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.

 

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.

Pencil to Pastel

Adapting a gray toned pencil sketch 

into colour (pastel)

is like a translating a conversation 

from one language to another.

 In my sketch I was interested 

in exploring the textural contrasts of shapes and line

( the softly curving ferns versus the vertical grasses and trees).

There is also an indication of filtered light in the upper third.

When I adapted these ideas into colour

interesting changes became necessary.

Those strong verticals 

(grasses and red brown tree trunks)

 dominated the composition

so I increased the number of ferns 

and allowed them to carry the eye into the background.

The filtered light

prevents the tree trunks 

from being too dominate

and pulls the eye back down 

to the forest floor.

April Cold Snap!

Winter has one more blast of snow and cold!

No chance of painting/sketching plein air...

a few photos instead.

 

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.

Last of Winter

The Old Willow - Lemoine Point - Leslie Snider

 

Last year winter

 refused to leave us.

I took the following photo 

at Lemoine Point, Kingston.

It was early morning,

fog enveloped the trees and snow covered ground

as the morning sun warmed the air.

The pastel

  at the beginning of this post

 is an old willow wreathed in snow and fog.

It was based on photos from that same day.