“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.” – by John Boswell
John’s words give us many reasons to enjoy the moment of the season, too soon it passes and the chores of Spring come knocking on the door. Winter gives us a little time to sit and enjoy the quiet, or think about and plan for what’s ahead ~
Winter Light, an acrylic painting (14×11) was done on a gessoed hardboard using Liquitex and Golden acrylic brands. Many layers of paint were layed down with this piece as I worked from deep within the background to the forefront of the scene. I had a lot of fun developing the character of each tree with patterned bark, not to mention working out the sides of the pathway. It was just a great painting exercise to do. The scene reminded me of the street we lived on back in Maine – when the towering pines were all covered in snow. Aw, now I’m homesick ~
I’ve stressed my painting arm and have to give it a rest. Hopefully I will be able to paint again next week. Thank you for visiting – click onto the image for a larger view.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Glorious!
Great to see you Heath, thank you so much for your enthusiastic response to the painting.
It is beautiful…you always inspire me to pick up my paint brushes more often.
Thank you so much JAM, a great compliment and appreciated .
I love all the details in the trees. No wonder you wore out your painting arm! 😉
Thank you Ruth . it has been trying to say the least . it will be a while before I will be able to paint .
Beautiful scene, my dear Mary and love the rays coming out of the trees! Take care of your arm… even they need some pampering too! 😉
Hello my dear friend. Sorry I have not responded sooner still nursing the arm. Appreciate your kind and encouraging comments – always love hearing from you . Hope you are well.
With your artistic skills, you are able to capture the very best that Mother Nature has to offer. This is truly lovely.
Thank you Judy for always knowing how to make my day. I always appreciate how generous you are.
Nice painting, it always fascinates me how the sun shines through the trees in the evening in Late December with the low winter sun.
Thank you Shawn. Yes, it makes for a beautiful display of lights and shadows, doesn’t it ?
No wonder your arm is sore; painting all that bark detail! Well, it was worth it, as the painting looks fabulous. Much better to look at your painting, and imagine being there, than to dress up and go for a walk in it. I’m such a winter sissy! Love this, Mary, and may your arm get well soon!
You crack me up Resa – you a “winter Sissy” when you live in Canada! Thank you as always for always being present and feeling my work – means the world to me. I agree with you, I’d rather have the heat over ice and cold any day.
So beautiful Mary. I’m amazed at the texture and detail. It’s inspiring to look at!
Hi Catherine – great to see you. Thanks so much for your thoughts on this piece. It was a great scene to work on, between the light and detailing – lots of fun. Looking forward to going over to your blog to see your latest.
This is just beautiful Mary!
Thank you Leah for your generous comment – always appreciated!
I have been thinking a great deal about light these past winter weeks. There are so many variations of “light” depending upon the season, but also on the time of day, from sunrise to the bright mid-day to the mellow afternoon and finally the gentle refrain on sunset. Unless, of course, rain decides a different course, which creates another spectrum. We live in a world that offers many “light” experiences. Hope your arm heals.
Thank you so much Clanmother. You are right about light, all holds that special appeal – like a secret sauce. Very cool, I enjoyed reading your thoughts on lights. Hope the arm/neck heals before too long – a real bummer.
It’s the way you have let the light beam through the treetops to lend an ethereal feeling to a quiet forest scene. A lovely painting Mary.
Thank you so much Dorann for your beautiful read on this piece – always love receiving your thoughts on my work. Have a wonderful week ahead and hope that the high winds your way didn’t wreck too much havoc to your place.
Beautiful. You could have painted the trail to my cabin. I love the play of light through the trees.
What a beautiful thing to write Kelly Louise – thank you so much and for your visit. I really appreciate it.
Such wonderful detail, Mary Love the light streaming through the trees. The bark detail and the crunchy-looking snow are lovely too. 🙂 Hope your arm soon recovers. xx
Thanks so much Sylvia – I enjoyed your read on this painting. It’s going to take a while with the arm, it has been a week so far – hope it heals a bit faster than what it has been. I was on such a good pace with painting too.
That’s such a pity, Mary. I’ve had more than my fair share of arm/shoulder problems, so can empathize with you. 🤗
Just wish it would hurry it up and heal already – I know you understand. Thanks Sylvia!
You’ve reminded me of the prayer. “Lord, grant me patience, but please hurry. “ 😅
So good, perfect!
Beautiful, and what amazing work you have done with the bark on each tree.
Thank you so much Gallivanta and for calling out the tree bark – it was the most fun to do in this piece . have a great week .
Beautifully rendered. Hope your arm is better soon
Thank you Derrick – means a lot .
Wow! You did an amazing job, Mary. This is absolutely stunning. Thanks so much for sharing and take care of that arm! I apologize I haven’t responded to your email…it’s been hectic lately. I’ll write soon!
Thank you so much Jill for your generous feedback , means a lot . Don’t worry about it, your plate is very full these days . It’s taking a while , but the arm will heal – eventually . Have a great week.
So nice, so good! You managed very well to express the feeling we have during a walk in the snow with the sun filtering among the trees. I can feel the cold, the emotion, the silence in the nature…great painting!
robert
Loved your read on this painting Robert Thank you so much for your kind words .
Well put by Boswell, and a lovely painting, Mary! This is where I walk every day…or at least it makes me recognize my Swedish forest some weeks ago. Or is it Maine? Great work!
Thanks Ann-Christine . I agree , Boswell got it right Your photographs of the countryside are .Always gorgeous – it is a compliment to think that this painting remind you of your beautiful landscape .
You are so skilled, Mary! Always a joy to visit, and I could have filled my home with your art…
What a beautiful compliment Ann-Christine, truly have made my day. Thank you my friend … the same to you with your gorgeous photography, you capture light like no other.
♥ Thank you, Mary, that was a beautiful compliment♥
Love how the light shines through the trees, I’ve been trying to do that on my efforts too 🌹
Thanks Rose Elaine. The light rays were the challenge in this painting , but eventually I was able to work them in .
Such a beautiful painting, as we in the UK are celebrating the early arrival of spring. You have captured perfectly a beautiful winter moment. Janet x
So good to see you Janet . thank you so much for nice comment. Spring is just about here, looking forward to warmer temps. Hope you are well. Did you already hold your class?
My first class in Portugal begins on the 17th April….I am looking forward to it. Then I will be in Brittany France for the month of May painting and working with some others – and i recently found out will be at a wedding in Georgia in mid June….which is lovely. Enjoy the onset of spring. Janet 🙂
What a great season of painting and traveling you have coming up. Both Portugal and Brittany will be beautiful environments for inspiration . A wedding in Georgia will be gorgeous, and just before the oppressive heat takes over. All sounds perfect.
The light through the trees is great! 🙂 🙂 Hope you have warmer weather to rest up in, and get that arm better. Take care, Mary!
Thanks so much Jo – we were both on the same track with light through the trees. Have a great week ahead.