Thursday, 20 November 2025

Thursday Art Date With Rain -- "Hanging Out"

Here's my contribution for this week's

Café La Reine (Queen Café) in Edmonton's
small French quarter is a favourite place
of mine to hang out for brunch or coffee.



Its neon wall sign means "thirst for life"
(an appropriate double entendre for a coffee place!)


But my favourite beverage order
here is not coffee, but chai latte --
sooooooo delicious!


And I enjoy their Eggs Benny too!
Speaking of which . . . .

Here's a direct-to-paper continuous line drawing
I did last summer in permanent ink and watercolour,
complete with an oh-so-trendy ink splatter flourish.

I really overdid it on the size of the cutlery, didn't I?
Oh well, that's the hazard of not being able
to erase or correct anything, LOL!


[Photos # 1, 2, 4 © Debra She Who Seeks, 2025;
Photo #3, art and photo of art © Debra She Who Seeks, 2024]

53 comments:

Tom said...

..a snazzy place.

Spellucci said...

What a dream breakfast, Eggs Benny topped off with chai latte! Mmm!

Boud said...

I love the ink and wash! It's got a lot of life and movement. I'd like to see more.

Iris Flavia said...

Nice place and cool drawing - maybe you were like very hungry creating it ;-)

Lady M said...

What a fun place - I would love to drink a chai with you.

Christine said...

Well done Debra!

Bob said...

I like your artwork; the colors are nice together and who doesn't need a big fork???

whkattk said...

The oversize cutlery makes it kinda of fun and unique.

Maria Medeiros said...

oh I love love your drawing!!!!!!!!!! So wonderful! I also love a good chai drink. I love the pepper spice in it. My favorite chai is Tazo chai tea. So good. :) Have a lovely Thursday!

gz said...

I have friends who live in Edmonton..I'll pass on your recommendation!

Pixie said...

When I worked, we drove by that place every morning. I always wondered what the name meant. Your line drawing is amazing. I don't think the cutlery is too big, perhaps the plate was too small:)

Travel said...

When we make it to Edmonton, we know where to meet you for breakfast.

Kathy G said...

It looks like a lovely place.

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Love the place!
Yummy and witty? Sign me up! Chai is the best.
And now I want a neon sign with 'soif de vivre'.

I love the drawing. Love it. Is this the kind of technique that Picasso used? I have some (copies, duh) of his drawings that seem to have been done in one trace.

XOXO

Ms. Moon said...

I am very impressed with that line drawing.

Mitchell Block said...

This wonderful. Including the size of the cutlery.

Cleora Borealis said...

👏 I like it! I don't know much about art, but this makes me feel warm and comfortable and hungry! So it is more than I could ever ask of an artist!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and two very enthusiastic 👍👍!!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Sixpence Notthewiser -- I don't know about Picasso but continuous line drawing is a common artistic technique. It's used to help train hand-eye coordination.

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Hello Debra,
We love the look of your café and the coffee looks delicious too. There is something really wonderful about spending time over coffee, it feels such a treat to watch the world go by whilst sipping.

the line drawing is incredibly interesting. Such a talent to be able to draw with a single line but also to convey such a sense of place. You really have captured the spirit of your delightful café.

Rostrose said...

Dear Debra, this is a lovely place to hang out! I have to admit, I've never actually had a chai latte in my life—but at least I know Eggs Benny (only from our travels). I like your painting—size is so overrated! 😊
All the best, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2025/11/reisebericht-2025-von-kanada-bis-asien.html

sirkkis said...

Your painting is great and well done👍

Martha said...

I love it! I probably wouldn't have noticed the size of the cutlery, but after you mentioned it, it made me giggle just a bit imagining using cutlery that size, lol.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Your favorite little spot looks so delightful. I really like your artwork---you are SO very talented!

e said...

Talk about shrinkflation! Those eggs benny are getting smaller all the time! Lol
Love the ink and watercolor with splatter. Makes me want brunch!

Marie Smith said...

It looks so inviting there. Like that drawing too!

Parnassus said...

Hello Debra, Your drawing has me Rorschaching big time. In the salad I see a woman's face, and in the eggs a baby, making the whole composition like a Cubist mother-and-child.
--Jim

Tundra Bunny said...

Regular latte is nice, though I prefer cappuccino. Does Chai latte really taste like pumpkin pie or is it spicier? Nice art too!

Rade said...

It looks incredibly cozy!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Parnassus (Jim) -- When I first read your comment, I thought WTF? But then I looked at the painting with "fresh eyes" and damn! I can see it now too! LOL

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Tundra Bunny -- Chai spice is SO much better than pumpkin spice, although it does have cinnamon and ginger in it too, plus a bunch of other tastier ones that I don't know.

Mike said...

Are you sure it's not going to suddenly start raining inside?

roentare said...

A fantastic place to visit

Guillaume said...

Looks really nice.

peppylady (Dora) said...

I do like coffee.

Katerinas Blog said...

Wonderful photos Debra,
I love cafes and I go there often.
Your creation is very beautiful!!

angela said...

The coffee shop looks a lovely place to enjoy a fresh brew and watch the world go by. I do like people watching

roughterrain crane said...

I love chai, too. I often enjoy it with some spices I choose based on how I feel that day.

Liz Hinds said...

Oh I love your line drawing!

hels said...

I have been to Canada many times, but have never heard of Eggs Benny. Nonetheless any Australian could guess within 7 seconds that it is an abbreviation for Benedict. Just like we would used Chrissy for Christmas and pressies for presents.

CaptainKirt said...

I love the art. I've never tried a continuous line drawing, might have a go at that.

Catalyst said...

Even with the ink splatter the glass of vodka looks good with your eggs benny. 😄

DVArtist said...

Nice place and I like the look of your drink. Your are is simply amazing.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Catalyst -- D'oh! You caught me!

Mary Kirkland said...

Nice place. I like Chai Latte too.

DB Stewart said...

Fantastic application of continuous line, and YES YES YES to chai latte.

Mr. Shife said...

Café La Reine sounds like the kind of cozy French-inspired spot every city needs, and that neon “thirst for life” sign is the perfect welcoming touch! Chai lattes and Eggs Benny are a winning combo for any morning.

Fundy Blue said...

Café La Reine looks inviting and relaxing, Debra! I have never attempted a continuous drawing. Yours is great, except I couldn't eat with the silverware. 😂. Happy weekend!

Kirk said...

You have a lot of different types of drawing styles, don't you? Shows your versatility.

MELODY JACOB said...

I enjoyed this. You bring such a steady eye to the places you cherish, and it’s easy to picture myself settled in that café with you, taking in the small comforts. Your drawing has a charm that comes from doing things the honest way, pen to paper with no turning back.

Linda's Relaxing Lair said...

Dear Debra, what a beautiful place! Lovely ambiance, spacious, elegant and comfortable! And the illustration is wonderful! Great place for a meal and to spend some time!

The Happy Whisk said...

OMG. You didn't overdue it with the forks/stuff. No way. I love it. It makes the photos. The whole thing is excellent and have you considered selling these? That cafe too. I wannnnnaaa goooooooo. My kinda vibes.

Gillena Cox said...

Look line a very nice place
Thanks for dropping by my blog

Much♡love

The Rev. Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

I love your pen and watercolor cafe drawing! Using the continuous line drawing technique gives it a very fluid feel, enhancing the moment. Happy blelated Thursday Art and Dinner!