Stanley Park Junction, a painting by Brian Croft, 2011. Happy Christmas, everyone! Brian writes on his website:
The beginnings of this little railway can be traced as far back to 1904 when Park Board meeting minutes record a note stating “Application to establish miniature pleasure railway in Stanley Park turned down”. As chance would have it, in the 1940’s, Provincial Chief Engineer, John Armstrong built a miniature steam engine and train in his basement in Victoria. Cutting a hole in the wall of his house to get it out and onto 7 1/2 inch gauge tracks all around the neighborhood, the railway soon became too big an attraction for his community and as events unfolded, it was announced by the Vancouver Parks Board in April of 1947 that a location in Stanley Park was to become the new home for Armstrong’s railway….
Read the complete post on Brian’s site.
The Marine Building on Hastings, 1945, painted by Brian Croft. Note there is a public speaking engagement with artist Brian Croft at the Vancouver Public Library on Wednesday, September 28th, 2011. This event is open to the public at no charge.
Wednesday September 28
7:00 pm-8:15 pm
Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye Rooms, Lower Level
Central Library
350 West Georgia Street
Bathhouse on English Bay in Vancouver Canada circa 1931, by Brian Croft.
As late as 1911, much of the beachfront was privately owned. Maps dating back to 1887 clearly show subdivided lots extending onto the beach and these, of course, had become prime sites for private cottages, bathing and boathouses. Such was the popularity of English Bay that in 1898 the BCER, introduced the Davie Streetcar service, connecting downtown with the beachfront. Fortuitously, in1905, the beach had come under Parks Board’s influence… [more] - by Brian Croft
Vancouver Bus Terminal, 1939, and Vancouver harbour in 1938 with the Princess Marguerite and the Aorangi in port, two of my favourite works by Brian Croft.
My painting Vancouver Bus Terminal – 1939 is based on an archived photograph by well known Vancouver photographer Leonard Frank. Although I added hundreds of tiny additional researched details, I made two major alterations by expanding the viewpoint laterally and creating a night scene. The decision to create a night painting meant that the 1939 bus schedules needed to be found and researched. This done, I am empowered to write that the Hayes Clipper in the foreground is the departing 7pm bus bound for Seattle Washington. The fare is $3 or $5.50 return. The teardrop In front of the terminal arrived earlier at 6:35pm. The teardrop emerging onto Seymour Street is the 7:15 departure to New Westminster via Kingsway. The PSL emblem on each bus features the flying horse Pegasus signifying strength, speed and beauty. The Depot was adorned with radiant neon destination signs and on the corner are pointers with more than 30 additional destinations. By design, passers-by would read these and begin to imagine themselves stepping on board a PSL coach, in every sense, a gateway express to the rest of the globe. The Hotel Dunsmuir anchors the left of my painting; the building survives to this day. The terminal housed several businesses located on the upper two floors. The sidewalk tenants included: Bridge River, a beauty salon, a barber shop, and a shoe shine stall. The main attractions, however, are close to the corner; Ivor Neil could often be found in Pacific Tour and Travel Bureau under the Travel bureau sign, United Cigars, a well known chain, occupies the double entry corner location and next door, Fountain Lunch, looks to be a most inviting eatery. All of this I painted as accurately as possible. The colours are of my own imagination and I painted the entire scene, in my own style, romantically reflected in the glistening evidence of a recent fall shower. All aboard! - Brian Croft
English Bay, 1916, by Brian Croft, seen here painting the history of Vancouver, British Columbia.
![Bathhouse on English Bay in Vancouver Canada circa 1931, by Brian Croft.
As late as 1911, much of the beachfront was privately owned. Maps dating back to 1887 clearly show subdivided lots extending onto the beach and these, of course, had become prime sites for private cottages, bathing and boathouses. Such was the popularity of English Bay that in 1898 the BCER, introduced the Davie Streetcar service, connecting downtown with the beachfront. Fortuitously, in1905, the beach had come under Parks Board’s influence… [more] - by Brian Croft](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9obepiWZ51qc7pjjo1_1280.jpg)
