Late November Subtleties

"Late November Subtleties"

8x10 oil on linen

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there!  So much to be thankful for.  There is the obvious, my children, friends, family, students, health, and believe me, I am SO grateful for all!  As an artist, I'd like to extend my gratitude to the gift of vision through my eyes.  What an amazing gift everyday to be able to see  the incredible colors that exist in Nature, that so Many forget to stop and absorb.  Yesterday was the day after Thanksgiving, my son Nick and I spent the day out at my Dad's enjoying just being outside.  It's unusually warm here in MN for late November (50 degrees today), we had a small snow fall last week that has since melted, leaving the ground wet and saturated with rich but subtle color.  My eyes almost can't believe what I see in the grasses these past few days.  "Late November Subtleties" was my yesterday's attempt at capturing what I believe to be some of the most difficult but most inspirational scenes to paint.  VERY flat light we had, but so SO beautiful.  This piece was done at about noon and I could hardly see my palette, it was so dark, very strange.  The green in the pond which was a thin layer of ice under the melting water top was very interesting to me since I don't usually get to see this color was fun to study.  It's a short lived effect.  

Happy Painting to those who paint.  I hope you enjoy what you see today!  It truly is a great gift!