The garden at Antoine Pilon House
Posted: July 9, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized 24 CommentsDrawing thumbnails is quite helpful to me. It gives me a chance to really look at things, to decide if they are worth investing time in and also to see if the place I have chosen will be a good spot to spend some time in. This morning I wandered around the village of Pointe Claire with my folding stool, hoping to find a nice facade to draw. The day is cloudy and the light is flat but I did a few quick sketches of a building, including a closeup of the doorway and even a sketch of that unique Montreal architectural symbol — the outdoor staircase. In the end I decided to move on because none of the thumbnails seemed interesting enough to take to the next step (although I may go back to draw the staircase on a sunny day.)
A little further along the road I noticed the fence at Maison Antoine Pilon. Yes, cliché, I know. Little house, picket fence, flowers tumbling. A bit too cute. But I couldn’t resist the white shapes against the dark green so I drew it anyway.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Shari, I love this as a change of pace from harbor scenes. This is more of the style I would like to emulate! Not cliché at all, imho!
LikeLike
I laughed when I read your comment because I was thinking the same thing when I drew this. Nice change from boats! Thanks for writing.
LikeLike
I just finished your course Ms Blaukopf and I learned so much…which I immediately began to apply. Your work has such a wonderful energy coming off it – it always puts a smile on my face. Thank you for what you do
LikeLike
Dave, thanks so much for taking the time to write to let me know. I really appreciate it.
LikeLike
I am a cliché..I love this one.
I love cute houses..picket fences..tumbling flowers.
I echo the fist comment:)
LikeLike
And you do all that stuff so well Monique!
LikeLike
Nice, and simple. You are right… it is hard to resist white foreground objects and dark backgrounds when you are working with watercolour.
Were there really three blue shingles in the roof?
LikeLike
Thanks Ross. There were a lot of colours in those shingles, mostly greens though. The three blue shingles are from a little bit of cobalt blue that was on the edge of my brush. Happy accident, I would say. Don’t you agree?
LikeLike
I agree. In Australia, we would refer to that as a “blue” (ie a mistake). Quite appropriate, don’t you think?
LikeLike
Very appropriate and now I’ve learned a new expression!
LikeLike
Allow me to help your education a little more… in Australia, a “blue” also means a fight (“I had a blue with the missus”) and a “bluey” is a red-headed person… such a versatile word in the Australian language!
LikeLike
I’m so glad you did! I too love white picket fences. Your work always brightens my day.
LikeLike
Thanks Leslie!
LikeLike
“Cliché – schmiché” it is a feast for the eyes – thanks!
LikeLike
Thanks Chris. Hope you are having a good summer.
LikeLike
I like that. A “solid” old house in this nice vegetal world. Do you need drawing gum to do the fence or you are always as precise as your drawing with the watercolours ?
LikeLike
I like your description Richard. By drawing gum, I guess you mean a resist, like frisket? No, I just painted around the pickets with a pointy brush. I don’t think they are very precise though. You can see lots of places where the colour overlaps with the fence.
LikeLike
Not too cute for me. The value change and composition take it above all that. What size do you do these Shari. And I too have gained so much from your tutorial. Thanks again.
LikeLike
This is done in a Handbook Journal, size 8 inches x 8 inches. I like the paper very much in these books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping to paint this charming delightful scene, and for passing along to the world a glimpse of what the homeowner has created. I bet everyone who passes this house loves it. I bet a special person with an artistic creative soul lives there.
LikeLike
Thanks for writing Louise. This is quite an amazing old house. I don’t know the owner but he seems to be a special person. Have a look here: http://montrealgazette.com/news/world/trying-to-keep-a-piece-of-pointe-claire-history-alive
LikeLike
“Too cute” is good. In this case it’s better than good. — Larry
LikeLike
Thank you Larry!
LikeLike
[…] https://shariblaukopf.com/2015/07/09/the-garden-at-antoine-pilon-house/ -an artist’s point of view […]
LikeLike