Calm Before the Storm

The weather still isn't cooperating for outside work....

and another snow storm in the forecast....

so I'm working from my photos.

This quiet study is from a wet spring

we spent at Presquile Provincial Park.

Up early in the moisture laden air..

colour was muted and the air still.

Path to the Beach - Leslie Snider

And across the field

 I captured this group

 on their morning stroll.

Morning Stroll

 

Breaking the Rules....quietly...gently!

General art advice is 

"Don't paint every leaf on the tree." 

Why not?

 I ask!!

A Quiet Corner - Leslie Snider

This latest pastel takes it's inspiration 

from Claude Monet  

who knew a thing or two about painting.

His use of detail captures

 that shimmering quality of the leaves.

 

Winter Scenes

I've finally succumbed to winter.......with a a couple of  sketches........ 

the first two on coloured drawing paper with pastel pencil/pastel.

Winter Scene -  Leslie Snider

Broken - Leslie Snider

This last a pastel on Uart400 paper.

Leslie Snider  - Winter

 

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.

 

Relaxing Summer Days

For many years 

canoeing 

was my favourite way to observe

flora and fauna.

Alas, I've reached the stage in life

where extracting myself from a canoe 

can be a challenge!

So boats with motors and comfy seats

 are the new way to go!

Here is my first observation.....

In the Wake - Pastel - Leslie Snider

Although I miss the intimacy 

of quietly observed

bays and streams,

I'm hoping this new experience 

will bring new possibilities.

Revisiting the Gaspe

Sparkling Sunset - 2018  - Leslie Snider

In 2016

 I posted a pastel 

from a trip to the Gaspe.

The colours and shapes 

have haunted me ever since. 

Gaspe Sunset - 2016 - Leslie Snider

Above is a variation 

on the theme of rocks,

 water and light.

The joy of playing with

colour and light

 is very tempting

Gaspe - Leslie Snider Photography

.....

but perhaps the photo says it all! 

Look up...way up....skies

A new year and some new ideas.

Most landscapes feature the sky 

so it's important to have an understanding

 of how light conditions,

weather and time of day 

affect the colour and textures.

I've spent the last couple of weeks 

trolling my photos 

 choosing a variety 

to study.

Sunsets are the glamorous cousin

 in this little family of ideas.

This is Rossport Prov. Park 

the photo taken on

 a trip to northern Ontario.

It was an unseasonably warm autumn 

and the sunsets had a soft warmth. 

Rossport Prov. Park - Leslie Snider

The second closer to home

 ...a glorious summer day,

bold puffy clouds dominate the sky,

contrasting with the rich colour of sky and field.

Kingston Summer Sky - Leslie Snider

Finally, 

here and now,

early morning in winter, 

fog is in the air

creating a strange light 

and drifting, illusive clouds.

 

Winter Sky - Leslie Snider