All painters should occasionally
go somewhere else to paint, even if it’s just the next town over.
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Snow squall at Twelve Corners, by Carol L. Douglas |
I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. I have antifreeze in
my veins. The coldest weather I’ve ever painted in was -10°
F. That was about twenty years ago, when I made the commitment that I’d paint
outdoors six days a week for a whole year through. Sub-zero weather is a fact
of life in Western New York, as are blizzards and wind-swept deluges in the warmer
months. I painted through it all.
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Path, by Carol L. Douglas |
I came away from that year realizing two things. The first
was that if you paint that much, you have to sell your work, if only to be able
to afford more paint and canvases. That was the start of my consistent business
practice.
More importantly, I didn’t need to do it
again. Now I paint outdoors in the winter because I want to, not because I’ve
got something to prove. That means I can set limits: no subzero weather, no
gloomy days, and no howling winds.
Snow paintings are best with sunlight.
One more thing I’ve only recently concluded: you can’t skimp
on winter clothes. I’ve spent way too much time being cold because I was underdressed. That’s foolish.
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Hayfield, Niagara County, NY, by Carol L. Douglas. The lumpiness in the paint is because it was so cold even my oils froze. |
The painting above was done in a hayfield in Niagara County,
NY. When I packed up to leave, I realized my van had a dead battery from the
cold. Twenty years ago, I didn’t have a cell phone, so I trudged down the road
to call my brother. “I was wondering what on earth you were doing there,” said
the kind lady who answered the door. My brother just called me an idiot.
What do plein air
artists do in the winter? Mostly, we paint indoors. All of us have ideas for
studio paintings, commissions, etc., that need to be executed sometime. If we have any sense, we also rest. I haven’t done a good job of that
this year; I’m scrambling to finish work before the season starts again.
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Rock wall, by Carol L. Douglas. Winter means a lot of twilight in the north. |
If we’re lucky, we sneak in a short trip South to paint, as I did
last winter. This year, I’m being contrarian and flying west instead, to
New Mexico (where it’s a balmy 25° and sunny today). Jane Chapin and I plan to paint some winter mountain
scenes high above Santa Fe. Yes, we have mountains in the Northeast, but they’re
a very different character.
All painters should occasionally go somewhere else to paint.
It doesn’t have to be an expensive, extensive trip. If you live on the coastal
plains, go to the hills. If you live in a town, go to the countryside. Even the
smallest shift of viewpoint profits us. The land has a different shape,
different focal points, different light, different masses. We stretch when we
paint what’s outside our norm.
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Suburban snowstorm, by Carol L. Douglas. Wherever there are trees and snow together, you can paint a landscape. |
I leave Monday, weather permitting. I’m starting to pack my
winter gear. But first, I must clear the driveway and bring in more wood. Ah,
winter! You may be beautiful, but you’re also a lot of work.