Thursday, July 22, 2010

Winter Evening

This is a work in progress.

I obtained this picture from a postcard I liked. We had winters like this heavy with snow and we'd go out in the evening as a family, to throw snow balls and make snow men. I especially waited for a night like this to walk and meet my Mom at work and accompany her home.
It would always be so comforting to see the lights in the window and then to look forward to warming our feet inside by the warm fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate.
In this painting I am changing things like adding mountains
etc.... To suit my own vision of this particular evening.
The Original had Christmas trees in the wagon.
Since I hate cutting down trees I won't put that in there. lol
The house will be different although I like it in purple, it doesn't match the blue mountains, Not that it has to. I was thinking to make more branches on the tree outside and cover it in festive lights as well as the house which should have some hanging lights. No house with children, is ever without a snowman and country scenes always have dogs.
One day it will be finished.
When I was a kid, my friend's Dad painted bears on a log in a forest, from a post card .
It's a well known post card and I've seen the original painting in the store, but
because I watched this man paint it, it secretly meant a lot to me to see it on his wall even if it was a copy,
I loved those bears and often thought to paint them myself so I could have something similar but so far I have not reached the bear painting stage. lol
I am mainly into kids dogs and horses and of course soccer.

In any event I work slow because I am the sort of painter that requires a special hobby room
to do this sort of stuff. This way every time you walk by you can look at it and see what it needs.
Then you can work on five of them at the same time and the work becomes interesting. lol

It's a bit different from the 20 foot w x 10 foot h props I used to draw for my sons drama plays.
They took up my whole wall in the living room and everything had to be done from scratch,
starting from sewing of the material together, to making hooks to hang it and then the painting itself.
It was hard work but I had so much fun making it and it felt so good when the parents would come and stand in front of it for pictures after the play was over, with the kids.
That's mainly why I did it and this was my reward.
Walking in art museums, I always saw an artist set himself up in front of a Michael Angelo or a Leonardo da Vinci painting and try to make it as lifely looking as the actual picture. Since it takes years to paint such a picture, I often wonder how long they sat there painting it.:)

9 comments:

Gattina said...

Please don't talk about winter I am so happy that it is summer ! I hate winter ! lol !

Akelamalu said...

That's a lovely scene, even though I don't care for winter much.

Kimmy said...

Fall & Winter are my favorite seasons..always have been and always will be.
This scene is most beautiful and reminds me of Norman Rockwell, such vivid colors and detail.
What a gift that was for you to actually know a true painter, I would love to witness an artist work.
We now have two things in common: horses and art!
Have a lovely evening A Lady's Life, cheers!

Bill ~ {The Old Fart} said...

I can remember the Winters that you talk about growing up on the East Coast. And now living in Calgary we can get Winter 12 months our of the Year.

Someday you will have to share your painting with us.

Trotter said...

Hi Lady! Fortunately (or unfortunately) our winters don't have that snow... But your post is lovely!!

Blogtrotter Two has gone deeply in Sardinia... Enjoy and have a great weekend!

George said...

I like the painting you shared with us. I only wish I could have seen your stage props.

aladys;life said...

Thanks for all your comments guys :)
George I have those but they are in boxes in the basement and I can't get to them right now.That was the first time I ever did something like that and when they began to turn out you sort of get hooked. Its hard to unhook yourself and begin doing what other people do, like enjoy life in a world that exists only in story books.It was easier to go to work than doing 18 hour days of volunteer work lol

Baron's Life said...

Superb

A Lady's Life said...

Baron Thanks :)