Michaud Service – A Limoilu Landmark

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Larry Marshall

One of the fun things about sketching in Quebec City is being able to sketch buildings that have been repurposed and, sometimes, being able to see photos of what the building used to look like. There are a couple photos of Michaud Service from the 50s but they’re copyrighted and so I’m not going to post them here.

Michaud Service used to be an auto service location, with two large bays and an office area, all accessible from the street side of the building. There were also several bays whose doors faced north, on the other side of the building. These days it seems that the north access bays are used for storage while the front of the building houses a couple social service organizations. My sketch was done as I sat in a small park area on the south side of the building, an area that used to be a parking lot associated with Michaud Service.

In a way, this is a fairly plain building but the huge sign that still resides atop the building, and the somewhat organized graffiti along the south wall just spoke to me. There was also the matter that I could sit in the sun which kept me from completely freezing as I sketched. I did high-tail it for home and tea to do the color once I warmed up.

Michaud Service: Stillman & Birn Alpha (10×7), Pilot/Namiki Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

It’s Time For The Pumpkins To Roll

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Larry Marshall

I’m not sure whether to love or hate pumpkins. You gotta love their rich, warm color and they do signal things like Thanksgiving and Halloween. But they also announce the coming of winter and, if I haven’t mentioned it before, I hate winter. No street sketching for at least five months.

But I always draw at least one pumpkin every year. This one was done in my kitchen, a squash thrown in to compliment it. Hope you like it.

Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook, Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon ink, watercolors

The Real Entrance To Narnia

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Larry Marshall

Yeah…yeah, I know that the kids got to Narnia by way of a wardrobe but have you ever wondered where the main entrance was? I think I’ve found it. It’s in Levis, Quebec. Just go through this gate and up the steps into the forest. Easy peasy.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (10×7), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

The Teggert Bell At Mt Herman Cemetery

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Larry Marshall

I discussed a sketching trip I made to the Mt. Herman cemetery here in Quebec City in my last post. I love that place, though I’d rather be walking around in it than “resting” in it, if you know what I mean.

I hope to sketch there quite often, though outdoor sketching days will soon become few and far between as winter is knocking on the door. But I had to return to sketch the Teggert Bell. It is in honor of the family who have acted as cemetery directors for five generations and the way it’s displayed just begged to be sketched. Here is my meager effort at doing just that.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (10×7), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black ink

Sketching At The Mt. Herman Cemetery

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Larry Marshall

Last Saturday our sketching group, Le Collectif, held a sketching event at the Mt. Herman Cemetery. It’s located just south of Sillery and stretches down to the cliffs overlooking the St. Lawrence. This cemetery is nearly 200 years old, and contains, mostly, the remains of British, Scottish, and Irish people who did much to grow Quebec into what it is today. And as you wander the rolling hills of the cemetery, below its canopy of old maples, ashes, and elms, you can’t help but be drawn to the names on the headstones, many dating to the middle of the 19th Century.

It must have been the case that marble was a lot cheaper back then than it is now as there’s a lot of it in this cemetery. Tall, statuesque monuments, requiring a team of people to put in place, have stood for 100 years or more and they provide enduring symbols of what materials and craftsmanship can accomplish.

Our trip coincided with a memorial/commemoration of the retirement of the last of five Treggetts, that have acted as directors of the cemetery. This was a bonus on the day as I got to meet Mark Brennan, the new director, his right hand, Maureen, and several other fine people who didn’t seem put off by my poor French and even allowed me to speak some English. Oh…and they gave use cookies and coffee.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (10×7), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

But it was sketching we came for so it was sketching we did. The morning was cold, wet and windy so actually sitting down to sketch was a struggle, and bordering on foolhardy. Ultimately I came across this scene and set about putting pen to paper. There are dozens, if not hundreds of scenes like this so I hope to do more sketching here before it becomes too cold for outdoor sketching.

Moleskine watercolor book (3×5), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbn Black

The cold morning fatigued me and it was hard to get onto the next sketch so I was slow in doing so. Besides, the other sketchers were scattered around the grounds and I wanted to say hi and see what others were doing. I’m nosey that way. So, I did a lot of walking instead of sketching and it was fun. I did sketch this headstone, dated 1871.

Moleskine watercolor book, Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black

Fernande, my regularly sketching partner was there and we ate lunch together and chatted about the day. By then the sun had come out and it sort of revitalized us a bit. After this late lunch we started looking around for something that plucked at our 2PM sensibilities and I found it in this modest headstone, made of large, cast stones with a Celtic circle and plaque attached to it. I found three in the cemetery that used similar construction, though each was unique. I’m doing the ink-sketch-a-day event that’s going on right now so I approached this as an ink-only sketch, including a lot more hatching than I would normally add. Then I decided to add some color anyway.

By the time we finished it was time to head up for the memorial. Sadly, the time we were given for this was 3PM but by 2:40, when we arrived, the service was over. We were, however, in time for coffee, cookies, and comraderie with some very fine folks. Thanks, Mark and Maureen. We had a great day.