Cup-Cycling WEEK 3 - the first experiments

These line drawings were the first experiments on the flattened coffee cups which lead to my Cup-Cycling exhibition at the Elm Cafe.

I used felt-tipped markers on the first few cups, with the intention of keeping the drawings bold and simple.  Soon, however I gravitated back to the fountain pens I prefer to use and then starting adding watercolour washes.  The paint takes surprisingly well, although can be a bit blotchy if there is any skin oil on the surface.  I have no idea of the longevity as they certainly are not archival.  

And when I say flattened, its a relative term, as its impossible to get the curve out entirely and the surface is a bit wobbly.  Because of this, I've taken to photographing them as the ripples go out of focus on the scanner platen.  If they were to be framed, a shadow box would be best as it would allow the gentle crown to read.

Cup-Cycling WEEK 2

 The second week of my Cup-Cyling exhibit celebrates a couple of the large maple trees that still exist in the Inner Harbour neighbourhood.  These huge old trees are being removed with few replacements, despite the importance of the urban forest in ameliorating climate change.

The top image is on Main Street which is on the west side of the neighbourhood that has delightfully crooked streets and oblique intersections which make for confusing navigation but interesting views.

Below, is an old brick row of workers houses on Bagot Street beside one of the neighbourhood's repurposed school buildings.

Cormorant

Now here's an honest working boat, standing at the boat repair shop outside of Marysville.  She's a no nonsense utility boat from Garden Island, where several families live year round without ferry service.  I' sure its nudged through rotten ice  and felt its way through heavy fog many times over the years making necessary trips to the mainland.

General Wolfe Hotel

The General Wolfe Hotel is a cultural institution in Marysville.  Although it holds a dozen rooms or so, most would think of it as a tavern and may have gone there for live music.  Like so many businesses, its been closed these last few months as we get through the pandemic.

Its a long rambling structure that looks over Barrett Bay and the longer views to Fort Henry and Kingston, but this end of the building with its celebration of the military past made for the more interesting sketch.

As with many in this Marysville series, its a shame about the fold in the middle of the drawing.  I bought a lovely little sketchbook last fall, with smooth paper and a faint grid of dots that are helpful.  Its just the right size for sketching in the car in cold weather, but now that its warming up I'm thinking I should switch to a larger, one sheet format.  Maybe even break out the watercolours!

Holey Buildings

Abandoned barns are a common site on Wolfe Island.  Often the farm itself is still working but the barn has no utility now that the large hay bales are wrapped and left outside.  More often the whole complex is abandoned as smaller farms are consolidated, hedgerows and fences removed to create  into massive open fields.

What caught my eye, here on Simcoe Island, was a single long plank propping up a large barn.  I didn't enter the property, but had I walked closer to the barn you can bet I wouldn't walk under that corner!

Nine Mile Point Lightstation

As a Sailor, I have rarely been close enough to a lighthouse to read the Canadian Coast Guard sign that identifies them as a "Lightstation".   I suppose this is more accurate as most are unoccupied and if there is a house associated, its probably been sold or rented and has nothing to do with the actual operation or maintenance.  And, for that matter, if we're going to be all sticky about describing the contemporary function, should it not be the 14.48 Kilometre Point Lightstation?

Simcoe Island is much smaller than Wolfe Island but large enough to be connected with a year round ferry operated by the Township.  I know it from the water, having sailed the channel between the two islands and also passing the lighthouse on the west end on the Kingston side.  

Technically it marks the division of Lake Ontario from the St. Lawrence River, and to a sailer often the lee of the islands from the waves across the long fetch of Lake Ontario.  This last week there have been clouds of midges - tiny flies - that are mildly annoying especially if you breath some in, but don't bite.  The smudges on the page are a couple of those that gave thier lives for art.

Waiting for the Ferry

The Wolfe Island Ferry pier on the Kingston juts out into the St. Lawrence river just south of the La Salle Causeway and its Bascule lift bridge.  It offers views to the outer harbour and City Hall as well as east to the Royal Military College. Rich ground for future sketches.

Wolfe Islander III

There is no bridge to Wolfe Island, instead there is a ferry which runs back and forth and for some arcane reason is free.  In the summer there can be quite a line up with vehicles, but there is always room to just walk on. On a nice day its fun just to go back and forth without even getting off.

This is the third Wolfe Islander, constructed by the Port Aurthur shipyard in Thunder Bay.  Number four is under construction in Romania and will have electric propulsion.  The shipbuilders, Damen, were good enough to give me a little more information about its operation.

"Please be advised that the propulsion system is in fact a hybrid diesel electric system. However there is enough battery power onboard to perform the ferry crossing on electrical power. These batteries will be charged with a fast shore charging system, resulting in the majority of all sailings being full electric."

The plan is to operate both No. 3 and 4 durring busy periods, which will more than double the capacity and offer 1/2 hour service from both sides.  But I imagine I'll time my trips to use the new ferry just because of the clean and renewable power.

Old Hughie

Old Hughie is a Mercury Meteor, eponymously named for it's owner.

I understand that the original Hughie is no longer with us.  Which reminds me of Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal terrier who is immortalised as a statue in Edinburgh, for mourning his master's death by showing up at his regular haunts for more than a decade after his passing.

Old Hughie waits patiently on a side street in the village of Marysville for his owner to pump his tires, boost his battery and fire him up.

And, apart from a cloud of blue smoke, I'm sure Old Hughie would eagerly comply.

Certainly emblematic of a different era - no electric cars , or ferries, in Old Hughie's heyday.

"Down the road in the rain and snow 
The man and his machine would go..."

Portraitography on Wolfe Island

I heard about this interesting interactive art project by chance and really wanted to see it in action.  Besides that, it was a reason to ride the ferry from Kingston over to Marysville on Wolfe Island.

The project involves enlisting local people to interview others - the format is to have a conversation and make some transparent overlays profiling the person's photograph ...a a sort of portrait/biography in a nutshell.

The venue was the Wolfe Island Gallery, which was a good choice given both the space and the welcoming mix of old islanders and newer "creatives". When I showed up and started sketching, no one noticed as they were so engaged in their conversatations.

There are 3 other locations  planned which contrast highly urban and more traditional and remote communities.  There will a be a touring show of all of the locations and it will be a sociologist's dream to analyse the differences, but I'm guessing, the commonalities of those Canadians.