Spring

Nothing says spring 

like the newly minted blossoms 

of forsythia, cherry, and apple! 

Spring 2017 - Leslie Snider

Forsythia 2017 - Leslie Snider

 5 by7in. pastels 

Last Summer

Snow storm yesterday 

with treacherous driving conditions

 (a disadvantage of country living

 the roads don't get the attention of townies)

so I missed a concert to which I was quite looking forward. 

To cheer myself up, 

here are two pics of summer fields.

You'll notice fog in the distance as they are morning studies.

I love that time of day 

as the sun begins to warms the ground, 

 colours are more vibrant than full midday.

Field and Fog - Leslie Snider

Field and Fog - Leslie Snider

Spring Sketches

Two contrasting views of the woods in spring.

Into the Woods Leslie Snider

This first pastel was inspired by a bright sunny day

 and light dancing through the trees 

as we followed a trail into the woods. 

Spring Rains  Leslie Snider

 

 

 

And here an overcast day 

softens the light  against the emerging greens  

and pools of spring rain along the pathway.

 

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.

Views from the canoe

Around the bend in the river

Pastel sketches based on photos 

and the pleasant memory 

of canoeing along the Bonnechere river 

on a peaceful summer's day.

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.

 

Pastel Sketch from the Spring Trip

This year the deciduous leaves 

were just coming out 

and shimmered with chartreuse and gold

against the dark bluegreens

 of the evergreens.

Last Leaves of Autumn

A fanciful celebration (in pastel)

of the last splash of autumn colour.

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!