January Pond

What a lovely winter day - after those days in the teens, I am reveling in it!  The surface of the pond is still frozen, but I'm sure it will start melting in the next few days.  I want to try to capture the look of melting ice on the surface of the pond.  Today, I could hear some animal nearby, digging in the ground and stepping on leaves.  It was so loud at one point that I thought it might be a deer.  I do love watching the wildlife while out painting, and there have been plenty of geese flying overhead, headed northwest.  I love the warm weather to paint in, but I'm still longing for snow!  Painting number 3295 in 3295 days.  This is also day 9 #stradaeasel challenge and #win_winter2022. 

Milk Barn Morning

I love a misty, drizzly day for painting in oils.  The colors are saturated and rich, and my paints are still thick from the freezer.  The air is crisp but so much warmer than yesterday's 12 degrees, that I don't feel the cold. It is still and quiet out here, a perfect time to paint.  I am revisiting earlier work, finding new ways to reveal this place, bringing the painting up to my current standards.  I learn with each painting, always striving for excellence, and I'm always my own toughest critic.  As I let the brush do it's work, the painting unfolds.  Immersed in the landscape, this time restores me, and I leave this place refreshed.  Painting number 3293 in 3293 days, day 7 #stradaeasel challenge, and #win_winter2022. 

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. 

Light on the Cars

 

A few snowflakes are flying as I paint my first 17 degree nocturne!  Sure is warmer during daylight hours, but this is my first chance to paint today. I had trouble deciding what to paint tonight, which is rare for me.  I had started another sketch earlier in the day, but the light was gone so had to abandon that idea for now. My thoughts have been on a funeral in the morning, and nothing seemed appealing, but this lonely light pole at the top of our lane.  Painting number 3290 in 3290 days, and day 5 of the #stradaeasel challenge. #win_winter2022 for the Winter plein air challenge sponsored by some artist friends in Russia. 

Lantern

This has been an emotional day, taking food to a grieving friend and her family, then attending the visitation of another dear artist friend, who we are related to by marriage through Dickerson brothers back three generations. Touching these lives at moments like this, brings so many memories back to the surface. I have not stayed for a funeral service since Dad. I can not. I may not again, until I have to. I find comfort here in the still night, listening to a distant owl, painting in the glow of the Edison lights hanging from the ceiling. Simply being where generations of my family have lived, is comforting. I'm looking forward to more winter nights like this. Painting number 3289 in 3289 days. 

Snow on the Pumpkins

Today finds me in the pumpkin patch - finally painting snow on my pumpkins!  My first chance of this unseasonably warm season, I am enjoying the interplay between warm light and cool shadows that push violet and blue.  The snow is melting right before my eyes, the sun shining down upon it!  Today I am starting an "extreme plein air event", shared to me from an artist in Russia who follows my work.  For the next week I will be sharing my outdoor pursuit of the perfect winter painting, tagging it with #win_winter2022.  Who  doesn't want to WIN winter 2022?!!  There are several art suppliers involved - and chances to win something everyday.  They are probably looking for creative videos on the experience, which are beyond what I currently share in process.  Maybe I'll try to add some of that to my daily work.  Truly, today was not extreme at all.  I actually got too warm in my thick wool scarf and outdoor gear, shed it all to cool off on the porch when I got back to the house!  Lol!  Pretty sure this time of year IS pretty extreme in Russia!  Painting number 3288 in 3288 days, and day 3 of the current #stradaeasel challenge. Wondering about that number?  I'm going to start correcting that each January, because I seem to lose track during the year, and even find that posts have disappeared for no apparent reason!  Oh technology, why can't you work perfectly all the time?