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. 

More October Colour

Ready for a change of pace, colour scheme, subject matter

I was settling down in the studio with my summer lake sketches,

all cool blues and misty aquas....

then I looked out the window and saw this!

Sumac October 2018

The morning light dancing across the garden

proved too good to resist.

Pastel  - Sumac -  Leslie Snider

You never know when inspiration will appear

...so try to be ready!

Palette Sumac 2018

Seasonal Changes

Across the Fields -  Summer  - Leslie Snider

Across the Fields -  Autumn  - Leslie Snider

Breaking the Rules....quietly...gently!

General art advice is 

"Don't paint every leaf on the tree." 

Why not?

 I ask!!

A Quiet Corner - Leslie Snider

This latest pastel takes it's inspiration 

from Claude Monet  

who knew a thing or two about painting.

His use of detail captures

 that shimmering quality of the leaves.

 

The Battle for Supremacy

After the calm control of my last post

I decide to let loose with this pastel sketch

based on the autumn activity

 in my garden. 

As the weather turns frosty 

the virginia creeper turns bright red.

This sets up a colourful contrast 

with the vivid greens of the wild grape. 

Both have run rampant along my fenceline

engaging in a violent battle for supremacy....

who will win????

VC vs GV - Leslie Snider

A little about my process....

Usually I begin with black and white sketches 

to establish composition and colour values.

Here I was more spontaneous

allowing my reaction to the emerging shapes

 and colour relationships to dictate the composition. 

Finally the colour palette,

the majority Richeson pastels.

 

Contrasting Views

Can't stay away from autumn scenes,

the opportunity to work

 with warmer colour schemes

is too tempting!

Contrasting views:

The first looking along a farmer's field,

early morning mist in the distance,

 the last of autumn colour clinging to the trees. 

Autumn 2017 - Leslie Snider

This second is deeper into the wooded trail

(known as the K&P Trail for Kingstonians).

The leaves carpeting the ground,

 highlighted by shafts of light

coming through the density of trees. 

Fallen Leaves - Leslie Snider

Both sketches in pastel.