From Hoypeng and Pauline's Balcony in Calgary

Reached Calray after a few hours' drive. With the help of a GPS we found Hoypeng's place very easily. From Hoypeng's balcony, there is the sweeping view of  hills dotted with new houses packed together like match boxes. There remained residue of snow from last week's snow storm.

A view of HUB

This is my way to say goodbye to HUB. My first memory of HUB goes back all the way to 1993 when my brother stayed at HUB for his last two years as a PH.D student of electronic engineering  at U of A. I came over here to visit him and  spent one month of my summer holidays with him here. Now more than 18 years have passed , I could never have expected that I would come here again to spend a few days visiting my daughter, a second year pharmacy student at U of A.

Edmonton Downtown Skyline

Our last day in Edmonton , tomorrow we are leaving for Calgary, and from there we will head back home to Brandon on Sunday. I  found a perfect spot right across from the Rutherford House to paint this view of Downtown skyline.

A glimpse of Downtown skyline of Edmonton from HUB

It was cold and cloudy in the morning when I set up my easel on the other end of HUB painting the scene of Downtown skyline along the Saskatchewan Drive.

Time to read

A quick oil sketch of Fengping and Sarah spending  the quiet afternoon reading on the couch by the window.

A glimpse of HUB life

A quick oil sketch of busy daily life going on inside HUB in the afternoon.

Old St. Stephen's College on the campus of the University of Alberta

Walked to the one end of  HUB in the morning, and set up my easel to paint this view of Old St. Stephen's College. Looking down through the window, I could see throng of students walking to and from on their way, maybe,  to  and from the examination rooms.

Another view at William Hawrelak Park.

It was getting really windy at 2 p.m. and clouds started to gather in the blue sky. I started another quick oil sketch by moving my easel just a bit further up. While painting this view  Edmonton CTV news crew came to interview me on the littering problem  in city , and put me right on 6 p.m. CTV news !

William Hawrielak Park of Edmonton

Drove to this beautiful park this morning with Sarah who   came here to join her pharmacy class for the year end barbecue party. While waiting for her I set up my easel to paint this view of the small lake in the park. There  the  lake was still frozen with ice.  Lots of geese and gulls  flocked  on the lake and around the shore where a few people came to feed them.

Dent/Pharm Building of University of Alberta

Painted this view in oils at the entrance to Hub on the campus of University of Alberta

a glimpse of Edmonton Skyline

Right across from the Rutherford House is the view of Edmonton skyline along the Saskatchewan River. While painting on this spot, an Edmonton Sun photographer came to take pictures of me painting this view. I found my picture on Edmonton Sun the next day.

The Rutherford House

An oil sketch of the Rutherford House on the edge of University of Alberta campus.

Looking down onto a parking lot of University of Alberta from a window in Hub

the Titan Lounge at Hub of U of A

Stop at Saskatoon on our way to Edmonton

We stopped at Saskatoon for the night on our way to Edmonton to visit our daughter. We stayed at Blue Iris Inn which is not far from Downtown Saskatoon. After a brief rest we drove to Mendel Art Gallery , and right by the gallery the Saskatchewan river where I set up my easel and painted this quick oil sketch to mark the occasion.

When the sunlight suddenly broke out of the clouds

A quick acrylic sketch from the  northern side of our house when the sunlight suddenly came out of the clouds lighting up everything in sight.

Just before sunset at 8 p.m

Intense sunlight breaking out of the clouds late in the afternoon. A quick acrylic sketch from our patio.

In the receding light

A quick acrylic sketch from our front yard

Looking from front yard

A shimmering light appears on the sky putting a warm wash over the newly fallen snow. Another quick acrylic sketch from our front yard early in the afternoon.

A brief sunny sky

Sunlight came back to the sky only so briefly before it got cloudy and snowy again. Painted this acrylic sketch standing on the top of a pile of snow this morning.

Snowing outside

Snow started to accumulate by late afternoon bringing us back into deep winter.

Cold and snowy

Standing on Maureen's front yard, I did this acrylic sketch when it started to snow ! The sign was up on the window across the street, the sign for Canadian federal election in May.

late in the afternoon from our window

A quick oil sketch from the window. It was cold and windy outside despite of its warm appearance of the sky .

A glimpse of green colour at last !

Finally, the two grove of junipers in our front yard are freed of the snow , revealing its glistening green colour in the sun.

Our flowerbed with the little figuring of an angel in last light

a quick oil sketch of the little figuring of an angel sitting in the middle of our flowerbed all through the winter buried under the snow.

Our patio in late afternoon sunshine

Despite of my  physical fatigue , as well as mental stress, I stepped out into the sun late in the afternoon immersing myself  into the lovely view of an early spring.

Junipers In the last light

Standing on our patio , and watching the setting sunlight washing over the backyard where the grove of junipers stretching its limbs into the sunshine , I did a quick oil sketch before the darkness took over the view.

A glimpse of the back alley on Balmoral Bay

Just moved my easel further down the alley I painted this view of the back alley where most of the snow has melted away.

Sunny morning at the back alley on Balmoral Bay

Sunny and warm. Sign of spring everywhere! Came to the quiet corner on the back alley to paint again.

Balmoral Bay in April rain

It is so quiet outdoor when I stepped outside to paint this view. There is something both  hypnotic and mesmerizing  about this time of the year when it suddenly gets warm , and the air soaked up with moisture from rain and snow. A gentleman with a dog passed by and walked into my view.

When the light was switched on across the street

A quick oil sketch from the window when the light across the street was switched on , which suddenly added something dynamic to what appeared to be such a boring view. The rain continued all through the night.

Flowerbed uncovered with snow

The little angel finally exposed into view with all the snow gone. We left it outdoor for the whole winter  in the flowerbed where it had been totally covered by the snow.

Wet with rain and melted snow

It is only here in Canadian prairie that you will often see April rain when all around there is still the presence of snow. It is warm enough for me to oil sketch outdoor now and it is so refreshing outdoor, the air with the moisture of snow and rain.

A glimpse of our driveway in April rain

A ten minute oil sketch at lunch time when I saw the rain soaked driveway from the window.

Looking over the hedges into the wooded spot from the backyard

Finally, I  can stand in the middle of our backyard without much of a struggle through the snow up to the knees. Still there remains  enough snow to suggest that spring is still far away.

When sun rises early in the morning

No matter how many times I have painted this window view,  I could not face it without grabbing my pochade box instantly and brushed it away. It was 8 a.m in the morning when I looked out of the window.

Looking over the fence

Standing on our patio, looking over the fence of hedges into Maureen's backyard  where the west side of her house was in full sunlight.

In the warm sunshine of early spring

At this time of the year, the sweetiest music to the ears from nature is perhaps the dripping sound of melted snow from the roof  of  the house. It was amid this sound that I did this quick oil sketch sitting against the wall of our house in our backyard ,enjoying the warm sunlight beaming down  over me .

Before the street light was on

It was quiet outside , There is  a kind of serenity always associated with this time of the day  after the sun sets but before the darkness of the night takes over.

A leisurely stroll on a quiet street

A quick oil sketch of Balmoral Bay after supper when a couple walking their dog was strolling down the street.

The sun came out at the end of a snowy day

Finally, the sun came out. However, aafter an overnight snow storm, the view from our backyard seemed to have thrown us back into winter again.

Car on driveway with melted snow

An unfinished oil sketch of our car on the driveway with snow melted away towards late afternoon when the sun started to break out of the clouds.

A look across our front yard after April snow

The snow stopped by noon , and the sky lighted up a bit. I stepped outside , and did this quick oil sketch amid the slush of snow.

A wintry window view

Another oil sketch of our window view  after an overnight snow storm. What a contrast to what it was like just 24 hours before!

Woke up to an overnight snowstorm

An overnight rain turned into snow lacing every branch and limb of trees with crystal of snow. It was annoying to people who expected April rain but I had to admit it was such a beautiful sight! A quick sketch at 9 in the morning looking into our backyard.

Uncovered partially

It was getting dark and cloudy towards evening and started to drizzle. I stepped outside at 8 p.m., and did one more quick oil sketch of our flowerbed finally exposed into view with the little figure of an angle which we left there at the end of fall last year.

A view of Downtown Brandon - Chamber of Commerce Building and Penny wise Book Store

Drove to the location of Rosser Avenue and 11th Street at 12 p.m ,  and spent about  two hours painting this view in oils. Noticed that the street was wet with melted snow which added to the visual interest to the scene.

Woke up to another beautiful sunny morning

At 9 a.m when Fengping came back from her grocery shopping, I  was standing at the window painting away totally charged up by the warm sunny light washing over through the window.

When the street light was on at 10 p.m.

I tried to pull down the curtain and got ready for the night when I looked out of the window. Again , I grabbed my pochade box and did this 7th oil sketch for today.

Looking out of the window at 8 p.m.

The moment after sunset. There is such a serenity about the view at this moment. I grabbed my pochade box and did this 10 minute oil sketch at the window. It was 8 p.m.