The reference for this scene was actually a winter one with snow covering the fields and path. As a challenge I attempted to imagine how the same scene would look if spring pushed itself into this particular landscape. For a few days before painting this, I payed particular attention to fields and tree lines in the country around my area to come up with the colors I used in this. I noticed how bright and sunny everything looked.
Stephen Kellog has honoredthis painting by writing a poem about it here. Thank-you, Stephen!
Leslie White 
47 Comments
This reminds me of a nature preserve I often walk at in Newport. There is a very serene,calming feel to it. Very nice work.
It’s a small world, isn’t it, Jackie? Once I started painting this, I decided it could be a lot of places. It reminds me of a State Park bridle trail where I used to ride my horses in Indiana. Thank-you for the comment. I loved painting this landscape.
Leslie, this is gorgeous!! The colors you used are some of my very favorite ones to paint with. Do I see some Quinacridones? (Am I even spelling that right?) I love the watery way you use color!! 🙂
I didn’t use quinachridone gold, this time, but I do use a lot of it in my work. This was a transparent yellow by winsor newton that really works well with a green called winsor green blue shade. There is no way I could use the green by itself as it is rather garish but it is wonderful with almost all other colors (very strong, transparent and staining as is the yellow). I added burnt sienna to much of this, even colors that don’t look like they have burnt sienna in them, do. Thank-you for your comment on watery as I have been feeling as though I have been lacking in that. I love quinachridone gold and quinachridone red!
What a fun project!
This is so ‘Leslie’ looking for Spring in the Winter landscape. The painting is so full of life.
Thank-you, Stephen. Don’t think I don’t watch you and examine your beautiful landscapes to see what I can learn from them. Your attention to landscape has inspired me to look longer and try to see the whole scene instead of just individual parts.Thank-you for that inspiration! 🙂
Leslie what a great challenge! This shows what good visual imagination you do possess! Your eye for composition and the line pays off , but it is your wonderful use of colour that paints that day 🙂 Wonderful stuff – more please!
PS The close up views are an added bonus 🙂
Thank-you, Lynda! What a wonderful compliment and, yes, I feel I could use some lessons in letting my imagination take over. This was but a baby step. I wish I could get it going enough to do something like Marilyn Manson’s “April Fool” that you posted here: http://echostains.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/the-fools-day-out-again/
Maybe not so freaky but more out there! 🙂
Leslie, it really does seem like you’ve captured the feeling of a winter landscape moving into spring. Beautifully done.
Thanks, Carol. Your paintings on negative space actually helped me with this. I painted the shapes in and out around those dry leftover grass stems as though I was filling in negative space and the folds in the ground. So, thank-you! 🙂
I aim to please. Actually it’s really nice to hear that since you are always teaching us, your loyal fans about so many different techniques.
I’m still trying to get better at scumbling, also. I think I get my paper too wet and then brushstrokes don’t show up. I’m working on a lot that I see you do and others. 🙂
I love the loose reflective quality of the road. A water quality that seems to be a reminder of spring and melting snow, promising rains.
You rule, Nancy! 🙂 I was hoping that I did that. Thank-you!
Beautiful painting again,dear friend! 🙂
It’s obviously that you enjoy to paint nature with lot of pleasure 😉
Thank you for share it again,Leslie!!
It’s a pleasure for me to visit your blog and to admire new paintings! 😉 I’m always curious what kind of surprises do you prepare again 🙂
Enjoy your day,dear friend!!
Thank-you, Alina. You always bring joy, here. 🙂 You have a great day also!
I really like the multiple textures in this painting…and your crisp, clean spring-like colors are gorgeous.
Thank-you, Linda. I’m hoping I can put some of these ideas to good use outdoors soon.
reminds me of when i used to cycle in the countryside.
a beautiful painting
Thank-you, Kokot. Did you mountain bike on dirt trails or ride on roads? I couldn’t handle the dirt but did OK riding the pavement.
the roads, but a lot of them were like dirt tracks. lol
Dodge the pebbles, cracks and potholes, I imagine. 🙂
Angelita was looking at your blog with me after yoga therapy. She likes the tall tree!
Angelita, thank-you! 🙂 I like that big spotted one, also.
This reminds me of summer. Fresh breeze, bright sun. I love it. 🙂
Thank-you. 🙂
Looks like such an inviting path Leslie. I love the blue sky, I can imagine riding my bike along that path and stopping to have a nice relaxing picnic 🙂
Thank-you, Chloe! That sounds like a plan. Maybe we could find some more shapes for you to use in your designs by looking at the way the branches twist and turn on the birch trees. Love those shapes you come up with!
Oh thanks, that’s a really cool idea.
Lovely! Very peaceful.
Thank-you Sydni! Your hummingbird studies are a delight!
This is lovely, Leslie! A lovely mix of cheery and wistful. I love the curving irregularity of the trees in the foreground.
Hi Alex! Thanks for the comment. Those trees? I think that is what caught my eye. They look as though the wind had its’ way with them doesn’t it?
Beautiful painting, Leslie. Appreciate the depth, and wonderful colors as well. Always enjoy your work 🙂
Thank-you, Adam! Sometimes I wonder when I look at your photos and others’ paintings of landscapes, what is behind the last stand of trees or the row of homes.
Nice scenery Leslie. The trees and the grass looks just fine with each other. Looks like a clear and sunny day to me.I like to look at the distance trees and the open road.
Thank-you, Francis. I was hoping to catch that sunny day.
Great painting its both relaxing and inspiring. Great post 🙂 I really enjoy your work 🙂
Thank-you, Alonso! 🙂
It feels like I have walked this road a many of times. Coming back from the hunt, walking with my wife hand in hand or just walking solo and doing a lot of meditation and thinking. Very nice!
Thank-you, Ryan. I thought of similar things when I first saw the reference for this.
I like how the tree bends like the road does. As if they are dancing.. 🙂
What a beautiful vision! Thank-you, Camilla!
The landscape is lovely but I suggest to add little more tint of golden yellow around for the beautiful curve barks to appear bright.
Thanks Lily. I see what you mean. Thank-you!
i love how everything kind of curls in this…curls with the wind…even the trees! beautiful!
I had the feeling that the wind was the culprit in making the trees bent. Then it took a photographer’s eye to see the similarity between trees and path and snap the picture. This reference was on that sight for artists, wet canvas. Thanks, “Y”!
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