Remember when I said I wanted to try my hand at painting architecture more often (which is entirely reasonable because I’m surrounded by it all the time)? Well, I came to regret that impulse while painting this piece. It absolutely kicked my butt! Who knew there were so many vents and pipes and satellite dishes on a typical Montreal rooftop? Anyways, in case you were wondering, I see this view every day as I leave my office – the North side of Mile End, with Mount Royal in the distance.
And it’s a view from my livingroom window (minus a high-rise or two off in the distance)! Work with what’s available, right? I found I really enjoy painting snow on rooftops – it’s almost like icing a cake. Ask me how I feel about that after another 3 months of winter… 😉
I’ll be honest: 2019 was not the easiest year BUT I did get back into art-making, and that’s got to count for something, right? I hope everyone has a lovely holiday season with family and friends, and may 2020 bring joy to all of you in large ways and small!
I often think to myself that it would be so much easier if I could a) get excited about drawing buildings (haven’t really tried, but you never know – I might find I love it!), and b) not mind that I can’t see any horizon line. I’m a city-dweller, but I don’t find artistic inspiration in cities – because, honestly, how could cities ever compare with the St-Lawrence river and great big, puffy clouds?
I’ve fallen a bit behind with my landscape studies, and just when I had turned a corner with them, too! At this point, they were getting more and more complicated, and more than one lunch-hour to finish. Even so, I made a conscious decision NOT to fuss with the reflections on the water in the foreground. The result is what I like to call “good from far, and far from good”. I am very happy with the blue shading on those mountains, though!
EMMA PITTSON 