One of my favorite sketching spots in Montreal is the Caserne Centrale de Pompiers – the old Firefighters Barracks. A quaint little turn-of-the-century structure, featuring three tiny garage doors meant for horse and carriage fire engines.
The old barracks has been converted to a civic history museum, but sadly, it is NOT the place to see old fire engines. I went there one time, at least ten years ago. It’s the kind of pioneer museum that features artifacts of daily life; so plenty of old sewing machines and shoes, plus some of the old English statues that have no where else to go :)
Don’t be confused with the much more interesting Pointe-à-Callière Museum, which is at the opposite end of Place d’Youville. That one is the the Archeology museum, which puts on touring shows (this year was Vikings and Ancient Egypt), and a permanent interactive ‘excavation’ in the basement, showing the fortifications which eventually became the city of Montreal.
The square itself, (Place d’Youville square, as opposed to the shady lane with the same name), has been recently renovated; adding plenty of shade and seating, and some shipping container sheds, which the city uses for cultural events. They’re in most of our parks now, and contain everything from miniature public gyms to tiny art galleries. This is one of the ways emerging artists can get exhibitions in Montreal! As long as you’re under 30 and still ‘struggling’ – not over 50 and as unfortunately ‘undiscovered’! hah!
I have to admit I didn’t go look at any of this :) I’m just here for the sketching! :)
Here are some feel-good doodles instead :)
I bet if you go back into previous years, this is a very normal arc for the marathon. I noodle around with sketches, try something that I’m really not good at :) And then hopefully begin to get back into old reflexes! Here’s today, for the sake of Daily Posting, and we’ll just move on shall we :) :) :)
Day 06: #30x30DirectWatercolor: Also Into the Weeds!
I did two of these back to back – what do you think – did this one get out of control? Or is it better than yesterdays?
Day 05: #30x30DirectWatercolor: Into the Weeds
In the winter I tend to go towards drawing, or oil painting – or digital art. Things I can do in the studio.
Plus – last winter I was taking French immersion, which – while it’s helped me quite a bit – I still find it too difficult to hold a conversation. Reading and writing is one thing (you can take you time), but an in-person exchange goes by too quickly for my brain.
This year’s #30×30 is a perfect tonic for me! I can already feel the benefits of painting every day! Watercolor is the most instinctive medium. I cant think of another artform where you are painting something, trying to imagine what it will look like after the water stops moving! Colors change, pigment moves. You have to have a gut-instinct of what to do when.
I find it super-important to make throw-away sketches. Things where you don’t care about the result. I suppose it’s like a musicians scales. You have to run the keys, and get the feel of the instrument.
Day 04: #30x30DirectWatercolor: A Genteel Man
Mixed up a little batch of Ultramarine Blue Light (Pb29) for this sketch from an internet photo.
I have always had a predilection for Blue/Orange color compositions. I feel it’s a result of growing up in the dusty prairies of Alberta. Most of the time, the only color around is the big blue of the sky and the rusty tones of dry grasses. Alberta’s official colors are the Green and Gold, but there really isn’t that much green :) When I moved to Boston for work, I notice the artists had strong preferences for mossy green and red brick. It’s like you get programmed by what you see as a child. There’s no science behind that! But there you go.
I didn’t manage to get a video made today, so just quickly, here’s a little sketch. (7.5×7″)
This heritage building is at 357 Rue Commune, just across from King Edward Quay < which I always pronounce as ‘KWay‘- and only recently realized is ‘Keey‘, but I can’t help myself ]
This used to be the Harbor Commission – whatever that is? I imagine many busy-busy clerks in brown suits.
The building was recently restored into a private club, with no expenses spared on a lavish interior; including a rooftop garden, and basement spa.
Le Club 357 made the news during the Charbonneau inquiry, which presented recordings of bribery and backroom dealing between city officials and construction contractors. Imagine that! I mean; what else would go on in such a place?
I wonder what will become of this little slice of heaven now. Who will own it? What kind of business will they put there? Surely not condos! Haha!
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Let me leave you with some closeups of the brushwork.
I’m trying to be more conscious of the little whites / gaps left behind when you build a shape. In the last few years I’ve been calling shapes ‘Broken Silhouettes’, to emphasize how they shouldn’t be too perfect.
Many small brushstrokes coming together to make the shape.
Day 02: #30x30DirectWatercolor: Cadmium Orange Deep
Day Two; testing my paints! It’s a simple sketch, but sometimes simple is best in watercolor. It’s just a framework for the water to do it’s natural blending.
I remain amazed how easy it is to make your own paints. I honestly didn’t think they’d be as good as a commercial paint, but in fact, they’re probably better. They disperse wonderfully, and have so much pigment strength!
Hey everyone! So once again, our watercolor marathon begins for 2023!
This year I’m taking the opportunity to try something I’ve been curious about for a long time; hand-mixing my own watercolors from ‘scratch’. (It’s really not). I simply purchased dry pigments and gum-arabic binder from Kama Pigments here in Montreal, and I’m trying out this recipe:
Watercolor Binder:
- 2 parts Gum Arabic (30ml)
- 4 parts Water (120ml)
Humectant (re-wetting agent):
- 1 part Glycerin (15ml)
- Add a dash of Oil of Cloves as a preservative.
And here is an excellent (as always) article on the manufacture of watercolor up on Handprint.com.
How Watercolor Paints are Made
Day 05: #OneWeek100People 2023: Tiny Oil Heads!
Click for a very nice video in which I get philosophical about painting:)
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So! Thanks to everyone who’s been doing #OneWeek100People for this, the Seventh Year!
(*Cheering sounds.*)
I had a really good time with this week. I got to do a LOT of drawing, and pretty much ignore any responsibilities, besides making art for an entire week. How great is that!? Thank you so much for the opportunity.
I hope you guys have engaged with the group up on Facebook. The real secret is in the posting! It makes you do the work! That’s where the magic is! And of course, the sharing and communication with everyone is as big a reward as the art-gains.
This week has me very excited for my next annual event , which is of course #30x30DirectWatercolor. This is when we upsize from one week, to an entire month. One watercolor painting a day for thirty days! I hope I can convince as many of you as possible to come try that event as well.
In the mean time, keep commenting on other people’s work in the Facebook, and – if you’ve had a great time with #OneWeek, I hope you’ll post a big finish when you hit your 100!
Even if it takes you a few days after the official event. Don’t hesitate to drop me a comment here on this post, or tag me on Facebook.
Take care everyone!
~m
Day 04: #OneWeek100People 2023: An Exhibition of Hats
Hey so, I went to our museum of archeology (Pointe-à-Callière) to sketch their show on hats and headdresses from around the world.
Just a fun day of classic museum drawing. I love sketching in these places. It’s calm and quiet, the lighting on the objects is often masterful, and really – every object has been carefully selected to be informative and inspiring. You can’t fail to have a great day sketching at a museum.
For this exhibition I’ve invented the faces. The objects were displayed ‘floating’ without a head, but I felt they’d be more interesting if I added a personality. (This is something that is very much against the rules in traditional Urban Sketching, so, of course I had to do it).
I’m not being particularly accurate in these sketches – they’re just interpretations of the real things – so of course, my apologies if I’ve put the wrong culture under any of these hats. What can we do? I’m just a sketcher!
Citizen Sketcher 