Winter is an exciting time to be a painter, around here. The landscapes I know and love are transformed by the weather. Familiar views look very different wearing their coats of snow and the colors I use most often during the other three seasons are not needed. Sounds great, right? Except, you know, it's in the teens today and way too cold to be out standing around painting the glory that is Maine in winter. I know several painters who bundle up and suffer through painting sessions outside, this time of year. Hardy folks. I am not one of them. Maybe I need to invest in some better outdoor clothing, like arctic survival gear. When I do go outside I like to remain in motion, but standing still at an easel for longer than half an hour? In a word, no. So I do what I can instead, which is pull up a chair close to one of the windows in our house, and paint the view while keeping warm inside.
This is the neighbors' house, across the street, seen from our living room window. No green grass, no maple trees in full leaf, no summer sunshine, instead the snow piles from shoveling the walks and driveway, long blue shadows, and the clean winter sky that often comes after a storm. When the temperatures rises above freezing again I'll be back outside, but for now it's so good to stay near the woodstove and be able to paint what I love anyway.
This is the neighbors' house, across the street, seen from our living room window. No green grass, no maple trees in full leaf, no summer sunshine, instead the snow piles from shoveling the walks and driveway, long blue shadows, and the clean winter sky that often comes after a storm. When the temperatures rises above freezing again I'll be back outside, but for now it's so good to stay near the woodstove and be able to paint what I love anyway.
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