Frosted Windowpane

I’ve always been fascinated with the frost patterns and when I saw this on my cousin’s storm door two winters ago, I just had to try and capture it.


So often the patterns resemble a forest of ferns, other times they just swirl and revolve. They are truly dream scapes.

This was painted on canvas first some acrylic texture then painted over.  The photograph of the painting is not the best; the colours are actually more vibrant and glowing.

It has fortunately, or unfortunately sold. Unfortunately because I had to part with my ‘dream canvas’.

Enjoy


This blog is linked to my other blog where I talk about winter preparations during my growing up years:-
turningpointsandidentities

Hoar Frost on Trees, Winterscape

Talking with my mother in Timmins, Ontario this morning and she tells me snow is on the way overnight.  This starts my season of 'homesickness'.  Love the winters in the north and the winters when I grew up. 

There was much preparation for winter in the North when I was young; but the wonder and beauty of the primeaval surroundings made it worth while for many I am sure. I speak of winter preparations in part of my other blog; but here I would like to share with you the spectacle that makes me 'homesick'; even this late in my life. 

If one is an early riser in Northern Ontario one can often enjoy the quiet beauty of a frosty mornings in all their glory.  This painting remembers hoar frost as it glistens and dances on trees along the shore of Kamiskotia Lake near Timmins, Ontario.  As sunlight bathes the trees one is treated to a 'dance of diamonds' with golds, reds, yellow and blues!  Truly one of the wondrous moments of a Northern Ontario winter. 

Just one of the types of frost in the north country; there is of course the ground frost or 'permafrost' that penetrates deep into the ground. 

Just wanted to share this moment of silent wonder with you.


This blog is linked to my other blog where I speak of winter prepations of years past: - turningpointsandidentities

Up Close and Personal - Coloured Pencil

Today I though I'd include a coloured pencil sketch.  I have very few of these remaining as they seem to have been scooped up as soon as they were completed.  This one has survived, because it is not yet completed!  Think I just may leave it this way!

This was not an ‘up close and personal’ in the sense I was not sitting close to the subject. I did however attempt to understand and ‘feel’ the images seen through an old farm house window....cozy and warm inside; cool and crisp outside.  Love cold crisp days when the sky seems so pure and blue, the snow so white and shadows so wonderfully dark.

Don't know that I captured all I wanted to say in this one, thus it sits incomplete.  I may have overworked it now and lost the vastness of the snowy fields.....the crisp edges we see on clear, cold days.  Any comments or help you can offer would be so appreciated.

I do want to do something with the window muntins and plan to cut matting in two layers, one on top of the other and sketch in the putty, missing putty, chipped paint…..all the good ‘stuff’ that makes old wooden framed windows so beautiful.   The photo here is just a suggestion, contemplating size and placement of muntins over sketch.  It is slightly askew; don't know if I will leave that way or not just yet.  We shall see. 

I seldom sketch in pencil anymore except for working sketches; it is so costly to matte and frame sketches I tend to stay with the cheaper presentation methods of oil on canvas.  I have purchased a couple watercolour ‘canvases’; new on the market.  These allow the artist to paint using watercolours and to ‘glaze’ the finished work eliminating the need for framing under glass.

Will look into these on another day also.  Seems I have quite a bit of 'another day' lying about this studio.

Hope you enjoy today’s sketch.