Gastown Rain (2016)

Gastown is one of Vancouver’s oldest neighborhoods and also one of the city’s most distinctive. It always fascinates me viewing historical photographs of this very intersection and seeing how little has changed over time in terms of the layout and buildings.

It was a rainy Vancouver spring day when I visited Gastown. I had some spare time to kill before heading to dinner and had decided to pop into one of the boutiques in the area to peruse. After purchasing a much needed rain and wind resistant jacket from Roden Gray, I decided to take some scouting shots of Maple Tree Square (Intersection of Alexander, Powell, Carrall, and Water Street). While shooting, I was floored to see a girl with a yellow umbrella (aka Ted Mosby’s future wife in HIMYM) stroll by.

In this painting, Hotel Europe, Vancouver’s own miniature version of the flatiron building is featured prominently. It was built only six years after the Flatiron building was completed in NYC, making this an interesting counterpart piece to my Flatiron painting. Also featured prominently in the painting is the rearside of the Gassy Jack statue, of which Gastown gets its namesake from.

• Oil on Canvas
• 36″ x 48″
• Sold