#storefrontsofyeg

Eru Family Convenience. This storefront is tucked away on an unassuming street in the Calder neighbourhood. I happened upon this place by accident one day. It’s on a street that at one point must have been the main commercial block. There are still a number of services on this block but it has been swallowed by the residential housing. Over the coming years this neighbourhood is slated for some major renewal works. Already some spots have been torn down for newer infill multi dwelling housing. It reminds me alot of the stand alone shops in the small towns of my youth. Hopefully, this easy to walk to corner stop will survive as I bet it’s probably a hit on a hot summer’s day for an ice cream or cool drink. 🥕 This painting is up now at @thecarrotcoffeehouse as part of the Home: Near and Far show. Stop in and check out the art or click on over to my bio and view all the works online. #storefrontsofyeg #urbanlandscapes #citypainting #inkandwatercolor #mgrahamwatercolors #mgraham #silverbrushlimited #yegarts #angiesot #thecarrotcoffeehouse #saunderswaterford #saunderswaterfordpaper #stcuthbertsmill #exploreedmonton #erufamilyconvenience #conveniencestores https://www.instagram.com/p/COMiHl-ghoF/?igshid=69unbcufrayz

Hong Kong Bakery. It’s a charming brick building in Edmonton’s Chinatown North District. I couldn’t resist the cheerful mascot on the signage and all that red brick. Plus, I think the light posts in Chinatown should be the envy of all the neighbourhoods. I have to make a confession though. I’ve never been in this shop. 😲 I know! I know! I’ve heard so many good things too! I think this might be the year that that changes. Look out pastry here I come! 🥕 This painting is up now at @thecarrotcoffeehouse as part of the Home: Near and Far show. Stop in and check out the art or click on over to my bio and view all the works online. #storefrontsofyeg #urbanlandscapes #citypainting #inkandwatercolor #mgrahamwatercolors #mgraham #silverbrushlimited #yegarts #angiesot #thecarrotcoffeehouse #saunderswaterford #saunderswaterfordpaper #stcuthbertsmill @hongkongbakery_yeg #exploreedmonton #yegbakery #urbansketchingweek https://www.instagram.com/p/COCHu3FgtMq/?igshid=vfdd0vs5ojim

Arden’s Varimart. This storefront has fantastic vintage signage. It feels like it could have appeared at any point between in time between the 60’s up into the 80’s. One day I’ll get to dive into finding out more about this business. I also like that this building feels like it’s caught in mash up of eras. The frontage has a tall second story that looks like something from a western the lower half with the signage is an expression of many points in history with the blue painted brick and Pepsi and lotto signs and then the side add on is modern day vinyl siding. I think it’s a building that has seen many things and would probably have no shortage of stories if it could talk. 🥕 This painting is up now at @thecarrotcoffeehouse as part of the Home: Near and Far show. The carrot is still open for retail shopping to a max of 5 people at a time and curb side coffee and food pickup. Stop in check out the art and grab a snack or drink to go or click on over to my bio and view all the works online. #storefrontsofyeg #urbanlandscapes #citypainting #inkandwatercolor #mgrahamwatercolors #mgraham #silverbrushlimited #yegarts #angiesot #thecarrotcoffeehouse #saunderswaterford #saunderswaterfordpaper #stcuthbertsmill #ardensvarietymart #conveniencestores https://www.instagram.com/p/CN6bWptAam5/?igshid=1g0a76jwxtv0i

The Aviary. This was the building that started it all for this series. I’d driven by this building many times as I used to live in the area. The unique tile facade and rounded awnings make it the most interesting storefront on the block. I always imagined it to be a fancy lamp shop when it was built but I think it was actually a bird shop. Swipe for a photo I found in the City of Edmonton Archives that has this listed as Tiffany’s Bird Shop. Not really sure this is the right place as it kinda looks like a bar and the description has it listed as being on two different nearby roads but it has the right elements. 🤷🏻‍♀️ So many of Edmonton’s unique buildings fall into disrepair and end up being torn down so it was great to see that a couple years back it was purchased and renovated. I’m sure the new owners have some great stories to tell about that adventure. ☺️ It’s now a multidisciplinary venue dedicated to holding music events, art shows, private parties, theatre and pop up food events. So given that description, you can bet that they, like many other arts and entertainment organizations, are having a nail biting go of it right now. I had a browse of their Instagram earlier today and saw that they are doing take away cocktails in the most enviro friendliest of ways! Have a pop on over to @aviary.edmonton and check them out. 🤞 when everything finally settles down they can get back to doing what they do and we as a city will get to keep a cool looking storefront for a little bit longer. 🥕 This painting is up now at @thecarrotcoffeehouse as part of the Home: Near and Far show. Not sure if anyone is allowed in right now with the new restrictions, but I do know they have a patio and you can place orders to go. If you can’t have a peek in person, click on over to my bio and view all the works online. #storefrontsofyeg #urbanlandscapes #citypainting #inkandwatercolor #mgrahamwatercolors #mgraham #silverbrushlimited #yegarts #angiesot #thecarrotcoffeehouse #saunderswaterford #saunderswaterfordpaper #stcuthbertsmill #theaviary https://www.instagram.com/p/CNvlVRCA4of/?igshid=vnlq28lykyf9

Comic Fever. This shop is in the same strip mall as the barber shop I painted. It was another unexpected find and it also felt a bit like I had stumbled upon a well kept secret. Not sure why I feel this way but I do. I love the balcony with its umbrella, plants and little patio lights. This place faces a pretty busy street so I like to think that someone created a chill spot to come out to on a hot summers eve where they can sit back, put their feet up, grab a drink and crack open one of the comics they bought from the shop below. 🥕 This painting is up now at @thecarrotcoffeehouse as part of the Home: Near and Far show. They have a patio and you can place orders to go as well. If you can’t have a peek in person, click on over to my bio and view all the works online. #storefrontsofyeg #urbanlandscapes #citypainting #inkandwatercolor #mgrahamwatercolors #mgraham #silverbrushlimited #yegarts #angiesot #thecarrotcoffeehouse #comicfever #comicbookshop https://www.instagram.com/p/CNoQnOMg_RZ/?igshid=1dn8zn3ttwpm0

I could probably paint every shop on both sides of the street in Chinatown. There’s something really appealing about them for me. This shop drew me in because of the faded Buddha like image in the centre of the awning. It’s quite faded from sun exposure but you can still see the happy little face. I’m really happy with how this storefront turned out. Probably one of my favourites of the bunch. 🥕This painting is up now at @thecarrotcoffeehouse as part of the Home: Near and Far show. Can’t view the paintings in person. Have a click on over to my bio and view all the works online. #storefrontsofyeg #urbanlandscapes #citypainting #inkandwatercolor #mgrahamwatercolors #mgraham #silverbrushlimited #yegarts #angiesot #thecarrotcoffeehouse #yegchinatown #baoan https://www.instagram.com/p/CNeci4lgfcs/?igshid=1wkta6kkcxj0f

How awesome is the name of this storefront?! It won me over when I was looking for different storefronts to paint. 💈This store was embedded in one of those small strip malls. It seems like Edmonton is marked by 4 distinct “eras” when it comes to shopping and small business. There’s the main street type set up with freestanding shops in older neighbourhoods. Then came these strip malls that were still in a main street type setting but now all connected. Personally, I feel like this type of construction went on for far too long. I don’t find strip malls to be that aesthetically pleasing. Then we moved to massive malls and then back to stand alone shops but now they were all super sized and called big box stores. ✂️While these strip malls aren’t my idea of nice architecture, I am starting to learn to appreciate them. I haven’t changed my mind about architecture but they are some of the few places left that have unique shops and are almost always run by small business owners. I’m appreciating the character that each shop window has. You know an average person runs that shop. It doesn’t feel corporate and in many ways they are like mini artworks each an expression of the owner’s style. 🥕This painting is up now at @thecarrotcoffeehouse as part of the Home: Near and Far show. Despite the changes today, you should be able to pop in for a snack or beverage for take out. While you’re there have a gaze on over the paintings in person. Not going out. That’s ok too. Have a click on over to my bio and view all the works online. Interested in owning one of the paintings? Do contact the Carrot regarding purchasing details. #storefrontsofyeg #urbanlandscapes #citypainting #lunarnewyear2021 #inkandwatercolor #mgrahamwatercolors #wearepaper #mgraham #silverbrushlimited #yegarts #angiesot @thecarrotcoffeehouse #thecarrotcoffeehouse #fadeznbladez https://www.instagram.com/p/CNWc0_Hg5jW/?igshid=kew5s7e8eok5

Today’s the day! All nine of the Storefronts of YEG paintings I’ve been working on are up @thecarrotcoffeehouse If you’re in the area stop by for a snack or drink to go and have a look. You also can check the link in my profile to view all the completed paintings. 💫 #storefrontsofyeg #urbanlandscapes #citypainting #inkandwatercolor #mgrahamwatercolors #wearepaper #mgraham #silverbrushlimited #yegarts #angiesot #thecarrotcoffeehouse https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDk8X0BMj9/?igshid=331wdlislzk7