Snow day
Posted: January 23, 2018 Filed under: Uncategorized 45 CommentsWhat was supposed to be my first day of school today turned out to be a snow day — or rather an ice storm day. Every student’s dream, and teachers too — getting that notification in the morning that school is closed for the day. I used some of the free time to paint the snowy view I saw as I walked through the park with Alice last night at dusk. Today it looks very different, with a thick coating of ice covering the branches — not nearly as misty or atmospheric.
I use a rough Two Rivers paper for this, along with brushes from my arsenal of riggers and stripers to build up layers of branches. A big blob each of Verditer Blue and Burnt Umber on my palette help me get the greys I want, and some white gouache mixed in at the end allows me to add some opaque streaks of blowing snow. 
The bit of yellow is just the right touch! Beautiful!
Well thanks Rita. That little touch was a street light.
very atmospheric!
Thanks Leslie.
I agree with Rita – the yellow ads magic. Love this painting!
Thanks Mary.
Beautiful Shari! It really brings out the feeling of winter.
Thanks Gail. Hope all is well with you!
This is one of my favorites. I love the feeling of that cold snowy day and the bit of light In the distant sky.
Thanks so much!
such beautiful work.
Thanks Lois!
best ever snow painting!
Wow, thank you so much for this!
See you there.
Sent from my iPad
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I don’t think this was meant for me, was it ?
Fantastic.
Thanks Tim!
Love it!! How long did it take you to paint this? Not long I’m sure. It would take me one-half a day!
Donna, this probably took a couple of hours, but certainly not half a day. Long than that and I get impatient, and bored.
Very beautiful job. I love it!!!!!! Great job on the trees.
Thanks Larry.
Beautiful! Love the colors of this one!
Thanks so much Ann Christina!
What a beautiful work of art to wake up to on a dreary looking morning!
Many thanks Ineke.
Really beautiful!
Great to hear from you Lisa!
very interesting captures the atmosphere so beautifully
Thanks Rita.
Great atmosphere. Truly captures the current icyness (sp?). Wonderful composition.
Thanks Alison!
Lovely as always, Shari. Is there a Verditer Blue that you prefer – Holbein or DS? Or some other brand? I hear this pigment mentioned frequently.
Janine, I have only tried Daniel Smith so I can’t really answer that. I do like this one.
What a lovely painting. There is so much in the composition leading the eye to the sweet spot
( golden glow) . I didnt see the far house until I blew the size up and noticed the gold gable end it has. Graphic design background must help.
Thanks John. Graphic design background does help, and also always trying to think of the composition in the beginning. Design is so important.
I just had to look up Verditer Blue on Daniel Smith’s colour chart, What a beutiful blue made up of PB36 Cerulean Blue (green shade).PB28 Cobalt Blue and a White PW4. I think it would be hard to get it right if you decided to mix it yourself. It looks to be close to W&N Cerulean Blue Red Shade which goes nicely for our New Zealand Skies.
John, yes, that is exactly what it is. I don’t use it often but it works really well for cold, cold days when you need just that blue. Sometimes I just find Cerulean too warm for snow, and Cobalt is too cool.
Wow!!! Wonderful atmosphere! Your touch of yellow in the sky just draws me in.
Thanks Joan.
Absolutely entrancing.
Many thanks Trevor!
the light is just so perfect!
Thanks so much!
So gorgeous – moody and luscious! Shari, what size do you usually paint on site?