Revisiting a favourite painting location

Backlit Cedar Ridge in Pastel on Canson

Although I take hundreds of photos 

there are certain subjects 

which keep drawing me back.

Here is a re-visit to that group of old cedars 

(near the marsh) at Presqu'ile Provincial Park.

Inspired by Van Gogh

As the temperature hovers near freezing in southern Ontario,

 I'm organizing 

(in the coziness of the studio)

that huge stock of photos 

I've accumulated over the last few months.

This springtime snap reminded me of a Van Gogh oil....

It is the pattern of filtered light and dark shadows

 that drew me to the composition.

I thought I could make the dark trunk balance with the bright whites of the trilliums 

scattered in the shadows at the base of the tree.

Trilliums are most abundant  in the rich composted soil 

at the base of mature deciduous trees.
 

Pastel Study - Ferns and Rocks

In this example I revisit a study from 2012. 

In the original pencil crayon

 I explored the textural differences of rocks, grasses and ferns.

In the pastel I eliminated the grasses 

in order to concentrate on the contrast 

between feathery  ferns and angular rocks.

In the process I discovered 

(much to my surprise!)

that I could get transparency 

with a lighter touch 

and layering pastel colour.