The space between two buildings
Posted: December 9, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: ink and watercolour sketches, ink sketch, Pointe Claire, Pointe Claire Village, St. Joachim 17 CommentsWhat fun to go back to one of my favourite winter sketching spots: Église St. Joachim in Pointe Claire. In this -15C weather, of course I sketched from my car. It’s always a little difficult to balance the mechanics of it all. If I wear my warmest coat, it’s hard to keep the puffy sleeves from grazing the wet palette. And even with heavy boots on, I know I only have a limited time before I start to get too cold. But I guess I was well prepared because I was able to stay long enough to get the sketch done.
I don’t remember how often I’ve painted from this same vantage point but I’m always attracted to the patch of sky between the church and the presbytery. If you were to walk through that bit of snow-covered lawn, you would see a frozen Lac St. Louis just beyond it. The vast open space behind the buildings, as well as the brightness of the snow-covered lake creates a wonderfully lit backdrop for the buildings. Sketched in my Hahnemuhle 100% cotton sketchbook.
A wonderful sketch. I would even say masterful!
Very nice! Love the dramatic colors.
I can feel the stillness and cold.
That describes the day very well.
That’s lovely Shari! Really adds to the scene knowing that large lake illuminates the sky :).
Thanks Mary!!
Beautiful painting Shari . Love that you go out during the winter months to capture the beauty of the season.
Thank you so much Barbara. It is my favourite time to paint!
I myself was a pastor (before I came out and had it ended, just like that) in Huntingdon, and that space is such a familiar and yes, poignant memory, walking as I did from our manse on Prince St. to St. Andrews just at the corner, in a Quebec winter, where my glasses froze to my nose. If I could own a painting of any choice, it would be this one. I particularly remember, how, In rural Quebec, the extreme cold (in those days), was instantly corrected by a blast of heat the second I opened any door of a parishioner. I went from there to Victoria, where no one bothered to put on the heat (especially in the church) because ‘it’s not cold enough, so why waste money’) and I was never so cold as I was there (smile).
As the old song goes, Shari, ‘thanks for the memories’. That’s why I love your work so much–it so often goes straight to the heart, whether an aging sleeping dog or a quickly rendered floppy hat on a chair, or a beautiful, beautiful, immediate and deftly done ‘only in Quebec’ watercolour like this one.
Thank you.
Lance, what a wonderful comment to read. I am always happy to hear from people who have been to the places I draw, or at least somewhere close.
I know that you have been following my blog for a long time, and I thank you for that.
If you want a print of this sketch (I can’t send the original because I don’t cut stuff out of books) but I would gladly send you a print.
Just email me your address to info@shariblaukopf.com
It would be my pleasure.
How kind and thoughtful of you, I will!
Beautiful in so many ways. The colors are so attractive and complimentary, drawing is enviable. Is there some way you could include it into one of your on line classes?
Patricia, thank you so much. I would LOVE to include this in an online class. I will definitely consider it!
Love this sketch Shari. And thank you for sharing the book you’re using.
There is so much wonderful detail for my eyes to follow. Thanks for sharing all your work. I was looking at your snow paintings yesterday. I’m doing a commission of a ski house in Vermont with a big snowy lawn in front. Of course the client sent me photos, but there are no shadows! So the thought of “What would Shari do?” came into my mind. Looking at your work helped. Thanks for that too.
Handsome painting Shari. Yes, the color in that ski is wonderful and it’s subtle echo in the snow is too. But it is the sliver of the red door and the use of subtle hints of the red elsewhere that catches my eye today. Kudos.
John, thank you. I love painting that sliver of a red door too! Hope you are well.