Train through the Snow

Train through the Snow
Oil on canvas with easel, 4x4

 This clear, bright winter's day, has me framing and taking care of a few things I have lately been unable to.  For today's painting, I am taking a local steam engine and placing it on the tracks through the snow in Colorado.  This engine currently resides near the old depot in Belton, Missouri.  The surface is lightly textured, but the small 4 inch square size makes it look heavily textured on the large weave canvas.  I'm so thankful that my dad is so much better, and he is actually chomping at the bit to get started back home.  This makes 372 paintings in 372 days and Day 7 in the current 30 day painting challenge.  After painting daily for so many days, it really does become a force of habit to keep it up.  Each day has me finding my painting window, and adjusting my painting size to that window.  I'm looking forward to having a few days this winter when I can paint all day long!

Winter Train - Engine 1632

Winter Train - Engine 1632
Oil on panel, 14x11
Frisco 1632 - Belton, MO - Depot
GOT Art Gallery Holiday Trunk Show

With a larger painting window today, I really should have painted 2 small paintings.  But, alas, I wanted to paint this train today, which called for a larger panel.  Dated to 1918, this Engine 1632 now resides in Belton, Missouri with assorted others near our old depot. My father and both grandsons love trains, and my maternal grandfather worked most of his life at the Roundhouse for the railroad in Kansas City, Missouri.  Many years ago, I drew one in graphite, perhaps another in pastel, and decided it was time to put a few down in oil.  Putting this one on the tracks in a winter landscape suited my inspiration for today.  Painting number 321 in 321 days.