October Landscape Studies

Out my studio window

there is one of those

light and fluffy
Christmas card snowfalls.

So here's a little nostalgia

 for that change of season

just past.

Two pastels

describing the beginning

 of winter.

First Snow

Our first snow was early and arrived 

before the autumn colour had faded. 

The contrast

gave me a chance 

to highlight the juxtaposition

of warm/cool colours.

A wind storm then stripped the trees

 of their warm hues

 and the whole atmosphere

cooled my color palette.

Early Snow

Finally a couple of field sketches

on black drawing paper (Canson).

It was an experiment

 to see if the black /white contrast 

captured that quality of a dusting of first snow.

 

Yellow

Pure, bright yellow

 is not a colour I use very often 

but it has been on my mind recently.

As I watched and studied 

many sunsets over the winter

I was surprised to discover

how often yellows dominanted

 against the grey wintry light.

Although not a winter sky

sketches from a trip to the Gaspe 

formed the basis for this study in yellow.

I used various yellows to tint the base layer.

(set with water and allowed to air dry)

I then layered mauves, blues, and turquoise

over that base.

Using a light touch I was surprised

 at the level of transparency

that could be achieved.

Pastel is an opaque medium

 and used with a heavy hand

obliterates what's beneath.....

(which is a good thing sometimes)

but not here!

Yellow Light  - Leslie Snider

First of the Season - 2019

Winter Scene  - 2019 - Leslie Snider

Working from studies and memory,

here are two views 

along the dog walking trail.

The first is early morning.

It's hard to believe that the 401 highway

and the heavy drone of morning traffic 

is behind this row of trees. 

Winter Scene  - 2019 - Leslie Snider

Farther down the path 

and later in the day 

I found a different kind of 

peacefulness. 

Last of the Season

In these  pictures...the last of 2018 

I was experimenting with a horizontal format.

Different seasons

one summer, one autumn

but both looking across the lake

and inspired by diverse lighting conditions.

Colour across the lake - Leslie Snider

In the first the sun

 is beginning to set

 over our right shoulder.

The low light is  highlighting

the burnished oranges on the trees

in the distance. 

Hoople Island - Leslie Snider

Another scene of low light, 

but here the sun is emerging

after a summer rain shower.

As the light peaks out, low on the horizon

highlights are scattered across the water. 

September at the Lake - part 03

A change in the weather

 plus

a change in the season

creates the possibilty

 for glorious colour.

 

Invasive Species

A couple of years ago 

I sketched and photographed

 an interesting scene

 in Presquile Provincial Park....

bright, colourful and lively.

I discovered the following year 

that the plant was Phragmites

or European common reed,

an invasive species in the process

 of being eradicated!!

Alas, not all European imports

 are as desirable as 

French cheese and Italian Prosciutto!

Presquile Scene - Leslie Snider - pastel