Sketchbook - Woodlands 2014

 Two watercolour sketches from last summer.

In this one I'm exploring 

the contrast between old bark 

and the delicate undergrowth of ferns and vines.

If you watch kids on a woodland hike 

they spend a lot of time looking at the ground

...good idea!

There's interesting stuff below our feet.

Morning Light

Two more experiments 

(in pastel) 

of light filtering through trees.

This first is taken from a sketch based on an early morning walk.

Edge of the field in morning light.

In this detail 

you can see why I like pastel. 

It's very effective in trying to capture

 ...atmosphere.

If you watch a sunrise  (here in Southern Ontario) 

at certain times of the year (spring and fall)

you will often see the sky 

change from a dark, clear, night sky 

to one with a variety of soft, cool /warm variations.

As the sun rises and warms the air

 clouds forms high in the sky

while mists and fog form close to the ground

disappearing as quickly as they appear.

Rising Mist

Yellow

I'm not sure what this means 

from a psychological point of view 

but I seem to be obsessed 

this week

with variations on the colour 

yellow.

Watercolour study of leaves

Sunlit Marsh

The first snow fall of the season 

has given a powdery dusting

 to the view from my studio window 

so the warmth of autumn 

is a tempting distraction.

This small pastel 

was based on some photos 

I took last fall 

of an impending storm.

Although ominous clouds 

threaten in the distance ahead,

strong sunlight from behind me

 highlighted the golden grasses 

spreading out across 

the windswept foreground.

If you look closely you will see these grasses 

are phragmites, an invasive species 

taking over Ontario marshlands.

In my sketch they have become cattails, 

a similar but less innocuous plant.

Last Leaves of Autumn

A fanciful celebration (in pastel)

of the last splash of autumn colour.

Filtered Light

It has been a beautiful autumn season 

and I remain fascinated 
(as are my walking companions)

by the effects of sunlight
(in this case morning light)

 filtering through the trees on our morning walks.

This is a theme I've experimented with previously.
My first  example is from 2013,
 a grove of old cedar trees.

But a recent morning walk 
inspired the use of more colour 

to describe  the shimmering effect  

of light behind a stand of pine trees.

Both are works in pastel.

This scene was discovered 

on the K &P trail section from
 Burbrook Road to Unity Road.

The numerous choices along the K&P trail, 
follow an abandoned rail bed 
which means the terrain is pleasantly flat
but varied in habitat.

https://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/recreation/parks-trails/k-p

Highly recommended if you are in the Kingston area!

Still here!!

I've been away from the art studio 

for a couple of months

travelling and ....well .....

generally enjoying myself!

Although I haven't taken the time

 to do much sketching

 I has been taking lots and lots

 of photos 

which should prove to be very useful 

during the cold winter months.

In the meantime 

here a few examples 

that don't need any artistic intervention....

the photo says it all!