Winter... Wavering... but unwilling to exit as yet

We have again reached that juncture in in our our very long and cold Canadian winter... when most folks seem sick to death with its constant cold and the reality of being "winter-locked". Cabin fever is at best staved off by the presence of the constant hum of the Sochi Olympic Games coverage... providing a legitimate reason to stay indoors and simply enjoy a spectator participation in this global view of winter. It surely does focus on those of us who revel in winter weather and willingly...  "come out to play". I too... have caught my own fair share of broadcasts of this exciting once-in-four-year winter pageant. I thoroughly enjoy and am inspired by the presence of so many nations from around the world... competing and sharing the world stage ... in sport... peace and common brotherhood.

Somewhere in between my sitting down to take in the spectacle, the sun and blue sky of a few beautiful winter afternoons lured me outdoors locally on a couple of days to "compete"... with Me... My Self and I in our favourite winter past time - plein air painting. While I must admit that the cold was there... I was, for the most part comfortable and very easily able to enjoy every moment of the two sorties. Both were indeed plein air outings, but each was carried out differently from the other.

In this first outing... because of the lateness of the day, the goal was to trek ... camera only in hand, or concealed from the vicious cold within the folds of my red mackinaw until a subject appeared. My intent was simply to enjoy the late part of the day when shadows are bluest, competing in an ever-changing woodland dance with the failing light. I had my refuge, once again to myself . Glorious! I was indeed fortunate to find more than enough material for a post plein air studio painting session. That session occurred later that very evening... while every detail was still fresh. The photo would only serve as the first motivation to create. it provided only an initial map function, or structure for what would follow.The second part of this process was to transcend my actual experience by "imagineering" an impression and decisions shaped by my imagination... my own colour palette and free brushwork.

Reality vs Imagineering

Here is the reference photo directly to the left... once again, a nugget "mined" at the mother lode... Ivy Lea Provincial Par ... but on this occasion "refined"... at the studio smelter. I will leave it to you to decide whether I struck Gold! HA HA!!







Here is  my version as I cared to remember and record it. I have seen it many times previously... pretty much in just this light. Does it matter? I think not. What matters, is that I fully enjoyed painting it. It supports my continued belief.... that winter need not be looked upon as treacherously cold... and unsaleable... if that's what motivates one's reasons for painting. It is not my view... or my motivation however!

"Shadow Land" - oil on toned panel 8x10 inches

I'll close for now... and save the post recording the second and actual plein air result for posting later on in the week. Until then... if this quick post at all inspires you to get "out there"... even if only for a short jaunt... camera in hand to your own nearby "mother lode"..... I wish

Good Painting to ALL!

Stay tuned.... in to those Olympic moments... no matter your country. These Games promote the deeper,  more important and  lasting values... beyond one's place standing on the podium. It's about competing with your Self... as much as with, and against others to elevate one's knowledge of one's own accomplishments! That should become the spirit as well... that drives each of us to create in our individual anner.