Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Light and Shade

My last post/sketches explored 
the effect of filtered sunlight
on the dense greens of the forest floor.
This pastel sketch is a study 
of an old stand of pines 
bathed in noon day summer sun. 


More successful, I think as the stronger contrasts
allow for a more interesting composition.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Pencil to Pastel

Adapting a gray toned pencil sketch 
into colour (pastel)
is like a translating a conversation 
from one language to another.


 In my sketch I was interested 
in exploring the textural contrasts of shapes and line
( the softly curving ferns versus the vertical grasses and trees).
There is also an indication of filtered light in the upper third.


When I adapted these ideas into colour
interesting changes became necessary.

Those strong verticals 
(grasses and red brown tree trunks)
 dominated the composition
so I increased the number of ferns 
and allowed them to carry the eye into the background.



The filtered light
prevents the tree trunks 
from being too dominate
and pulls the eye back down 
to the forest floor.




Thursday, April 7, 2016

April Cold Snap!

Winter has one more blast of snow and cold!

No chance of painting/sketching plein air...
a few photos instead.









 

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Views from the canoe


Around the bend in the river

Pastel sketches based on photos 
and the pleasant memory 
of canoeing along the Bonnechere river 
on a peaceful summer's day.

Marsh Scenes