Escarpment winter & December moon

We had our first 'official' snowfall here in Niagara, On, yesterday and this is my first official response to the winter season on the escarpment.

  December (departure), plein air, oil and cold wax on canvas, 11x14in, 2012, available

I never seem to exhaust this subject, nor do I want to. I know each tree so well as they are in front of my studio. I have painted them many times through the years and they continue to lead me on. 


This was rendered with lots of cold wax and knife work.

On another note, did anyone get a chance to see the last full moon of the year ?

December, full cold moon, encaustic on panel, from almanac moon series, 2012

sun standing still

Every solstice I am compelled to create in response to the ‘sun standing still’. After wandering my beloved field yesterday, I worked on the painting below, well into the night-the longest night of the year.

December,  Solstice, oil / cold wax on canvas, 18x24in, 2012, available

So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!                                                                                   
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

solstice, sunlight

Happy Solstice


'The returning sunlight is invited in with many symbols: Trees and evergreens, a variety of fires, candles, logs; and always singing and dancing. All the Winter Solstice symbols are a reminder that the sun is eternal, the cycle is renewing, and so are you. The sun is a symbol of our interconnectedness. It shines equally on all, and mother nature supports all equally. It is a time of finding unity.
Life on earth continually changes, yet the sun endures. It is the source of light and life. Cultures change and traditions come and go, and symbols are in or out of favour. The return of the light on Winter Solstice underlies all traditions of this season.'
http://www.quick-good-fortune.com/Winter-Solstice-Magic-Traditions.html

 December,  oil / aluminum on canvas, 48x48in, 2012

being brave

detail: the more things change

When I was in Ireland the message below was taped to the studio wall along with the dried rose. The two words resonated so much that when I returned, I wrote them, with charcoal, on my own studio wall

When I am pushing ahead and feeling doubt, they reassure me, and I am not afraid; in fact, I welcome the journeys that are mapped from failure.

The more things change, encaustic and vine on canvas, 16x20in, 2012

transition

Time is so elusive these days...

I did manage to get out for a quick plein air fix

December, remains of the Day, Niagara Escarpment, plein air, oil on canvas, 11x14in, 2012, available

This is worked on top of another failed painting-I enjoy pulling the paint over hardened,  slick texture. I like the resist, and being visceral in approaching some passages.

This past month, I have been transitioning my studio time. I hate these short winter days and we have had so many grey ones here that I can't work as I'd like-even indoors as the natural light in my studio is too dark. So I have been working on some other projects under artificial light and into the night-nothing to show yet but I'm enjoying the different 'head space' I have at this time of day. My right brain is willing to oblige and seems to be more in sync and open to possibilities- at least so far-fingers crossedxxx

encaustic etc

 Gold Leaf with Wild Asters, Niagara Escarpment

 oil, gold leaf and encaustic on canvas

 24x48in, 2012

protectors of nature

Below is another image inspired by my experience in Ireland.
Epona and Macha are Celtic horse Goddesses who watch over the land, protecting its abundance and insuring a good harvest. As protectors of nature, they grant sovereignty over the land and are the goddesses of the stable, protecting all who work with horses. They guide and protect.

Embedded deeper into the wax is the Inverurie Horses" symbol-a design created by George Bain, inspired by a Pictish image of a horse he found carved into a stone in Inverurie, Scotland. It too is thought to represent the three "Great Horse" goddesses of Celtic mythology: "Epona" (Gaulish), "Macha" (Irish), and "Rhiannon" Welsh. 

voyager 2, encaustic on panel, 8x12in, 2012, available

Spirals represent the journey of soul from the sacred vortex uncoiling outward to fill the universe, then returning to the balanced center. Spirals are a natural pattern found in wind and water currents, trees, shells, and seeds and express the unfolding of the earth’s energies and the expansion of the universe.

 

Throughout the layering process I intermittently added powdered aluminum pigment and although the digital image does not show, light moves continuously through the work.

Happy December

How did it get so late so soon?

It's night before it's afternoon

December is here before it's June

My Goodness how the time has flewn

How did it get so late so soon?

 Dr. Seuss

December, Niagara Escarpment, encaustic on box, 11x4x4in, 2011/12