Commission - Courthouse Sqaure

Cheryl Radford, Goderich Courthouse Square
Ink & Graphite, 5 x 8 inches, ©2015

Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to post some recently completed commissions. I spent two summers living in Goderich, whose downtown has an octagonal traffic circle known as 'The Square'. This ink and pencil illustration, approx image size 5" x 8" was completed about a month ago. I think I should draw all the sides of the historic and beautiful square."The unique layout of Goderich's core encompasses eight primary streets radiating from an octagon bounded by eight business blocks. READ MORE."

The Square Silo

GH11 The Square Silo

Silos in the late 1880’s were built square, but farmers discovered that air seeped into the corners, causing the silage to spoil. Round silos eliminated air pockets, so square silos were rarely built after 1900. This silo is located on a golf course near Halton Hills, just west of Toronto, on Leithfield No. 4 at Glencairn Golf Course, designed by Thomas McBroom. This course is framed with golden fescue, rock fences, narrow streams (burns), dozens of the deep dreaded pot bunkers and one square silo. The course is described as “The closest you will come to Scotland, without crossing the Atlantic.”

SS25 Dundas St, London

229 Dundas Street, the London Mechanics Institute Building, a four storey white, brick library building was constructed in 1876. [www.historicplaces.ca] This impressive landmark in the downtown area was constructed in 1876 under a design prepared by Thomas Tracy of the London architecture firm of Robinson, Tracy and Fairbairne. Despite this worthwhile goal, the objectives of the London Mechanics Institute were not realized and it eventually faded out of existence and its educational functions were taken on by the public library system. Image size is 4" x 3".

SS21 Carling St, London

SS21 Carling Steet, London

Carling Street, looking towards Richmond Street. This one is different than most of the series, in more ways than one
1) was on “whiter” paper, yes that was a mistake
2) not an elevation or corner view
3) looking down a street  with cars lining the street, pedestrians walking
4) impression of modern buildings in background, I usually left them out
Miniature Size 3" x 4".

SS16 Richmond St, London

SS16 Richmond Street, London

This 3 storey streetscape with the traditional business section at street level and apartments (presumably) over is in the heart of downtown London between Dundas Street and Queens Ave. The design is simple. There is elaborate detailing around the all the windows and roofline. Drawn from photo reference

SS13 Venice, Italy

SS13 Venice, Italy

I sat on the bridge outside the "Istituto Canossiano" in Venice, Italy.  The Institute is located in the historic centre of Venice in the Dorsoduro district, a wonderful place to stay.

SS12 Venice, Italy

SS12 Venice, Italy

This location was a short walk from the "Istituto Canossiano" where we stayed. A little less architecture and a little more water, boats and street level architecture.

SS11 Venice, Italy

SS11 Venice, Italy

This location was just down the canal from the "Istituto Canossiano" in Venice, Italy. The Institute is located in the historic centre of Venice in the Dorsoduro district, a wonderful place to stay.

This drawing is for sale on RadfordArt on Etsy.
Cost is $65.00 Canadian plus shipping.

SS10 Venice, Italy

SS10 Venice, Italy

Drawing completed on location September 2011, with Novacks Avid Traveller -Artists in Italy. Second portion of our trip we stayed in the historic city of Venice. Location was the view cross the canal from the "Istituto Canossiano" in Venice, Italy. The Institute is located in the historic centre of Venice in the Dorsoduro district, a wonderful place to stay.

SS09 Cortona, Italy

SS09 Cortona, Italy

Drawing completed on location September 2011, with Novacks Avid Traveller -Artists in Italy. First portion of our trip we stayed in Cortona, a Tuscan hill town. Walking here you could not get lost, you were either walking up hill or downhill. In the centre of town there was the main piazza, P. Della Repubblca, with some lovely street cafés and shops.

SS01 Talbot Street, London

SS01 Talbot Street, London

This was a request from a gentleman who grew up in London and moved to BC. He wanted a reminder of London and suggested the Talbot Block or JLC… this became the first streetscape in the series of Streetscapes: 50 in 50.

The distinctive Victorian architecture of the Talbot Inn, was incorporated into the new London Sports and Entertainment Centre (JLC). As long time fan and supporter of the London Knights, I have spent allot of time in this building, including the historic season when the Knights broke a CHL record, going 31 games in a row without a loss (29-0-2). Having said that, I was also witness to the record breaking season of 1995-96 at the old Ice House, south of the 401, when the Knights set a record for winning only three games all season (3-60-3).  "This building was originally constructed as the Hope Hotel in the 1840s by William Balkwill. It burnt down in January 1865 and was reopened in September 1865 as the City Hotel. It was renamed the Belvedere in 1871 and later the Talbot Inn. The building was demolished in 2001 and its facade was recreated on the John Labatt Centre which opened on the site in 2002." From London Public Library.

Drawings from Italy



SS06 Cortona Italy

This is one of the drawings completed on location in Italy last September, that will be in show at Shutter and Brush, 194 Main St. Port Stanley, staring this week. There is an Open House on Saturday March 10 from 1-4pm. I have 4 drawings from Cortona and 4 drawings from Italy in the show, all graphite and ink.

Richmond Street

SS16, Richmond Street, London

This 3 storey streetscape with the traditional business section at street level and apartments (presumably) over is in the heart of downtown London between Dundas Street and Queens Ave. The design is simple. There is elaborate detailing around the all the windows and roofline. Drawn from photo reference.

Detroit Skyline

I am still fascinated with historic buildings. Stepping back from the streetscape gives the city skyline view. Here we have the Detroit Skyline in ink and graphite. The photo reference for this was taken back in August on a trip to Art Gallery of Windsor. Of course, I prefer historic, older buildings, so I have excluded the section with the Renaissance Center. I have read that Detroit has one of the nation's largest surviving collections of late nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings in it's downtown.

Hanging Garlic

I liked the abstract nature of the partially dried leaves of the hanging garlic. A simple drawing, with lots of detail and lots of white space. A graphic influence with the addition of the botanical name of garlic. Drawn from photo reference taken at Orchard Hill Farms, near St.Thomas a couple of weeks ago.



Hanging Garlic (12" x 8", Ink and Graphite)