Year 24. The Magic is still working, so we still after all these years don’t want to change much. We’ll return to our favourite sites, but this year we have found one new one. Same rules as before: there are none. We want only your camaraderie and your enthusiasm. You are welcome to come to as many or as few as you can.
. Open to all artists. Pass it around. Free. Sites with entrance fees are noted.
. Meets Tuesday at a new site each week, 10AM until the last one goes home.
. Your choice of medium, what you can carry, plus your lunch.
. No rain checks. Unless there is a weather warning to stay home – go for it. A 40% chance of rain means a 60% chance of sunshine. If not, paint the rain. We’re often lucky.
. No reservations. If you plan on attending, just show up.
May 22 – Bois‑de‑Liesse ‑ the historic Pitfield House. It’s still early enough to catch the spring perennials in bloom around the pond. Or the long sweep of lawn or the interesting houses down the lane. 9432 Gouin West, just west of Autoroute 13. Metered parking.
May 29 – Parc des Ancres. A large collection of anchors in a park surrounding the old canal. The waterfall is very popular with the artists. Take the path, not those steep stairs, further to the right of the canal. From the 40 or the 20, take the new 30 to exit 9, follow the signs to Pointe des Cascades. Free parking near the gazebo.
June 5 – Centennial Park in Dollard des Ormeaux. Centennial Lake is quite beautiful. Excellent views, and the ducks come right up to you. Nice gazebo down the path From the 40, take Sources blvd north, left on de Salaberry, right on Lake. 3000 Lake.
June 12 – Baie D’Urfe Town Hall. There is a beautiful rock garden here, with ponds and water plants. The Town Hall building itself is charming, and there are usually sailboats moored in the bay. Highway 20, exit Morgan road to the end.
June 19 – New* National Field of Honour. Thanks to Andre Savard for suggesting this lovely site. A stone archway, and sculpted angels! When painting tombstones, it is a point of discretion not to paint the name clearly. If there are burials scheduled on that day, our group will have to park where they will not interfere with funeral processions. From the 20, take St Charles north, then the first right, then right again to make your down to Belmont, then left along Donegani. 703, avenue Donegani .Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5G6. There are photos and a map here: champdhonneurnational.ca/chn/home
June 26 – Sandy Beach, Hudson. There is an enchanting maze of footbridges and lookout decks over a meandering stream, with a panoramic view of lake of Two Mountains, and sailboats. Beach Road at Stephen Shaar Community Centre (washrooms, parking). The entrance is just past the tracks at the iron gates and the large map. If the parking is full, there’s more at the Jack Layton Park on Halcro road, keep right at the end of Wharf road.
July 3 – Greenwood, 254 Main Street, Hudson. Please confirm with me before going. A beautiful historic home built between 1732-1860. Now a Centre for Living History. Artists love to paint this house with it’s beautiful gardens. Rte 40, direction Ottawa, exit 26, right on Bellevue, left on Main. Entrance fee $5. or annual memberships.
July 10 -Maison Valois on Valois Bay. 331 rue St Charles, Vaudreuil Dorion. A small park with great views, especially from the island, across the small bridge, where most of us meet. A wide open stretch of lake of Two Mountains with the bridge in the distance, plus sailing boats and kayaks, terraced lawns and interesting houses.
July 17 – Park René-Levesque, Lachine. The Lachine Canal foot and bike path leads to the shores of Lac Saint-Louis, and winds through a lengthy peninsula, with pretty trails, between the trees and along the shorelines, and 22 monumental sculptures, a crowded marina and distant churches steeples. Follow blvd. St Joseph until it crosses the canal, turn right at St Patrick onto Chemin du Canal and go to the end. Metered parking.
July 24 – Ste Anne de Bellevue Canal National Historic Site. There is so much to paint:
the boats, the locks, the bridges, the roof lines of the clustered shops and restaurants and tourists on the promenade. A good viewpoint is at the park itself, across the locks. Or the small park near Christie street. Highway 20, exit Ste Anne de Bellevue.
July 31 –Pointe du Moulin. Ile Perrot. There is still so much to paint here. On highway 20 to Ile Perrot turn on Don Quichotte right through to the very end. The mill is difficult to paint – it has become a challenge that draws artists back every year. Free on Tuesdays.
August 7 – Coteau-du-lac National Historic Site. One of our first favourite places. Rolling hills overlooking rapids, ship skeletons and fishing holes, with a blockhaus, a terrace overlooking the falls. On a hot day, it’s nice and cool down by the river. 20 West Exit 17, south to the end, turn right on Chemin du fleuve, to 308 on the left. $3.90 ($3.40 seniors)
August 14 – The Lachine rapids, in Lasalle. The best view of the churning rapids, in a well-groomed park with small bridges through bird sanctuaries and gnarled trees, against the backdrop of the city. Take the river road. It becomes Lasalle blvd, and just east of Bishop Power is the parking lot, between 5th and 6th ave.
August 21 – Ile des Moulins Park in Terrebonne. A picturesque island setting with a cluster of old stone buildings. Stroll by the river for the rapids, or the historic lane now the hub of gourmet restaurants. Autoroute 25 north, exit 22 E to rte 344, chemin St Louis. Well sign posted. Note: rte 440 in Laval merges with highway 25.
August 28 –Paint and Picnic at Cap St Jacques. 20099 Gouin West, drive all the way to the last parking lot, by the Ecological Farm and the Maison Brunet. Bring your own lunch and/or “pot luck” if you’d like. The ruling is “alcohol permitted as part of a picnic with meals”. Bring a “Show and Tell” of your favourite plein air work (which doesn’t have to be this year’s and might not be a great painting but have a great story to it.).
Can’t wait ! Linda Drewry, email ldrewry@aol.com
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