The Winter Spirit
The Winter Spirit (2017)
18×24 Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Available
As the sun and fun of Summer become only memories and we accept that the shorts and swimsuits are stowed away for the year, we must open our hearts and embrace the Winter Spirit. Though the daylight becomes low and brief, let’s not fret, for the streets are all a-twinkle with snow, and our homes are aglow with candles and crackling fireplaces. While outside becomes cold, we get all the warmth we need from hot beverages, hearty meals, and time spent with friends and family.
The holidays always bring talk of getting in "the spirit of the season," so I thought, since I'm a figurative artist, what would the literal embodiment of that feeling look like? What if it was an actual being who watched over us, sprinkling that twinkling feeling of joy and cozy magic that we strive for during the cold, short days and long nights of the year? This painting is my answer. Working in pastel, I wanted to capture a sense of seasonal wonder, portraying a magnificent, silver-haired angel floating above a snow-covered village. I focused on the vibrant contrast between the deep, starry midnight sky and the golden, swirling pixie dust emanating from his hand, mirroring the warm holiday lights of the town square below.
