Winter, for Real

Winter Solstice, 12 x 24 pastel on board. A new piece inspired by our current season.

I'm busy working on new pieces that I will gradually reveal through this web site over the coming weeks. My first exhibition of this year will be at the Mount Nittany Medical Center in mid-February. I've displayed works there over the past few years and it's been a great way for me to kick-start my motivation during these short days of winter.

Like much of the rest of the country, we're currently experiencing colder than usual weather here in central Pennsylvania. For the first time since I moved here four years ago, we've had a prolonged cold spell that has helped to retain a worthwhile amount of snow on the ground. This thrills me because the clarity of the atmosphere at this time of year is unmatched. All four seasons inspire me, but winter is more elusive than other seasons. When things come together on a cold, crisp day the results are often more stunning than what you can see during the more temperate times of year. It just takes patience to recognize the charm of winter.

Shown here is "Winter Solstice," one of my newest landscapes. As its name implies, this was a scene from the shortest day of the year in December. I've had the idea for this piece kicking around in my mind for almost two years now. Ever since I painted Summer Solstice, I wanted to create its opposite counterpart. It took until just a few weeks ago to get the perfect confluence of features: Interesting clouds, a light covering of snow, and a clear atmosphere to enhance the fading daylight.

This piece was inspired by a location near Whitehall Road in State College, Pennsylvania. Although I do a lot pieces on location, these cold days require me to work from my photographic reference material....I've tried painting outside during frigid temperatures, but it's too hard on my hands because there's really no way to work while wearing gloves. Nonetheless, don't assume that it's just a simple matter of "point, click, and paint." I often take ridiculous risks to get The Shot for my ideas, and this scene was no exception. This was an exceptionally cold evening and the wind was howling. Blowing and drifting snow created a glossy veneer of ice on the rural roadways and it was treacherous to be out in such conditions (black ice is the worst). However, I wanted to capture this idea while it presented itself. The good news is that with the weather we've had lately, there will be more opportunities to capture the beauty of these winter days.