Today’s snow painting took many twists and turns – what started as an empty snow field with footsteps and three birch trees, soon became something totally different. The painting started to take over, so I stepped back and let it tell me where to go.
Snowy Creek, an oil pastel (7×5), was painted on light cream Mi-Teintes pastel paper using Senneliers, Holbeins and Neopastel OPs. My interest in painting this scene was to capture the warm colors of sunlight. The painting was my first for warm snow colors this year, it was a good warm up session and helped tremendously to get me started.
A reference image from Barbara Swinton, of pmp, was used as the basis for the painting.
MY ART IS COPYRIGHTED.
PLEASE DON’T COPY OR USE MY IMAGE WITHOUT RECEIVING MY PERMISSION FIRST – SEE DISCLOSURE ON THE RIGHT PANEL.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
You seem to be upping the ante on me, Mary! I don’t know how I missed a few of these ones recently (perhaps because I’m consigned to reading at night and half asleep?) Anyway, I love this scene….the trees are wonderfully captured and the hints of oranges and red give great warmth. I also like the hinted pathway as opposed to something bolder….it gives a sense of a secret pathway only known to a few.
Hi A! Thanks very much – glad you enjoyed this snow scene. Sometimes my paintings will take on a life of its own, and this one did just that taking me on an interesting journey.
You’ve delicately portrayed a lovely scene here Mary !
Thank you Poppy, really appreciate your comment – it started out a more simple landscape and then kind of took on a life of it’s own but, isn’t that what always happens!
I love the soft tones of your painting… Very delicate and pretty dear Mary.
All the best to you. Aquileana 😀
Thank you Aquileana for your lovely comment!
Lovely Mary! I like the way you rendered the trees. The touches of warm colors against the cool blues are wonderful. Well done!
Thanks Rhonda – appreciate it!!
I do like the thought of your letting it take you where it wanted you to do.
And it was right !!!! – just beautiful, Mary !!!
Thanks M.R.
Love this painting with the touches of color. So pretty!
Thank you Elizabeth – kind of had a mind of it’s own as I got going.
Beautiful birches!
Thanks Elena!
Lovely
Thanks Jess!
Hi Mary, I love the mystery in this one! The captured sunlight, the shadows, the fence, and foot path. It would make a great prompt for a short story. Keep warm! Theadora (I can almost hear the crunch of the snow.)
Hello Theadora, love seeing the scene through your eyes – yes, I think there is a bit of crunch as one wonders down to the creek. Thank you for your beautiful thoughts about the painting. Our temps plunged some 40 degrees, we forget how cold it is in the middle of January – but wait it’s only November!! Take care, hope you are enjoying your new job! Several more snow paintings on the way!
It’s beautiful! And a portent of things to come this winter…..
Thank you Dorann, yes I’m afraid too soon for many of us.
Mary,
this is a very fine rendering
Thank you John!!
A change of season and I love where your painting took you. Its beautiful.
Karen
Thank you Karen!
Amazing painting… you know, I think that Snow & Night are very challenging topics in Painting, because of whiteness & darkness… I find your snowy creek (by the way, the tiltle IS a poem!!!) so beautiful… hope you’ll try to paint something about Night. 🙂
Thank you so much F.G.M. for your beautiful thoughts and feedback on this painting. I have several evening scenes that are in the works, stay tuned! Thanks again, means a lot.
Very nice Mary!
Thanks Susan!
I love this! 🙂 It’s so soft.
Thank you very much Patsy!
Absolutely stunning, the scene is so crisp, fresh yet you made it warm with those highlights, a most beautiful site to take a walk! Superbly executed!
Hi Eva, thank you for your generous comment. It’s funny so many times we envision perfectly tidy winter landscapes, which usually happens with deep snow after a heavy fall. But what about those places where the snow is shallow and dried grasses are scattered about? I think that is where the field took me and I let it have her way. Thanks so much!
Lovely.
Thank you Stephen – really appreciate it!
Well now, dear Mary, I think you succeeded beautifully….and now I remember: there IS such a thing as warm snow!
Thank you Cynthia – so glad to get the first warm scene done, it really does help. It’s time to paint a few more scenes of warm winter days – I think we all need it, the temps have dipped with snow flying. I read that Maine has set a couple of records, stay warm!
I can’t believe we are getting into the winter season already…sigh. But you sure do make it look beautiful.
Hi Laurie, thank you so much. I know it’s early, but have you seen it outside? My we are getting blasted up here in Northern TX – will go down to low 30’s this evening, and a slight chance of white stuff over the weekend! Guess I jumped the gun, but still life’s and florals are up next so the snow scenes have become my focus. Stay warm ~