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. 

Sunrise Variation

This latest sunrise pastel

went through some small

 but important tweaks.

Marsh Dawn - Leslie Snider 

I was interested in capturing

 the colour range from warm to cool

  as the sun rose behind a strong line of trees.

The slowly rising sun created

 subtle effects on the marsh and water.

But having finished this piece

 and hanging it in the studio,

 I continued to study it daily.

(This is a good practice as over time 

you see your art with fresh eyes.)

Marsh Dawn -  Edit - Leslie Snider 

Although I liked the effects of light

  I found the line of trees

 too uniform in size, shape and colour.

More variation was needed

 to incorporate the trees

 into the composition.

Otherwise the trees become the focal point.

I also heightened the warm colours

to emphasize the light. 

 

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

 

Seasonal Changes

Across the Fields -  Summer  - Leslie Snider

Across the Fields -  Autumn  - Leslie Snider

Sketching and Fishing

Summer Sketch 

- plein air pastel - 

-husband fishing -

- me sketching!-

What more can I say?

Buck Lake Fishing Spot

Working with a limited palette

"Brown Recycled Rough Sketch" paper and  a limited palette.

The series of early morning skies 

from my recent posts 

reminded me why I love to travel.

At home I'm surrounded by trees

so I get the briefest glimpses

 of interesting cloud formations.

But go to the Canadian west 

and glorious panoramas open up!

Here's just one......

Open Skies - pastel - Leslie Snider

 

When you become

 a landscape (plein air) painter 

the weather becomes

 an essential component

 in your work.....

and this year's late spring

 is playing havoc

with my outdoor plans.

This study based on a field photo....

early morning and fog had descended, 

so I quickly grabbed the camera and off I went.

The subject matter is not glamorous

but the light effects were interesting.

Here the moisture laden air 

adds blue notes to the foliage

 and softens edges.

Foggy Field - pastel -  Leslie Snider

Calm Before the Storm

The weather still isn't cooperating for outside work....

and another snow storm in the forecast....

so I'm working from my photos.

This quiet study is from a wet spring

we spent at Presquile Provincial Park.

Up early in the moisture laden air..

colour was muted and the air still.

Path to the Beach - Leslie Snider

And across the field

 I captured this group

 on their morning stroll.

Morning Stroll

 

Winter Scenes

I've finally succumbed to winter.......with a a couple of  sketches........ 

the first two on coloured drawing paper with pastel pencil/pastel.

Winter Scene -  Leslie Snider

Broken - Leslie Snider

This last a pastel on Uart400 paper.

Leslie Snider  - Winter

 

Relaxing Summer Days

For many years 

canoeing 

was my favourite way to observe

flora and fauna.

Alas, I've reached the stage in life

where extracting myself from a canoe 

can be a challenge!

So boats with motors and comfy seats

 are the new way to go!

Here is my first observation.....

In the Wake - Pastel - Leslie Snider

Although I miss the intimacy 

of quietly observed

bays and streams,

I'm hoping this new experience 

will bring new possibilities.

Revisiting the Gaspe

Sparkling Sunset - 2018  - Leslie Snider

In 2016

 I posted a pastel 

from a trip to the Gaspe.

The colours and shapes 

have haunted me ever since. 

Gaspe Sunset - 2016 - Leslie Snider

Above is a variation 

on the theme of rocks,

 water and light.

The joy of playing with

colour and light

 is very tempting

Gaspe - Leslie Snider Photography

.....

but perhaps the photo says it all! 

Look up...way up....skies

A new year and some new ideas.

Most landscapes feature the sky 

so it's important to have an understanding

 of how light conditions,

weather and time of day 

affect the colour and textures.

I've spent the last couple of weeks 

trolling my photos 

 choosing a variety 

to study.

Sunsets are the glamorous cousin

 in this little family of ideas.

This is Rossport Prov. Park 

the photo taken on

 a trip to northern Ontario.

It was an unseasonably warm autumn 

and the sunsets had a soft warmth. 

Rossport Prov. Park - Leslie Snider

The second closer to home

 ...a glorious summer day,

bold puffy clouds dominate the sky,

contrasting with the rich colour of sky and field.

Kingston Summer Sky - Leslie Snider

Finally, 

here and now,

early morning in winter, 

fog is in the air

creating a strange light 

and drifting, illusive clouds.

 

Winter Sky - Leslie Snider

 

Trunks and Leaves

Although tree trunks 

figure prominently

 in this pastel

 the subject was actually

 "leaves".

Here at the beginning of autumn,

the foliage is dense and lively.

But hints of the impending 

seasonal changes 

are peaking out here and there. 

Movement throughout 

is carried by the vivid greens. 

Forest Interior - Leslie Snider

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.

Summer Skies

There is rarely a day that goes by this summer 

without rain in the forecast.....

this makes for lush greens

 and ever changing skies.

Two new pastel studies... 

a new discovery "Hoople Island"

 and an old haunt 

"Marsh along the K&P trail."

Hoople Island - pastel - Leslie Snider

K&P Marsh - pastel  - Leslie Snider

 

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.

Sunrise / Sunset in Pastel

We are now into late spring 

and the days are surprisingly long.

The first day of summer 

and longest day of the year,

 June 20 is less than a month away.

Framing these lengthening days 

are refreshing sunrises and sunsets. 

Here are two....

A sunrise from Neys Provincial Park
on the north shore of Lake Superior

and a sunset closer to home 

Owen Point, Presqu'ile Provincial Park.

Both in pastel, 8 by 10 in.

Neys Provincial Park Sunrise Leslie Snider

Owen Point Sunset Leslie Snider

 

February Challenge

As part of a (Wet Canvas)challenge, 

I've been thinking about combining warm and cool colours

 within my painting.

Lemoine Point _Leslie Snider

In this previous example

 the colour scheme is analogous.

You will find all the colours used along one side of the wheel.

Red tint (pink), Blue (turquoise blue tint), purple (black purple tone).

 

In this example 

(heavily influenced by Tom Thomson)😇

I've been more adventurous with colour 

and chosen a wider range of colours 

as well as the purer form of colour.

(Colour choices marked with stars on the wheel.)

Leslie Snider - pastel

It was a fun challenge and introduced ideas worth exploring😄