for my father

As we organized our stuff in the basement, I came across some more watercolour tubes that belonged to my father who passed away in 2011. My mother (also no longer with us) had kept them in a Chivas "Royal Salute" bag. (In my childhood, I kept marbles as well as my allowance money in a similar Crown Royal sack...these bags are very useful.)

I am not sure whether my father kept the paint tubes in this bag to begin with, but it seemed an apt keepsake, because my father sure liked his whiskey (it sure contributed to his passing in one way or another), and he also enjoyed painting (it was a social activity that gave him life in his later years). As I drew these, I couldn't help but think that each of these tubes has left for me a physical imprint of the life he lived as his fingers squeezed colours out from these Holbein tubes.

Da Capo Caffe

The cafe we happened to walk into had a great little outdoor seating area, and wonderful gelato (and coffee).

summer streetscape

Another bright and beautiful summer day.

Canada Day outing

A restored 1920s classroom from the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village east of Edmonton, where we pretended to be a 1920s class being taught a history lesson on confederation...  and my son on the way home afterwards.

east and west, Jasper Avenue

Jasper Avenue at 109 Street, looking east and west.

Mandolin Books, and tiny paint box

Delta Art and Drafting Supply was selling some tiny kids' watercolour sets for something like $3 each. I thought I would gut them and add tube watercolour paints that my father used to use, and that would fit my own needs better... not that I really need a paint set smaller than what I currently use, but the novelty of using something that is essentially the size of a key chain is tempting.

Unrelated... a sketch from Mandolin Books, a used book store where we had coffee.

this week's motorcycles

another installment of motorcycles from Jasper Avenue...

fire trucks

It's such a beautiful day that even the fire trucks are out enjoying the sun, at the downtown fire hall on 107 Street.
All throughout I cannot stop thinking about the classic picture book I grew up with and which I've read to my own kids: "しょうぼうじどうしゃじぷた", now available as "Jeeper the Fire Engine". The artistic depictions (and subtle personification) of the different rescue service vehicles are striking.

downtown sky

... on a rainy lunch break, from the library at Norquest.

old bus

 An old bus parked by a downtown lane.

Starbucks

 A series of sketches at Starbucks...

Cavalia:Odysseo Big Top Tent

Cavalia's second production, "Odysseo" begins in Edmonton in a few weeks. I would have not known about this had it not been for the erection of the fantastical tent structure on an empty industrial site close to our house. The site for the most part is still under construction; I admittedly trespassed to do these drawings but am grateful to the site crew member who found me and subsequently granted me permission to sketch. Getting up close to this structure was quite the experience... I am tempted to enter the site legitimately next time with tickets in hand.

Saturday morning

A (pre)-Fathers Day outing on a sunny Saturday morning... brunch at Madison's Grill at The Union Bank Inn on Jasper Avenue, and a cup of coffee after a stroll at the lively downtown farmers' market. 

sports day

Lunchtime picnic at the community school sports day event.

Jasper Avenue

Lunchtime on Jasper Avenue at 107/108 Street where all the motorcycles are parked. One of the motorcycle owners walked by and pointed out her vehicle, while another related to me a story of his childhood sketching excursions. It was rare to have had so many conversations while drawing.