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.

Spring Weather

Capturing unpredictable spring weather.

Above a fog bank moves onshore

and then spring rain over the marsh.

Both sketches employ watercolour and watercolour crayons.

Where do ideas start? - part 03

The last example

in my series

studying wave action 

on a favourite beach.

Where do ideas start? part 02

The idea for this beach scene 

began with the torn paper collage experiment

 in my previous post.

Where do ideas start? part 01

I have often used this approach 

to encourage me to think more freely 

about a subject.

When painting flowers.e.g. iris, roses..

 the torn edges echo the petal shapes 

so you could begin by playing with colour variations 

of blues/purples or rosy shades.

Soft variations of gray might  work for snow  scenes.

Variations on a Theme - symmetrical / asymmetrical balance

This first example, 

a pastel from 2013 

was an experiment 

in symmetrical balance.

The picture frame is divided diagonally between rocky foreground and waves.

The circular formation of the rocks is echoed by the splashes.

Colour and textural contrasts complete the design.

 

This second piece is watercolour 

and a looser, more abstract approach 

allowed for a more asymmetrical design.

Smaller areas of concentrated colour

are balanced against 

large areas of foamy, pale whites.

The whole is tied together 

by the diagonal band of darks, shadowy rocks 

merging into deep blue water. 

Both pieces were based on a series of my photos.

Digital cameras allow for a great deal of leeway 

when it comes to composing pictures.

Even a mid-range camera

 provides the opportunity

 for cropping and zooming 

in on interesting details.

 

First week of Spring! HAH!!!

It might be the first week of spring

 here in southern Ontario 

but you wouldn't know it 

by all the snow on the ground 

and sub freezing temperatures!

I took this photo on our morning walk at Lemoine Point, Kingston

Meanwhile the spring bulbs are going to have to put up a fight to survive.