The Art of Winter

"Winter Closing In"

It's time again for my annual blog about the Art of Winter at the Thousand Islands Arts Center in Clayton. I'm not sure how long the Arts Center has been sponsoring this show, but I have been a part of it for the last 4 years. Winter comes early to the North Country and tends to stay for quite a while, so rather than hide from the winter you might as well rejoice in its cold, crisp beauty.

This year I have painted the beginning and the end of winter. In the painting "Winter Closing In" the first snowflakes of the season are falling gently from the sky over Boldt Castle. Only the stag, a symbol of George Boldt's European lineage, is there to witness the silent snowfall as Fall fades away and Winter closes in.

"Spring Thaw" is a totally different take on Winter. After a long cold Winter it's good to see the land and water coming to life again.

In this acrylic painting we see the ice breaking up in front of Calumet Island. The water is still icy cold and the trees are bare, but we see hints of Spring in the warm colors peeking around the cool blues and purples.

The Art of Winter opens February 5 at the Thousand Islands Arts Center, 314 John St. Clayton, NY and will run through April 1.