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.