Stream in Snow...

Winter has definitely shown up this week. It is definitely too cold and windy to be painting outside, so I have been struggling in the studio. I’ve had a few good efforts, and I have painted some real stinkers. The painting above is a new one, sort of. I’ve had a spring stream painting in the studio for almost a year, but the colors were a little flat and it just didn’t quite seem good enough to show. So while looking at the same stream while walking my dog in the snow, I realized that it has much better impact surrounded by white, instead of dead grass and twigs. After a quick sanding, I started laying in how I thought the snow would lay on the ground. I had a few references for the colors and light of a snow scene, that also helped quite a bit. In the end I think it came out much better, and I really enjoy this painting now. It was fun to take a painting that was just ok, and make it into something a little more worthwhile.

5 Responses to “Stream in Snow”

1. Susan Graeber says:

   January 24, 2013 at 11:41 am

   Nice composition n mood of colors. O those blues! Love your snow paintings. Stare at one everyday as its hanging on the wall opposite where I sit for dinner.
2. Stephanie Berry says:

   January 24, 2013 at 6:43 pm

   Wish you had posted a before photo. It sure looks good now. Love the vibrant periwinkle blue of the snow.
3. brian Cameron says:

   January 25, 2013 at 8:16 pm

   I can sure relate to having paintings laying around the studio not quite good enough. And also I’m glad to hear you say you did some real stinkers. So you are human after all! I figured you crank out one great painting after another with no ‘stinkers’ in between.This piece jumps off the screen.Great Job on salvaging an old painting1 The airstream below is a real keeper too. One of my favorite subjects. you’re good dude.
4. Barbara Craver says:

   January 26, 2013 at 5:50 pm

   Second Brian’s thoughts! All of them!
   Good to hear you paint stinkers occasionally (everyone does, but its so disheartening when I have a string of them). Or maybe they are waiting for a good strong revision!
   Ditto on the Airstream.
   Thanks for blogging and sharing the journey.
5. Marilyn Flanegan says:

   January 28, 2013 at 12:59 pm

   Your paintings seem to radiate a light of their own, Colin. Thank you for sharing your gift.