Today I tried my hand turning a summer scene into a winter sunset.
Winter Sunset, an oil pastel (5×7) was painted on cream tinted Mi-Teintes pastel paper. This was a fun little exercise, but was a bit of a mind twister trying to stay focused on the sky colors bringing them into the landscape and reflecting off the snow. My second goal with the painting was to create an impressionist feel to the scene – the reference image was hard-edged buildings, crisp trees, road edging, and a more contemporary setting.
Today my imagination ruled. Thanks for looking ~
The original summer reference image was from Sasha of pmp.
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PLEASE DON’T COPY OR USE MY IMAGE WITHOUT RECEIVING MY PERMISSION FIRST – SEE DISCLOSURE ON THE RIGHT PANEL.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
I think you reached your goal. This has a Monet-like feel to it. Beautiful!
Hi Leslie, thank you – appreciate your feedback and compliment. I’ve made a few changes since, mainly with the buildings, and is posted under the gallery of winter paintings above.
I think you achieved your goals with this, Mary. I love the colors in the sky reflecting off the buildings and the ground. You painted a soft, moody painting. Someplace I’d like to be this evening.
Thank you so much Carol, really appreciate it. I wish you could have seen the summer scene that the painting was based off of, so funny but I could see winter and used the great elements. Smudging helped get the soft atmosphere to this piece, and lots of layers. It’s so cold out we all need this kind of warm up!
Nice colours and composition. Good work, Mary.
Thank you so much Bente, means a lot!! Glad you enjoyed the piece.
A lovely work – reminds me of Monet or Millet.
Thank you Eliza for your lovely comment and compliment.
Oh Mary this painting is stunning! I love the contrast of “cold” snow with the warmth of the sunset. Your impressionism is beautifully executed!
Thanks so much Rhonda – it was a great scene to work with.
This is so infused with warmth, love the colours and the whole feeling of this, Mary; it really springs out at this time of year, thank you for the delight!
Thank you so much Cara – I went back in yesterday and made a few adjustments to the behind the buildings and I think it reads better. I love warm winter scenes, takes away the cold of the season. Thanks again!
Stunning! Fantastic colors and yet soft. Impressionistic indeed.
Hi Susan, thank you for your beautiful thoughts on the painting.
What a great idea, switching seasons. And you’ve done it seamlessly. Quite lovely.
Thank you so much Elena for your generous comments! Hope you are enjoying your Sunday (flurries are expected here today!!).
It’s chilly yet inviting at the same time..marvelous
Thank you so much for your beautiful thoughts on this piece.
You succeeded. Totally. Can I have it ?
😀
Thanks M.R. for your request!! Okay it’s going into the shipping container, as well as all the others ~
Very effective.
Thank you Gallivanta!!
Warmth and sunset glow abounds in this scene Mary … and I do like the impressionistic interpretation very much . You imagination is working a treat !
Hi Poppy, It’s rare, but sometimes a winter sky can breath warmth into the most cold scenes – it’s what I was hoping to do with this painting. Thank you so much, I thoroughly enjoyed your comment.
Interestingly beautiful piece Mary! Love the impressionistic feel with golden snow, love when your imagination rules, the result is more than stunning!
Thank you Eva – loved reading your thoughts on this painting. The more I see the painting, the more I’m convinced to go back in and change the width and height of the buildings and perhaps add a few nondescript ones in the very background. Just some thoughts swirling around this morning. Really appreciate your beautiful feedback!
“turning a summer scene into a winter sunset”, your beautiful work has reminded me of Turner’s wonderful paintings! Have a nice Sunday 🙂
Thank you so much FGM for your generous compliment!
Love the colors and composition you’ve chosen, Mary.
Thank you Jane!
My other friend, Mary the artist who I wrote about and we discussed, painted a scene quite similar to this actually. You may not like the comparison but though her painting was of the War of 1812 and the burning of D.C., this painting of yours brings that one immediately to my mind. Perhaps that the “over” saturation you were speaking of in another comment, but whether it was intended or not, I think this is a really neat scene because it makes the viewer wonder if it is indeed fire that is making the glow or just sunset as you intended.
Thank you A! for your feedback and thoughts, provocative and if I was to paint this scene over, I would consider adding more deeper red tone. The glow evolved in this piece and became more interesting as the clouds structure was built.
Great subtlety in this work, Mary, and i like the tone control very much
Thank you John for your nice description of the work. I do think I need to revisit the four buildings that are all the same height and add some slight imaging behind them . . . will let that thought simmer a while.
Fantastic image, wonderful mood. Makes one want to explore.
Thank you Stan, much appreciated!
I love the color of this piece and it makes me feel cold
yet the sun rays hit the right spot.
it reminds me of Cézanne or Monet
Thanks very much Doris, I love your description. There are so many layers of color in the sky, at one point I thought oh no, I’m going to lose the whole effect. But through scraping with a razor and reapplying the layers it came together.
Right on the Monet….er..I mean right on the money!
Might be a tad bit too saturated, considering the sky – but it was fun knocking this one out w/o too much worry of details et al.
Very striking piece….well done…..
Thank you Rob, really appreciate it!
The colors are so beautiful, Mary!
Thank you Francesca – a little warmth for the start of our winter season.
Glad your imagination ruled, Mary!!! …and ruled it did! 😉
Thank you so much Marina for your beautiful comment – there are many such scenes waiting to be painted. Love winter scenes ~ Happy weekend to you!
And thanks for offering us such a treat. The golden colors are beautiful. Must be a tough exercise to turning a summer landscape into a winter sunset. The result is warm and has a real touch of impressionism. Best to you, Mary.
Thank you very much Evelyne for your lovely comments – it was a great exercise, with limited goal, but to work the sunset colors throughout and be convincing that it’s a winter scene. Several more are coming with this theme in mind.