Bike Ride Ink Drawings

Four new drawings in pen and ink, revisiting my years living in Vancouver cycling through busy downtown streets, China Town, and all-around entirely the Stanley Park. Multitudes of views to be had no matter which direction you look there are the ocean, sky, and mountains to entertain. 

Bayshore Downtown West-End on the way to Stanley Park.

The Big Picture Collective Art Project in Vancouver B.C. was posted with a link on Facebook back in April 2017. I decided to join them in an online creative project. It attracted my attention as its featured topic was to be about Vancouver, and immediately my memories of bike rides and the many photos I took when riding along the pathways of Vancouver, B.C. waterfronts came to be my topic with the 4 ink drawings I submitted to their project. 

Strathcona, Union Street Bike pathway.

Vancouver B.C. was my home for 10 years living in a loft on East Pender Street. What I miss most about living in Vancouver is the springtime when cherry blossom trees make pink snow and every plant seems to burst into flowers starting in early April. (moving story to Nova Scotia link here)

China Town, Union Street, and bike pathway to downtown Vancouver.

'Vancouver Bike Ride Ink Drawing series' is a breadcrumb adventure by bicycling along the city's waterfront. There are no bad views. My sister Colleen and I would plan a day, pack some water and a snack, and head over to Granville Island Market and then on to Vanier Park. We could go further along for the BIG ride all the way to Jericho Beach. 

East Vancouver Cherry Blossoms in full bloom!

On another day our bike trip would go past the B.C. Sugar Refining in East Vancouver to go through Gastown and onto Stanley Park to relax on a beach for a chill moment.  Coming home we would take to the David Lam Park and ride along the new Yaletown waterfront then cut through China Town and home ...either route is an amazing adventure.

I got out my various nibs and thinned out ink with water to get 4 different values in India Ink. I found it an interesting feature that the watery ink changed color when touched with the brass part of the pen nib when I moved in circular motions around the Bristol paper, as it left a blue-tinted color with a golden hue. I rather liked that surprise so used it in the sky and other areas when I wanted a lighter change in values with subtle hints of color and texture.

Enjoy the Ride!

To view Bike Ride Ink Drawings

 in a slide show click on any photo to start.

Vancouver Bike Ride: British Columbia Sugar Refining Ltd.
Ink on Bristol Paper by Minaz Jantz
http://thebigpictureartproject.com/

My loft window looked over the cityscape of Vancouver and could see the BC Sugar Refining Ltd with its interesting geometric shapes in contrast with the mountains in the background.

Vancouver Bike Ride: David Lam Park Yaletown
Ink on Bristol Paper by Minaz Jantz
http://thebigpictureartproject.com/

I enjoyed the bike ride along the new pathways along the waterfront in Yaletown. It was a great idea to transform the rugged old manufacturing areas of Yaletown into a fantastic public biking and walking experience and to be able to go along the waterfront with lots of plants, bushes, and trees. My favorite springtime trees and bushes are the magnolia trees, rhododendrons & azalea bushes.

Vancouver Bike Ride: Jericho Beach

Ink on Bristol Paper by Minaz Jantz

http://thebigpictureartproject.com/

Jericho Beach Park was one of my favorite beach hangouts. Always something to see with cargo ships and recreational sailboats while sitting on a beautiful sandy beach staged within the views of the mountains.

Vancouver Bike Ride: Vanier Park
Ink on Bristol Paper by Minaz Jantz
http://thebigpictureartproject.com/

Vancouver hosted several large sculptures throughout the city and was such a joyful experience to see sculptures mixed with nature. I really enjoyed the views from Vanier Park where I could watch kites flying, sailboats, and the mountains containing the city skyline.

East Hastings Street, The British Columbia Sugar Refining Co,
my industrial neighborhood and the mountains.

My favorite time to do my circuit was around dinner time at 5:00 pm. Leave East Vancouver, travel through Gas Town, hook up with Pan Pacific Hotel on the Waterfront, get around Stanley Park, go under the bridges to go along Yale Town, through China Town and Strathcona to end in the Industrial zone, The Workshop 1220 East Pender. No matter where one travels in Vancouver, a fabulous natural view is to be had at 360 degrees.

Beauty & The Bike... Minaz