Cheese Magic is iconic within Kensington Market as one of a handful of specialty cheese shops frequented by people from all over the city. I just couldn't resist all the yellow. Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
Louie's Coffee Stop (Casa Acoreana) was a landmark Toronto spot in the middle of Kensington Market frequented by musicians, bike couriers, shoppers, residents and their dogs for over 50 years. The always lively scene was irresistible, as was their coffee! Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
Meeting Place - hanging sneakers, swinging high above on telephone wires and painted through binoculars, have significance for everyone living in and visiting Kensington Market, although what they mean has as many interpretations as there are people in the market. From a distance, they appear grey; I wanted to find their colours. Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
Fresh Daily features some of the offerings of the famous fish shops within Kensington Market. The fish were so fresh on ice that for me it was almost like painting a live portrait. Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
Baldwin and Augusta is a key intersection in the heart of Kensington Market, where bars, restaurants, fruit markets and other small shops compete for attention. The small animal sculpture on the roof at this lively corner intrigued me. Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
Kensington Avenue Market is a large fruit and vegetable corner market just steps from Toronto's Chinatown. I felt compelled to paint the corner busy all day with shoppers, passers-by and their dogs. Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
Ten for Two Ninety-nine depicts Kensington Market as a place prized for its high quality produce at reasonable prices. I was drawn to the golden grapefruits in the sun next to dark green avocados in the shade. Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
The Garden Car is a cherished artistic feature within Kensington Market, repainted by local artists, planted with trees, bushes and flowers, then parked in a city parking spot as a political statement. Who can resist reserved parking for trees? Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
Kensington Fish Market takes an up-close look at the fresh-daily offerings of local fish shops, within Kensington Market, exploring their array of colours and varied shapes and sizes from head to tail, staring eyes and all. Painted en plein air in watercolour. Copyright © 2022 Patricia Nolan
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Painted over twenty years en plein air, this series from the artist’s personal collection was on display in the Perceptions exhibit at Twist Gallery in Toronto in summer 2022.
Each character who appears is a real person, captured in the moment. Great effort was made to record market life in such a way that the pieces are true to the details so important to the community that lives and works in this unique Toronto neighbourhood. The sneakers, for example, hanging high off telephone wires, were painted through binoculars. The sidewalk, shared in close quarters, often saw groups of passers-by stop to offer constructive criticism and suggestions.
These paintings feature possessions abandoned and given new meaning by the community, zoom in on fish and fruit for sale, and feature iconic establishments such as a cheese shop, a fruit market and the much-loved Casa Acoreana coffee shop, central to the market for over fifty years.