Adapting Photos for painting

Here's the inspiration...what do I do next?

Firstly, I asked myself why I wanted to paint this scene....
(no you can't say because I like it!)
It's important to be specific... 
As you're painting it will be a reminder to emphasis those aspects.
In this scene, I was attracted to the colour contrast
of turquoise water and the warm, oranges, reds of the foreground.
I also liked the contrast of broad expansive foreground
leading to the focal point into the distance.

The second step is to eliminate or change details that don't complement your overall concept.
Often the impact of a scene is spoiled with too much detail.
The sky was starkly blank so I created a softly textured sky that wouldn't detract from the rest.

Removing the colour contrasts from the finished painting here....

shows how the pattern of light and dark carries the eye through the picture.
I balanced the horizontal shadows  with the lights of the sky, water and grasses coming forward.

Here's the final picture ....

In the Distance - Leslie Snider - pastel

Sunrise - Closer to Home

Another in my series looking at dawn and dusk.

This one a view from my kitchen window

not from life, the moment too elusive!

but just enough time to take a quick photo.

1460 Sunrise - pastel - Leslie Snider

Originally my sketch was closer to the photo 

but too many hard edges was distracting.

I simplified the scene concentrating on the dark silhouettes 

versus  the  soft yellow, pinks and violets in the cloud.

I hope the intense turquoise blue 

acts as a contrast and balance to the whole.

Willows in Summer

You can see that I introduced 

warm red browns and purple blues 

to complement as well as create variety

to the yellows and greens 

of sunlight and foliage. 

( my photo taken at Presquile Provincial Park.)