Tree Poeny Historic Cottage Painting

nattcallai Mayıs 25, 2022

Tree Poeny in Bloom

Spring in Toronto is late this year. Lots of Spring showers have delayed blossoms.

My friend Mary owns this beautiful historic cottage on St. Nicholas Street. The cottage is c 1850. The street is in the heart of Toronto. Some of the owners of these cottages have chosen to paint the brick, some have sandblasted and left the brick natural. The material used for the road is red brick. This street is absolutely spectacular during the Christmas season, particularly when there is a fresh carpet of snow.

My friend Mary's home is painted in a soft white with undertones of blue gray. Her garden has 2 Tree Peonies which Mary planted, one is a stunning pink and the second is in shades of white and lilac. The tree poeny is native to the mountain region in Northern China. The flowers bloom for approximately one week. Heavy rain can wash the flowers away and one must wait a further twelve months to enjoy it. The scent is delicate and difffers from poenies. There is a locust tree framing the cottage. Mary phoned me on Tuesday evening to relate that there were eighteen buds on her tree and they should be popping soon, quite possibly on Wednesday morning and she feared the worst as the weather forecast was very dismal. I checked the weather forecast on Wednesday and showers with sunny intervals were promised.

My subject or motif - don't you love it?

Blocking in the beginning of the painting which is 12 x 24"

On Wednesday I set up my easel in the afternoon at around 2.00 p.m. There was sunshine and excellent shadows. I blocked in the colours and shapes. By 4:00 p.m. it was bitterly cold so I packed up and went home.

Thursday: Rain, Rain and Thunder storms

Friday: Rain, mist, drizzle the entire day

Saturday morning: mist, drizzle and overcast

At 2:00 o'clock on Saturday, the sun began to peek through the clouds. I quickly loaded up my French easel and returned to St. Nicholas Street. I think the angels were with me, for as soon as I opened my easel the sun came out and there were wonderful shadows and reflected light.