Snow and Pines - then and now

"Snow in the Pines" Joanne F. Regan

"Snow Shadows" Jody Regan

 

 Spent some time organizing my studio this weekend.  Tucked in one of my many "safe places" I found a small painting of my mother's that I have always cherished (above left).  It's a study that hung in her home, signed but never framed.  I have no idea if she painted it from a window in our home, or while standing out in the snow in her boots...  but it reminds me of my childhood home, the yard, and the hours and hours we spent outside in the snow.  I can almost hear the quiet "plop" the snow will make when the sun warms the branch just enough.  
I can smell the wet wool of my soaked mittens after making snowballs, forts, huts, and sledding down the front hills before coming in to hot chocolate, and rolled newspaper to put in our boots.  Mom's painting draws me into the snowy woods behind our home... it's very poignant for me, as all my senses and memories feel activated.

Next to Mom's painting, is one of mine from a few years ago, "Snow Shadows". I've been studying the variety of colors in our two paintings.. similarities and differences.  I painted a small hill across the street from our yard, again on a warm winter day.  Completely different palette from Mom's painting, but I can still hear the warmed snow falling from branches.  

Someone told me a number of years ago that snow paintings aren't appealing, too cold.  Neither of the above paintings feels cold to me.  I feel the warmth of the sun, and the allure of snow in the pines... some 40 years apart.

Thanks for looking.  I enjoy all your comments.

"Looking at Ewe" oil 8 x 10

 "Looking at Ewe" (sorry, Bogey), is my take on this month's painting challenge for Girls Just Wanna Paint.  The September theme is "expression".  When my husband and I were married 20+ years ago, we went to England for our wedding trip.  We took a number of hikes alongside pastures filled with sheep.  The expression on these sheep brought me right back; mildly curious, mildly wary, mildly interested, certainly focused.  See the rest of the group's take on "expression" here.

The painting was commissioned as a wedding gift for a young woman who is raising sheep, and making wool, and yarn.  Thoughtful gift, no?

Here's a link to Bogart and Bergman and their iconic moment from "Casablanca". 

As always, thanks for looking.  I love your comments.