Assiniboia Hall

Assiniboia Hall was built in 1912. It is one of the 3 oldest buildings on the campus of the University of Alberta, Edmonton (Athabasca and Pembina Halls next door being the other two). All three were built in the Collegiate Gothic style. It was formerly a student dorm but now houses faculty offices. This building has particular significance as my spouse has had his office in this building for the past 13 years. 

Below is a plaque to John Kuspira outside Assiniboia Hall, University of Alberta. I did this sketch one Saturday recently while he was working on the (mammoth) task of clearing out his office. 

Dare I say even I felt a tinge of sadness that day.

Men in Cranes

Men in cranes near our apartment have been busy all summer. Here the cranes were conveniently parked together for the Heritage Day public holiday.

T&T Supermarket

Sketching at the live seafood section of the newly opened T&T Asian Supermarket (southside branch) and some shrimp dumplings to finish up with. It’s nice that this new branch is close to where we live. 

We went again on another day to buy some roast pork. Don’t go too early as it doesn’t come on sale until closer to lunchtime. Not as good as in Singapore but good enough, at least my spouse got his fix. 

Toffee Apples and Cinnamon Buns

After I asked nicely, the man making toffee apples let me sketch him. He was scraping out an old lot of toffee from the copper kettle before he put a new batch in. 

The toffee apples are something else! 

The Cinnzeo (cinnamon bun shop) baker was too fast to sketch. 

Southgate Mall, Edmonton.  Who said there was nothing to sketch in a mall.

Century Park Market

I took my sketchbook with me to Century Park Market this past Sunday. It’s a little Sunday market (open from June to Sept). In it’s third year, it’s still pretty small (about 15 stalls) but slowly growing. This year I've seen a bicycle repair stall, very handy.

The Lamb Lady seemed quite passionate about the meat and wool products from her own farm outside Red Deer. She sells at 6 markets per week!

These bug shaped shoes for kids were a blast!

And great fruit.

Perhaps I’ll go again next Sunday!

For more info, check out the website at: Century Park Market

Edmonton International Street Performers Festival

Perfect conditions and an entertaining venue for the Edmonton Urban Sketchers July Sketchcrawl. Our small group went to the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival in the main square in the city (Churchill Square).

This annual event lasts 10 days with lots of juggling and other weird and wonderful acts. 

One performer from the USA was called Peter Panic, I got his autograph on my sketch. 

My favourite was a lady wearing chaps with a giraffe skin print. She had really tiny feet at the end of her stilts. I wondered how she kept her balance.

Canada Day Escape

Sketched a bird watcher at Whitemud Ravine Nature Reserve, Edmonton while she was occupied. Quite a few more people out on the trail as it was the Canada Day public holiday.

The Whitemud Creek. One of our favourite spots, the reserve sits between a few neighbourhoods in south Edmonton.