Phone Doodle: Vellum App
Eglise Saint-Charles, 15 min in Vellum. No frills drawing ap for iphone. The other drawing ap I quite like is Inkling. So far, the rest (brushes, sketchbook mobile) are overly complicated for what you really want to do on the damn tiny thing.
One day I’ll try an iPad. (As soon as I can get one for free). My phone was a cast-away from a friend. I wouldn’t actually afford one of these, much as I’d like too! I consider it recycling to give it to a child or an artist when you’re done with it.
L’église Saint-Enfant-Jésus du Mile-End
I’m frequently walking by this fine structure. It faces onto a small park full of maples – that have up to now been blocking my view of the tower. I’ve been biding my time, waiting for winter to eradicate those pesky golden leaves. Finally the view that I’ve been waiting for – L’église Saint-Enfant-Jésus du Mile-End, seen through scattered branches. I’m thinking I’ll be able to get a great number of views like this in Montreal.
Anyway – wikipedia has this to say: The church of Saint-Enfant-Jesus was inaugurated in 1857 by Bishop Bourget.
It was built by architect Victor Bourgeau and a new facade was built according to plans by Joseph Venne in 1898. She recalls, for his style, the baroque exuberance of Latin America. Indeed, over a seven-bay portico, inspired by Italian Renaissance, is one of the most exuberant carved stone facades of Quebec . Stacked in a pyramidal composition, in a delicate balance, arches, niches, pilasters, columns, medallions, and lace stone to reach the pinnacle overlooking the Baroque district.
I found the proportions of the cupola a perfect study in regular subdivision. I’ve just taken this class in comparative measurement for drawing (related to sight-size, a more commonly heard term). It was enlightening to see how many structural lines neatly click into place in this kind of architecture. Here’s some iphone snaps work in progress:
Amusingly enough, there was an alternative press zine and comic fair today, (Expozine) so the park was full of grunge looking fellas in black toques and fashionable young punks with usual array of facial metal. I don’t think they were too interested in watercolorists. I was able to get a copy of Jillian Tamaki’s Gilded Lilies (which I’ve been wanting to pick it up for a while). Also ran into Salgood Sam and got a signed and remarked copy of Therefore Repent! He did neat little doodle of a dog pooping.
Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde
[Watercolor on Canson 140lb cold press block, 2 hrs]
Headed downtown today to get the first serious urban sketch in Montreal. I’ve been making mental notes of all the incredible architecture around town. There are so many great places. If anyone has some favorite locations, let me know!
Now that it’s November, the light doesn’t last very long; and it’s kind of nippy out there. Was 5°C/36°F today. So it’s *possible* to sketch – with enough layers of clothing – but the color doesn’t want to dry for you. The pools of water just sit there trembling in the cold while the sun goes down at double speed.
This is apparently a scale model of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome – so I suppose I could use my drawing for both places. Though if I was in Rome, it probably wouldn’t be this cold.
Insectarium
Sketching at the Insectarium – one of the exhibits at Montreal’s Jardin Botanique. It’s just a small part of the garden – but of course I love drawing bugs – and it’s indoors – so it’s a great place to spend a wintery Sunday drawing in Montreal.
I’m looking forward to the re-opening of the Biodome next year. I wonder if they have a membership deal. I could just spend all winter in the tropical environment.
Walking Home: Ecole de Beux Arts
Sat down on the sidewalk and sketched the Ecole des Beaux Arts building on Sherbrooke and St Urbain.
Welcome to Montreal: The Tall Ships
First post from our new home in Montreal Canada!
There’s been a lot of stuff going on keeping me away from drawing in the streets – but the occasion of the Tall Ships coming into the old port seemed like a great reason to break the dry spell. We had five tall masted sailing vessels on display – with thousands of people out to see them up close. The star attraction being the Bounty – most famous for it’s role in the Gore Verbinski/Johnny Depp Pirates of The Caribbean.
This Just In
Photographer Marco Cortesi was up there on the rock. He got this great shot of me working. You can see the summer storm rolling in! Thanks for sending the pic Marco.
You can find more of his work at www.shinecapture.com
30 Days in the Desert
Finally~! Installed in our apartment in Montreal, and unpacked enough to post a few sketches from the cross-country trip.
We came across Utah; spending a few days each in Zion, Bryce and Arches. I had high hopes of painting every day – but honestly, this terrain is challenging. Combining the high humidity (summer storms every day) with sweltering heat, and the intense detail of the landscape – I had a difficult time with it.
The view from the top of the canyon at Zion:
There’s a well maintained walk up Zion Canyon over a series of bridges, balconies and short stairs that abruptly opens up to this vista. This was our first big stop on the trip – a great introduction to Utah. I recommend traveling south to north – the state starts out impressive, and just keeps getting weirder and wilder as you go though the park system.
The Delicate Arch:
This is probably the most photographed feature at Arches national park. A short but steep hike up a blasted wasteland, followed by a cliff hugging 200 meters of sandstone ledges with a 100 foot drop next to your toes, gets you up to this unique formation. There’s a cute little sign at the start of the trail that essentially says “don’t care what you think – you don’t have enough water’.
At the end there I was climbing a steep sandstone ledge, in the rain, with gritty dust blowing in my teeth (how that happens in the rain I’m not sure), it’s crazy hot, the lightning is hitting too close for comfort, I’m not sure If I should turn back. Then suddenly you’re around a bend in the path, and this natural amphitheater is spread out before you, with this bizarre rock formation perched on the edge. I ended up doing an initial sketch with my block jammed under a rock to keep the rain off, just hoping I wasn’t going to be struck by lightning. Turned out we lived, and stuck it out long enough for an impressive sunset.
I wish I’d come away from Utah with more sketches. So much to see here. Yet another place I need to re-visit.
So here’s some of Laurels photography to give you an idea of what’s out there:
Last Sketches in California Ever (for now!)
10am at the Point Reyes Lighthouse, looking down 340 steps that I didn’t choose to descend:) This windswept foggy day was our last chance to sketch in California. This weekend we pack up the car and drive to our new home in Montreal!
Here’s the end of the Chimney Rock trail, looking north along the dramatic cliff wall. I love this place for the ever-present wind, and the feeling of being right out on the edge of the world. This seemed like the best spot for the last-ever-for-now drawing in Cali, and the start of our 10 day cross country drive.
St. Ignatius
A quick sketch from the top of Buena Vista park, looking across Haight at St Ignatius.
Citizen Sketcher 