Montreal panorama
Posted: January 11, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized 17 CommentsI haven’t drawn a Montreal panorama since I worked full-time as a college teacher. At the time, I had a view similar to this one from my office on the building’s top floor. I loved sneaking away on breaks to paint it.
When I began sketching today, I remembered what I loved best about panoramas — the geometry of the view. All those little shapes that somehow have to make sense when you put them together. Of course it helps when St. Joseph’s Oratory is the centrepiece to break up the sky shape.
I had a very tiny kit with me today — just a pen, a palette and a waterbrush. Stay tuned for my post tomorrow. I’ll talk more about my five essential sketching tools, both the ones I use and some budget-friendly options.
Oh Shari!!!
What a gift you’ve sent to me for this New Year! So grateful that you painted this favourite vista and warmed my heart, way out here in the remote Rockies of B.C.
Your book, “Mostly Montreal” is my go-to when I need to assuage homesickness, with your personal visions of each scene rather than just a photograph.
Wishing you everything wonderful in this New Year,
Lori Fontaine ________________________________
Lori, what a wonderful comment to read. I’m happy I was able to bring you back to Quebec, even for a moment. Wishing you the best for the new year too!!
I am guessing it had been from the N building? Fond memories and what a striking view today. Many thx 🙂
Chris, it was definitely from the famous N building. I miss that view but not the full-time teaching job!!
Great sketch! How lucky to find somewhere to sketch from with such a great view. Places like that are priceless. I remember sketching from a restaurant with a view like that in Amsterdam. Way to go!!
I bet your view was great too. Aren’t panoramic windows wonderful??
Hi Shari,
I just can’t tell you enough how much I enjoy your emails and viewing your wonderful sketches. Thanks for the joy you bring to me!
Thanks so much Barbara!
Just lovely! And it looks like there’s still some snow for you-the 12 inches we got on Sunday is now pretty much gone after the deluge of rain on Tuesday!
Denise, we had that same weather pattern on Tuesday. And more coming tomorrow. Snow, then freezing rain, then rain. I wish it would just be snow.
Thanks for this Shari. I also worked in Montreal many moons ago but was not painting then. It’s a wonderful city and enjoy your cityscapes. susie
Thanks so much Susie!!
So lovely, Shari! It looks like you also used a white gel pen, right? And thank you for the blog post about your materials. I’ve admired that palette of yours with the three deep wells! I might have to splurge and get it!
Carmen, it’s so nice to hear from you! Yes, I did add a bit of gel pen at the end. Good spotting. As for the palette, I still love it. It is my second one because the first one rusted out. But it’s very practical.
Enjoyed both of these painting but loved the sone with snow. What patience you have. The older I get, the less I have for complicated paintings. Some years back I wanted to go to Quebec and meet you. Even got a passport. But we never made it. Maybe in the future.
Judy, I’m still here! Maybe one day you will dust off the passport!!
Shari
I love all your sketches , but especially those that remind me of Montreal and living nearby for many years.
There is one thing that baffles me, though when I look at the detail that you have on Saint Joseph’s oratory, I wonder how you see it. Apparently, I have perfectly decent distance eyesight, but there is often no way I can see the far off detail that sketchers put in their panoramas. Do you know it so well that you don’t need to see that far? Do you take binoculars or perhaps you can take a photograph and zoom in and remember the details when you sketch ?