Snow Plow on King Street, Dundas

8x10 oil on canvas

I have attempted to paint snow storms before, with limited success. I am so captivated by them, they are magical. Snow flakes fly everywhere, colors are all soft and muted. But its these muted colors that make it a challenge, as there are few shadows and colors to delineate things. Last year we had several wonderful snow storms, and I took many photos. (Challenging as well) I ran into the middle of the street for this one. This snow plow lifts up his side blade to avoid hitting parked cars.
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Slivers of light,King and James, Hamilton

13x11 oil on canvas

Once upon a time, the corner of King and James was the center of Hamilton's finest stores, a wonderful cut stone city hall close by and several thriving small businesses. This corner convenience store now dominates the scene and here it is illuminated by slivers of light finding its way through buildings. After snow fall, city crews spread salt everywhere which melts the snow, creating wet streets and dirty snow banks.

Icicles, Jackson Street, Hamilton On

8x10 Oil on Canvas

I would like to thank everyone for their positive and generous comments on my last post. I was really happy with the way the painting turned out, and its great to hear how others feel about it. Sometimes I feel that I am achieving the looser more expressive style and stronger values I set out to learn ....but I am afraid that if I stop painting even for a short time, I will forget the process. Are all artists as neurotic as I feel sometimes?

On another note, we are in the middle of tearing out the inside of our stone cottage, and so I am spending a lot of time moving stuff from one room to another. (Renovating is so much fun when you live in the house at the same time.) As a result, I have been somewhat absent from painting and blog land and haven't visited as much as I like to. I will make the rounds soon to see what everyone has been up to!!

This painting is from a photo I took last year. I don't know if I have ever seen such large icicles. After our recent rain, all of this years snow has melted away. Still lots of time for a snow storm!

Winter Light, King William Street, Hamilton

16x20 Oil on Canvas

It seems like forever since I was able to pick up a paintbrush, but I made up for it today. I was determined to get a painting done. I started this yesterday, and pretty much spent the day today without stopping. (Except to walk Bailey) This is King William Street in Hamilton, with snow piled up on the sides. Snow in the city isn't as idyllic as snow in the countryside. It gets filled with salt and dirt from the streets and isn't always a pretty sight.  The late afternoon sun  created a wonderful glow on the buildings, transforming an ordinary dismal winter street.
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