Spring Nostalgia

While doing a little pre-spring cleanup in the studio

 I came across an archive of my old work - watercolours.

This narcissus peaking through a snow storm 

could have been painted this year.

We'll have to wait a bit longer for the fosythia to bloom!

I have a 2-3 foot rock wall in my garden 

which is still completely buried in snow and ice!

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!

Beach Scene

Having enjoyed working

with the blues

 of the previous post 

I decided to try my hand 

at a more subdued water scene.

This may be a  less dramatic

composition and colour scheme

 but portraying the light 

flickering across the water 

was an interesting challenge.

I altered 

the arrangement of foreground rocks

in order to emphasize 

the diagonal sweep of  waves.

The source of light (sun) 

is not seen 

but implied 

by a brightness in the cloudy sky.

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!

 

A Little Nostalgia

Change of Pace

As I struggle to find my way 

with landscape painting,

 it's time for something 

more in my comfort zone

drawing...

here specifically life drawing

Header Art

I've been asked about the art piece

 used in my header

and although it is displayed in the sidebar 

it doesn't seem to enlarge enough to be easily read....

so here's a repost!

 The mysteries of flight may be symbolized by the story of Icarus 

whose wings of wax and feathers 

melted as he flew too close to the sun 

sending him crashing into the sea. 

But the secrets of flight were hidden 

not up in the air 

but under the ground as fossil evidence.

The concepts of balance and symmetry

 have long fascinated artists. 

The dinosaur archaeopteryx

possessed asymmetrical feathers, 

the leading edge being narrower 

and more streamlined.

This enabled the wings 

to slice through the air permitting 

at least rudimentary flight.

(Source of info National Geographic  - Dinosaurs Take Wings - 1998).