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.

 

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

Three Seasons of Spring

Easter this year is bright but muted in colour 

as the frost comes out of the ground 

and there is mud everywhere!

 Snow runoff leaves pools of water

 in low lying areas.

Wet Glade -  pastel -  Leslie Snider

April showers will soon 

bring out a blizzard of lively greens.

Spring Glade -  pastel -  Leslie Snider

Another few weeks 

and those greens will mature 

and strengthen in colour.

The light will be stronger 

and pierce the undergrowth 

more sharply. 

Summer Glade -  pastel -  Leslie Snider

 

Shoreline - After the storm

My calm waters post 

 was based on some shoreline photos 

taken on a calm, sunny day,

These photos were taken 

at the same location 

but as a storm moved out.

Although the sun is beginning to appear 

low lying, moody clouds hung over the water.

The turbulence caused by some strong winds

 muddied the water and deepened the tones.

After the Storm - pastel

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.

Last Leaves of Autumn

A fanciful celebration (in pastel)

of the last splash of autumn colour.

Wild life - The One That Got Away

If you have followed this blog 

you know how much I rely on my camera. 

Photos don't replace working out doors 

but are an invaluable resource 

 complementing outdoor sketches, 

painting and notes.

The previous examples 
are from my collection 
when I happened to be at the right time 
and place ........

to capture that fleeting moment 

that passes so quickly.

I'm not always so lucky ...

This pastel celebrates the moment
 after focusing, composing, steadying the camera
you discover the subject has fled the scene!

Boosting the Energy

 As a change of pace from the subtlety of the May  sky studies

 I used these recent photos 

from my spring camping vacation

to experiment with colour 

and a more energetic approach 

to composition.

 

 

Spring run off

At last... a sign of spring!

Spring Runoff  - Pastel

 

Lots of limestone out croppings on my favourite walking trail 

 force the spring melt through openings in the rocky face.

Landscape Pastel - Changing Fall Colour

Another view of that same foggy morning. 

In this experiment 

I added some bright pinks

 to the original colour scheme.

I simplified the composition 

in order to play off the wildflowers 

against the dark green trees

 while keeping the atmosphere

somewhat illusive.