Snow at East Creek

I love the twists and turns of East Creek, blanketed with yesterday's heavy snow.  Often the surface of the water freezes over, and the movement below will start melting tiny rivulets in dark shades.  It can be a challenge to capture all the moods of this frozen water, from shiny to opaque, dark to reflecting, and it often changes as I paint!  So, I lay in those darkest masses first, then the lightest, and proceed to the midtones from there.  Long ago, I would sketch each one in ink before starting.  I've be at it so long now, I can arrive at the place and already know what I want to paint.  Love the winter beauty of this place.  Painting number 3334 in 3334 days. 

Melting Snow on East Creek

 I love the turn of this creek with it's high banks, and it is even more interesting when mostly frozen.  The water is moving, so even at 12 degrees it is not frozen over.  The dusting of snow we had overnight is icing on the cake of this landscape. There is little wind down here, thank goodness, and the sun offered warmth until it dipped behind the trees.  I stood facing the sun, with my back to the north, bundled up complete with hand and toe warmers on this cold day.  The seat warmers in my car felt so good as I drove away from this place!  Painting number 3291 in 3291 days, Day 6 of the #stradaeasel challenge, and #win_winter2022. 

Fork in the Creek

I had given up on snow arriving when I looked out in the middle of the night.  So, I was so excited to see albeit a light snowfall had arrived!  Determined to make my classes at the gym first, I put blinders on to get there. Once there, my eyes kept drifting towards the windows - AND THAT BEAUTIFUL WHITE STUFF!  With my gear in the car, I went directly to the spot I did my pen and ink with watercolor yesterday, and painted in oils. My right hand did get a bit cold, since I can't wear a glove while painting small - and didn't even think of grabbing a hand warmer from my trunk.  No matter - it was totally worth it to paint in a place like this.  I hope to paint this place large with the next good snow!  Painting number 2940 in 2940 days and day 27 of the #stradaeasel challenge.

Tree by Winter Creek

Tree by Winter Creek
Watercolor on paper, 6x9
purchase here

Finally - we have snow on the ground!  It should be cold for the next week, so perhaps the light blanket of snow will remain!  Choosing a favorite spot,  I love the moody blues and grays of the sky, as the day looms on.  With such an atmosphere, I have worked completely wet into wet.  I know very little about layering in watercolors, and when I have experimented with it - I have been disappointed.  I prefer the loose way the paint moves when applied to the wet surface.  When I layer, I feel it is too easy to appear overworked.  When all is painted while wet - the painting is fresh and free flowing.  I have added a little warmth to the foreground trunks with sienna, and very little permanent rose to various snowy patches for added interest.  My favorite go to color these days is indigo, which is a wonderful winter shadow shade.  It is rich and warm, and fabulous mixed with a little blue-violet.  It is fun to be playing in the watercolors again, after nearly a month of oils and acrylics.  This painting makes 736 in 736 days and Day 5 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Frozen Creek

Frozen Creek
Oil on canvas, 7x5
purchase here

Today, I am painting before most of the company comes over.  It is likely to be very late by the time the party winds down - since it is New Year's Eve!  This painting is of a creek close to home, the view from the bridge.  This landscape is facing north, but it is equally beautiful facing south.  This day is overcast, and only 6 degrees this morning, so I paint from photo reference, using the color I see out the windows.  Another small one at 7x5 - although I really wanted to paint this one larger.  I'll save that for another day.  Painting number 732 in 732 days - have a fun and safe New Year's Eve!

Frozen Creek

Frozen Creek
Oil on panel, 10x8

This wintry landscape is close to home, and a place I have visited many times.  I have never attempted a completely frozen body of water, and this was my chance!  Using my brushes first, I blocked in all the values, finally finishing with my palette knife.  I forget how much I like the knife, until I pick it back up!  I also went back to prussian blue for this one, lending a moodiness to the cold.  I rarely paint over a previous painting, but I did on this one.  Under this frozen creek is a lackluster spring lake scene from years ago.  Since I am running out of panels - and snowed in - I thought, why not?  Painting number 401 in as many days :)