Honest Ed's

Honest Ed's is a discount store opened in 1948. The name is from the owner, Ed Mirvish. He died in 2007 and had operated the store over 60 years.  The store sign uses 23,000 light bulbs and it looks like a theatre rather than a discount store! At night, it is very attractive and entertaining. It has 2 buildings separated by an alley. The main building is at 581 Bloor Street West and the extension at 760 Bloor Street West is connected by a walkway crossing Honest Ed Alley. 

There was extreme heat warning today. I stayed in the car for sketching. I did it quickly so that I went to the shop. The interior is very tidy and big. They sell everything and the goods are cheap. The store has a simple interior design but decorated with the photos and posters of the actors and actresses. These are from old films and stage productions from Mirvish's theatres in Toronto and London, England, as well as of actors and musicians who performed in them (many of these inscribed to Ed Mirvish himself). 



I love the hand-written signs in the store. They're all done by free hand painting. So awesome! Video about the sign painter, Wayne Reuben
Two buildings are connected in the basement level. The ground floor has souvenirs and groceries. Fabric goods are in the basement level. The second floor has T-shirts and garments. Before Christmas and Thanksgiving Day holidays, they also have free turkey giveaways.

However, the store is scheduled to close on December 31st, 2016 for redevelopment.

Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church ＋BB Café

We ordered a traditional tea, mocha and some snacks.

I have found a café opposite to the church that I would like to sketch. Very nice interior and music, it was very relaxing in the Sunday afternoon. The pot and tea cup are very stylish (Traditional). I couldn't help to draw it down before I sketched the church. The appetizers we ordered are tasted good, prices are reasonable. Sure will come again!

The church was founded in 1817! A very old church. I was sitting inside the café by the windows and still feeling the heat outside. The big tree has blocked the view and I think I have a reason to come to the cafe in winter for a better view.

St Mary & St Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church

Supposed to go to a plein air painting challenge today, I forgot to registration so didn't go. After "dim-sum" for lunch, we drove along Yonge Street to see if anything was going on. There should be some festivals in weekends in summer. We found this church and parked there for sketching.

Copts are known as the successors of the ancient Egyptians are defined as the modern sons of the Pharaohs. The Coptic Orthodox Church is the church which was founded by St. Mark the Evangelist.

It was super super hot today. I felt like melting outside. The exterior of the church really caught my eyes. Another side has a mosaic picture which is also very pretty.

32C Feels like 40

A picture painted by light

A very warm afternoon that I almost fell asleep in the van. The shadow casted by the trees on the grass with the texture of the tree has created a beautiful picture. I sketched this and see if I can paint it in watercolour later.

很熱的下午，我在車箱內差點睡著。看到草地上的樹影晃動，跟樹龫上的紋理形地了一幅美麗的圖畫。我把它速寫下來，或許會是個水彩畫的題材。

Maple Leaf - Watercolour demo

This is a maple leaf watercolour painting demonstration. Click here for video.

1. Use the masking fluid to paint the leaf veins.

2. Mix dark green and red for dark grey to paint the background

3. When the background is drying, spray some orange paint on the background.

4. Wet the leaf with clean water, then paint with yellow, orange and red. Let them blend in each other. Put green paint at the bottom of the leaf. Then put some dark brown dots on the leaf.

5. Use a small brush with the clean water to life out some paints for the white spots.
6. Remove the masking fluid.
7. Paint the leaf veins in yellow, then paint red and brown along one side of the veins.
8. Paint the stem in red and purple for the dark side.

A Quieter Place

On Friday afternoon, it was very hot but not crowded on Main Street, Unionville. However, Starbucks is always full of people. When everyone squeezes in there, I would love to have a cup of coffee in Timothy's to enjoy a quieter moment. We replied a couple of emails here. The snacks are tempting too.

Goddess Project #1 - Selene

July 8, 2015 (2nd Session)

June 24, 2015 (1st Session)

2nd Session:

I started another new one on 140lb CP Arches which gave me more control and a better result of watercolour effects. I spent lots of time on depicting her face for the focal area of the painting.


1st Session:

Tonight I started this project at DVAC. A beautiful lady was dressed as Selene, Greco-roman lunar goddess. I brought my drawing pad and a watercolour box. Finally, I decided to do the watercolour and love the way I painted her hair lighter and flying in the wind. 

Lovely music, awesome people and beautiful works! What else is better than this to forget everything and just focus on? I really love the dressed model in a particular theme and the same long pose for few weeks. It allows you to plan and execute your idea. 

第一節
有一段時間沒去人體寫生了。今次參加的和以往的很不一樣，模特兒在四個星期都穿著有主題的衣服，並且擺同一個姿勢，我們可以有更多時間創作，當然也可以做速寫。

由於時間足滿，我們可以邊畫邊檢視自己的畫再作修改等，而且氣氛很輕鬆，我們一邊聽音樂，一邊畫畫。最初我還不知道想用什麽媒體，所以同時帶了素描和水彩工具，最後還是畫了水彩。我喜把她的頭髮畫得飄逸一點，且像有點風吹著的樣子。

Waterdrop on the leaves in Watercolour

Preparing a demo on painting the waterdrop in watercolour.

This is another painting. You can alternate the green and put a ladybug on the leave.

Irene's Garden

 I do not have a green thumb, but I love spending time in the garden, especially Irene's. Her garden is beautiful, comfortable and filled with different kinds of plants and decorations. I kept sitting at the same place for my painting and my lunch, and I don't want to move at all. Irene was checking if we needed anything. The lady in blue shirt, there she goes! Thank you so much for her invite! Everyone was enjoying the paint out and chatting. Such a nice weather! Such a lovely place!

我不善於種植，但郤喜歡花園，特別是Irene的這個後花園，既美麗又舒適。這裡種有各式各樣的植物，也有不同擺設，極盡心思！我找到了要畫的位置後便一直坐著，畫畫又在這裡，吃午餐又在這裡，沒離開過。這個位置實在太安逸，涼風輕送，差點睡著。畫中穿著藍色上衣，便是Irene了，她不時看看我們有沒有需要的地方，真是很多謝她的邀請，給了我們一個五星級的寫生好地方。

Back to 70's

There are lots of constructions along Yonge Street. The street is becoming more modern. When we saw this burger restaurant, we decided to try the food there! I ordered my favourite bacon style. The chairs are foldable, some of them are  wrapped with duct tapes. I really like the atmosphere. Like we are In 70's. Another amazing thing is the opening hours, it opens till 3:00 am onThursdays,  Fridays and Saturdays, 2:00 am and 12:00 am for other days. 

在Yonge街，到處在興建高樓，慢慢轉變成更現代化的感覺。所以當我們看到這座懷舊的漢堡包快餐店，便很想去試試！我叫了個煙肉漢堡包，不錯。室內的設計，好像幾十年沒改變過，非常70年代，而且座椅是摺疊式的，有些破舊的還用封箱膠紙修補著。我挺喜歡這種感覺。不過也估不到他們的營業時間很長，在週四、五和六是由早上6時半至零晨3時，其他也到零晨2時和1時左右。

St Mark's Coptic Cathedral

Happy Canada Day! People always say Canada is a multi-cultural country. Yes! It's so true. We have different religions and so, different churches as well. We have found this Egyptian church. The architecture is simple but solemn. I really want to visit the interior as well. The height of the church is 29.7 metres with the capacity of 1,800 people.

今天是加拿大國慶！常言加國是個多元文化國家，真的沒錯！這裡有不同宗教，所以也有不同教堂。今天來到了這個埃及教堂，它的建築風格既簡單又莊嚴，很想看一下裡面設計。這教堂有29.7米高，可容納1,800人。