Contrasts - The Forest Floor

What attracted me to this spring scene

 was the lone sapling 

amongst the mature trees.

As I worked on the watercolour

I soon realized the true subject 

was the subtle interplay of colour,

 and light and shade

 on the forest floor.

Here the vibrant autumn leaves 

are piled deeply and luxuriantly

carpeting the ground.

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

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!