Winter Print

"Winter" captures the serene beauty of a stand of majestic pine trees in a snowy landscape, creating a scene of quiet enchantment, tranquility and solitude, and inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the hushed stillness of the winter woods. This painting was inspired by winters in Minnesota, as I've recently moved back to where I grew up in the Minneapolis area. Winter has a sublime and calming beauty, especially when looking at it from the window while drinking cocoa, (although I do plan to get out for wintry walks as often as possible). The sense of both isolation and connection with the natural world is an interesting contrast that many in cold climates I'm sure can relate to. The painting aims to evoke a range of emotions, from a sense of awe at the grandeur of nature to a feeling of introspective calm. The solitude portrayed is not one of loneliness but rather an opportunity for reflection and connection with the serene beauty of winter. I chose watercolor for its ability to capture the subtle nuances of landscapes diluted in snow. Nature in the winter shows both its stark beauty and its resilience in the face of the extreme cold. The style reflects a fusion of realism and elements of the sublime. And, I added oils on top to convey the heavy snow grounding the trees even more. And, I thought of a children's book that I love while I painted this, called Why Christmas Trees aren't Perfect by Richard H. Schneider. It's one of my favorites and worth a read especially at the holidays. I hope the painting evokes thoughts of tranquility, nostalgia, and the subtle magic and magnificence that winter brings.