This Winter's Night

When I lived in central Pennsylvania, one of my favorite places to paint en plein air was the distinctive Black Moshannon State Park, just outside of the little town of Julian. I caught this sunset moment during a bitterly cold January evening, when only my erstwhile studio mascot, Maple, was brave enough to accompany me. This is looking across the flat, frozen expanse of park's bog, and it was a perfect coda for my time in Pennsylvania.

I wept on this night when I departed the park in my truck, not sure when I would get back to it. But I’m happy to share that I still visit every so often, so all is not lost. Subjects like this resonate deeply with me because they evoke fond memories of winters spent in Wisconsin during my childhood.

>> This painting grew up from a smaller work, "Study, This Winter's Night."