Sunrise Variation

This latest sunrise pastel

went through some small

 but important tweaks.

Marsh Dawn - Leslie Snider 

I was interested in capturing

 the colour range from warm to cool

  as the sun rose behind a strong line of trees.

The slowly rising sun created

 subtle effects on the marsh and water.

But having finished this piece

 and hanging it in the studio,

 I continued to study it daily.

(This is a good practice as over time 

you see your art with fresh eyes.)

Marsh Dawn -  Edit - Leslie Snider 

Although I liked the effects of light

  I found the line of trees

 too uniform in size, shape and colour.

More variation was needed

 to incorporate the trees

 into the composition.

Otherwise the trees become the focal point.

I also heightened the warm colours

to emphasize the light. 

 

Invasive Species

A couple of years ago 

I sketched and photographed

 an interesting scene

 in Presquile Provincial Park....

bright, colourful and lively.

I discovered the following year 

that the plant was Phragmites

or European common reed,

an invasive species in the process

 of being eradicated!!

Alas, not all European imports

 are as desirable as 

French cheese and Italian Prosciutto!

Presquile Scene - Leslie Snider - pastel

 

Seasonal Changes

Across the Fields -  Summer  - Leslie Snider

Across the Fields -  Autumn  - Leslie Snider

Dry Spell

It definitely has become 

one of those long,hot,summers.....

another heat warning......

grasses parched 

and the ground rock hard....

 the lake is irresistible......

Even here the white, hot, heat

 of the midday sun penetrates

and drains colour

 from water and foliage. 

The River's Edge  - pastel - Leslie Snider

Sketching and Fishing

Summer Sketch 

- plein air pastel - 

-husband fishing -

- me sketching!-

What more can I say?

Buck Lake Fishing Spot

Working with a limited palette

"Brown Recycled Rough Sketch" paper and  a limited palette.

The series of early morning skies 

from my recent posts 

reminded me why I love to travel.

At home I'm surrounded by trees

so I get the briefest glimpses

 of interesting cloud formations.

But go to the Canadian west 

and glorious panoramas open up!

Here's just one......

Open Skies - pastel - Leslie Snider

 

Sunrise ...what to paint part 02

Sharbot Lake sunrise  - pastel - Leslie Snider

A few days ago I presented a few photos... 

all potentially good subjects for painting.

The first picture was complete in itself,

and I suspect no painting 

could improve on that moment.

The second and fourth,

definite possibilities for the future.....

but it was the opportunity

 to play with subtle colour

that inspired me to tackle the 3rd. 

I simplified the composition

 in order to emphasize

 the airiness of the clouds. 

If you have observed the rising sun 

you know how fleeting and illusive the light can be!