Exploring Abstraction

     All pictures are to some degree

 abstractions.

I mean the picture elements

 can be reduced

 to simple shapes, line colour etc.

As seen from my previous post

 I begin very abstractly 

with bold but basic shapes and colour blocks.

I then slowly refine the composition,

bringing the scene into focus,

by adding layers 

of colour and detail. 

But what if I left it out of focus?

In some ways 

that is what the Impressionists 

were trying to accomplish, 

taking into account atmospheric effects

 and losing the edges.

Blue Green Marsh - Leslie Snider

As an inveterate detailer

 I find this very difficult 

but know it is worth pursuing.

How often have you heard,

"Leave something for the viewer's imagination."

This pastel is loosely based on one of my photos

that I have spent many hours studying

and thinking about.

What do you think?

Presquile Marsh

Golden Sky

I'm surprised to find

morning and evening skies this time of year 

can be widely varied with

 a variety of golds,yellows and oranges.

Revisiting a photo from  2016,

I'm pushing the colour 

with more intensity

reminiscent of those observations. 

Bonnechere 2019 - Leslie Snider

Using uart 400 sanded paper

I begin with a black tonal underpainting.

The second step is to begin boldly applying colour.

Finally over many revisions

 I slowly bring the picture into focus,

building up layers

and softening edges.

Bonnechere Dawn -  Leslie Snider

Limited Colour palette

 

Bonnechere Early Morning

I usually post new pictures on Instagram.

This gives me a quick check as to whether 

I think it makes an interesting online visual.

Often pics look great in real life

 but fail to come alive online.

This is one of those examples.

It elicited very little response.

Bonnechere Point 2019

Alas, it is one of my favourite pastels.....

 trying to capture the quality of mist

 rising from the river

was a tricky one. 

It is also one of my favourite 

camping locations

so that might influence my feelings!