very icy underfoot. But the sun was out bringing the colours of the houses alive.

I was happy to learn that the Montreal Urban Sketchers were meeting on Sunday, my second last day in Montreal. I have never managed to get to one of their gatherings–and this one, at the Biblioteque Nationale, was very appealing as it is a beautiful building. In reading about it, I discovered that it is the most frequented library in North America! Once I got there, I could understand why so many people want to spend time there. Besides the magnificent collection, there were all kinds of spots to curl up and work. There were over thirty urban sketchers at 10:00 a.m. and we spread out in the comfortable chairs beside the huge windows with a view to the backs of the buildings on St. Denis.

Yesterday I had a little time before my train so I sat in the window seat of a delightful tiny cafe and sketched my madchiato and the view across the street.

I’m still in Montreal and it’s cold and icy–but this is still one of my favourite cities. This morning we all went to a great spot, Paquebot, a coffee shop on Rue Belanger, close by my son’s house. It is such a treat to be in an independent café with a unique decor and a personal touch. And a bonus for sketching–their china and much of their decor, are my favourite colour. And — oh yes– the coffee and scones were delicious! 

Here we are walking home with the birdbrain tote/diaper bag in action

And here is a sketch from yesterday in Westmount. I was sitting in a café and sketched what I could see out the window. I stayed long enough to have two cappuccinos, the second one in a red cup! It’s far too cold and windy to sketch outside, so it’s great to find a café with a view of interesting buildings. I am enamoured with so many of Montreal’s turn-of-the-century structures.

We are in Montreal staying for a week. We have a new family member! So admiring and cuddling are first on the agenda but there is also time to wander the city and do some sketches. It was a dark grey day yesterday, snowing hard, and then it turned to freezing rain, so most of this sketch was done back at the flat. Tomorrow it promises sun, so looking forward to doing some sketches on site. And to heading on the subway to my favourite art store! Will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, this sketch from last week in Belleville was done in the full sun of a winter day.

It is -24C today outside my house and, with the windchill it feels like -33C. So that is very cold. And yet the winter sun is spectacular and casts such a lovely light on everything. I have not been here in February for five years and I am enjoying it very much. Each day gets a little longer as we creep towards spring. Below scenes on my street and downtown done in my 5″ x 8″ Pentalic sketchbook.

Here are some random pages from my sketchbook. I have been thinking about windows and overall composition. I love sketching buildings, but I often am so eager to get it right, the proportions etc., that I forget that it is about composition as much or more than it is about accuracy. In fact I am coming to realize that accuracy is less important than I thought. Anyway here are some pages of learning randomly taken from my Pentalic sketchbook which is nearly finished.

Window pane experiment…sitting in a great café in Hamilton with my long-time friend, talking, drinking latte and fooling around with colour. 

Last week I was in Campbellford on a beautiful sunny day. I’ve always loved this town on the Trent River and especially its fire hall which was built in 1889. I found a parking spot just across from it and sketched it from my car.  Before I left I drove over to check the date on the heritage plaque. I was surprised to learn that the fire station is still in active use, although the fire fighter I spoke to said a new station is being built and soon this may be a restaurant. I certainly hope they maintain the unique exterior–the tower and onion dome are wonderful.

Prior to that I was in St. Catherine’s to visit the brick and mortar shop of two Canadian designers I like very much. We had a great visit there and then went to a cafe for a quick sketch.  As I’ve said here before, I try to buy handmade goods or great barely-used clothing (more on my favourite spot for that in another post). I really believe in supporting local designers whose work is of such good quality and who make great wearable designs.

…and I think I am obsessed with small town towers.

and windows…this is an incredible building in a small town near my house. I want to take the time soon to do more of it. In the meantime practising windows.

 

Phillipa Faulkner was a Belleville artist who was part of a notable city family and lived in what is now the city museum.  I love her vivacious ink and watercolour sketch of the Moodie House, now in the collection of the Belleville Public Library. Her use of ink line and unexpected colour –a flash of green in the window, orange in the stone, chalky white door– and her loose and crazy trees merging into the sky, make this a fascinating sketch of a building I know so well. I posted this sketch of the side view Moodie house earlier in the month, but am inspired by Faulkner’s lively capturing of the old place to give it another try. (Painting posted with the generous permission of Anne Burrows Faulkner.)