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 Winter

As winter hangs on

 with one more wallop of winter 

(snow/rain/sleet)

in the forecast,

I'm trying to think positively.

Here the sun rises on a hay field.

The subtle play of light and shadow/

warm and cool attracted my attention.

End of Winter -Leslie Snider

As the snow retreats, 

frost comes out the ground 

and mud is everywhere

and this time of year 

is rather dreary.

But hope is in the air

 and soon those lively spring greens 

will be with us for inspiration. 

Spring Photo Trip 2016

Each year we get away 

to a favourite camping location to relax

 and restock my photo album.

Each year is different and each year offers a few surprises . 

But there are a few rules to making the trip a success.

 

No.1  - Get up early and catch to morning sun!

No. 2  - If you're quiet and observant the wild life come to you!

 No. 3  - Often working on a theme is helpful.

This year  I concentrated on looking at trees with Character!

No. 4  Look for unusual ways to see your subject.

No. 5  Be spontaneous.

 No. 6 Have fun and make up the rules as you go along!

Light and Shade

My last post/sketches explored 

the effect of filtered sunlight

on the dense greens of the forest floor.

This pastel sketch is a study 

of an old stand of pines 

bathed in noon day summer sun. 

More successful, I think as the stronger contrasts

allow for a more interesting composition.

Autumn Trip - pastel sketches

The Old Bridge -Leslie Snider

 

The subject here is a favourite location 

from my autumn photo trip 

to Bonnechere Prov. Park

 

Most of my concentration during this trip 

was on the effects of light on water

and the change in season,

but  on a walk deeper in the woods 

this scene caught my imagination....

the remnants of a majestic old tree

surrounded by new growth.

 

More Summer Textures

These wild flowers  

 Queen Anne's lace and day lilies 

seemed a perfect opportunity 

to explore colour contrast 

and airy textures.

 

Crayon on Artagain black paper 

Below some of my source material.

 

 

Calm Waters and preparatory sketches

Calm Waters

This week my dogs had their annual visit to the vet.....

not very exciting you say...

until one of them managed to bite the vet.

She (the vet) got flowers and a sorry note...

Me...well....I'm still recovering.

Below are a few pastel studies in preparation for the final piece.

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.

From the sketchbook

We finally had a good weather week

 for getting out, 

exercising humans and dogs 

and doing some sketching.

 

Change of Pace

As this Ontario winter drags on

 I return to one of my favourite subjects.

Taking a break from pastels 

to work in watercolour.

These two aging trees 

caught my eye last fall 

as they struggled for survival 

amidst a mass of youthful greenery.

A certain amount of symbolism there I suspect!

Two Studies

This first pastel

(Sheffield Conservation area )

was the result of an early autumn trip.

It was a joy to work on 

and although the photographed pastel

 is slightly darker than the original 

I think it does capture a certain

freshness.

 This second study 

 an old bridge(Bonnechere P.P.) 

is less successful. 

I struggled with the composition 

and the result is a bit awkward.

It was my first attempt at this subject matter 

so perhaps next time

 I can achieve a more natural effect!

 

Spring Birches in Pastel

One idea often leads to another.

 My recent post of the back lit cedar grove

was an experiment in dark against light.

 This grove of young trees in early spring
was an opportunity to concentrate on light against dark.

Here the soft light filtering through the trees emphasizes 

the shadowing growth under and behind the light coloured
 birches.

This was the photo source. 

I liked the interesting patterns
 of delicate trunks and spring greens.

In the photo below 

I've high-lighted the patterns I wanted to use.

The vertical tree trunks create a gentle rhythm 

across the page

and that is echoed 

by the line of dark shadows.

Patterns in nature

I'm less interested in a literal rendering of the scene

but am attempting to capture a certain quality.

The photo of my pastel slightly distorts the colors, 

the overall effect less harsh in the red/ green contrast.

Revisiting a favourite painting location

Backlit Cedar Ridge in Pastel on Canson

Although I take hundreds of photos 

there are certain subjects 

which keep drawing me back.

Here is a re-visit to that group of old cedars 

(near the marsh) at Presqu'ile Provincial Park.

Pastels - Spontaneity

I've worked with many types of media from glass and porcelain to watercolour.
In each atmosphere is created through light and transparency.

Although pastels don't have the same transparency
 of those media,
 the juxtaposition of one pure colour 
next to another creates energy and vibrancy.

At the same time, layering of colours and textures and/or
 blending one colour brings subtlety into play.

But first and foremost pastels offer immediate results....
it's pure joy as a colorist 
to lay down one colour next to another 
and let them play off each other.

This inherent spontaneity allows the artist  to easily 
experiment with a variety of ideas....
which is fun .......
and that's what I hope 
my explorations are all  about!

In this example of the Presquile shoreline 

I was again studying the patterns found in nature.

Nature Studies

Restricting myself to coloured pencils has proved limiting 

so I will continue my experiments by exploring other media.

However I will continue the general theme of "patterns in nature".

Artistic Influences - early nature studies

Having been inspired by the Van Gogh's detailed responses 

to the natural world

 it was time to go back to the drawing board.

  

 I hadn't  worked with coloured pencils 

but as a former student of mine had left some behind

 I thought it was a good place to begin.

In these early sketches 

I tried to be non-judgemental about composition

 and respond purely to the colour and energy of the filtered light.