Waiting for Spring

It's interesting how many basketball nets live between the houses, all waiting for spring.  You don't think of Ottawa as a basketball town  but it was actually invented not far form here in Almonte, Ontario.  Unsurprisingly however, that took place in a indoor gym.

When sketched this a nearly a month ago, I was thinking the snow would not last much longer and that I would soon, not just be drawing, but be painting on site.  No such luck, so I'm returning to some older drawings and painting inside.

Threatened Species

Last weekend a couple of boys were making this snowman right in the middle of the walkway to their home. He was still there when I returned a few days later with my sketchbook.

It's been sunny and cold - no wonder Snowy is smiling.  Lucky for him he's in shadow most of the day, because March is just days away and the weather has to break soon.

Streetcar Neighbourhood

I continue to be fascinated by the interiors of the blocks here in my "streetcar" neighbourhood of the Glebe in Ottawa.  The term streetcar refers to the era in which it was built.  From the 1920's through the second world war years when people may have had cars, but didn't nescessarily use them to get to work daily as they would walk or take the streetcar.  As a result there are few homes with attached garages.  The garages are usually in the back often accessed by narrow shared lanes between the houses.

So as I walk my dog, or the few blocks to skate on the canal or do errands at the shops on Bank Street, I am continually looking into the gaps between the houses. These lanes offer a glimpse to in interior of the blocks and the interesting back sides of the homes which more often than not have been expanded in one or more stages.  Sort of urban anthropology.

Fifth Avenue Doors

It has been slow in coming this year, but its finally below zero.  I'm having to find locations where I can draw from the car, or just do quick studies while standing, before my hand ceases up. I actually had to finish blacking in the windows indoors as it was cold enough that the ink in my my pen was not flowing.  Maybe its time to switch to pencil!

I often pass by these elegant doors to walk-up apartments in my neighbourhood  and finally took a few minutes to stop and sketch them. I made a mistake in trying to black in the transom window of the Grenville apartment as the building name is in a flowing 30's style script...should have added it larger.  In fact the detailing of several of the elements would warrant vignettes.