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