pastel Kathy Shumway-Tunney

Here we observe a pastel rendering of a residential street scene during late autumn or early winter. The composition is dominated by a pathway receding into the distance, flanked on either side by mature trees and houses. A layer of fallen leaves covers the path, creating a textured surface that reflects the muted light.
The artist has employed a limited palette, primarily consisting of browns, yellows, blues, and grays, which contributes to the overall melancholic atmosphere. The colors are applied in loose, visible strokes characteristic of pastel technique, lending a sense of immediacy and spontaneity to the work. There is an intentional lack of sharp definition; edges blur, forms soften, and details are suggested rather than precisely rendered.
The houses on either side appear somewhat detached from the foreground, their presence more as background elements than integral parts of the narrative. Their architectural styles suggest a period setting, perhaps early to mid-20th century, though this is difficult to ascertain with certainty due to the stylistic choices made by the artist. The trees are rendered as dark silhouettes against the lighter sky and foliage, emphasizing their verticality and creating a sense of enclosure.
A wrought iron fence runs along the right side of the pathway, adding another layer of visual texture and reinforcing the feeling of separation between the viewer and the scene beyond. A distant figure is visible further down the path, contributing to the impression of solitude and quietude. The light source appears to be diffused, casting a soft glow on the leaves and creating subtle variations in tone across the composition.
Subtly, the painting evokes themes of transience and decay. The fallen leaves symbolize the passage of time and the inevitable decline of nature. The muted colors and solitary figure contribute to a feeling of introspection and perhaps even loneliness. While there is beauty in the scene – the interplay of light and shadow, the texture of the leaves – it is tempered by an underlying sense of melancholy. The composition suggests a moment suspended between seasons, a quiet contemplation of change and loss.