Frozen

It's not even Christmas and the weather has been frigid here in Chicago! Frozen in time, the winter landscape has become my most recent painting inspiration.

"Forever Green"

12"x12"

encaustic, pan pastel, oil sticks 

"Night Shadows"

24"x12"

encaustic and oil sticks

"Frozen"

11"x14" 

encaustic, oil stick, and photo transfer

Unseasonably cold weather combined with recent life events has shifted my preferred color palette. Black, white, and neutral tones are predominant, stark scenery and a depth in landscape created by textured wax layers and shadows buried deep in the winter woods, begins this journey.

"Forever Green" is the exception that incorporates a bit of color - Turkish Green Umber, Payne's Grey oil sticks, and Burnt Umber pan pastel - just enough to give a hopeful glimpse that life will return once the snow and ice melts.

Haikus written by Natsume Sōseki capture the essence of these new works:

"Over the wintry
forest, winds howl in rage
with no leaves to blow."

"Watch birth and death:
The lotus has already
Opened its flower."

There is one more painting that needs to be added to this series... I have a 30"x40" panel waiting for paint.