Morgan Arboretum
Posted: December 21, 2020 Filed under: Uncategorized 17 CommentsA walk on the trails of the Morgan Arboretum during a snowfall yesterday was a good opportunity to gather some reference images for painting. Although the arboretum is situated quite close to where I live, I’ve never had time to take advantage of the many walking and skiing trails. But as we all know, this is the year to appreciate what is close to home, so I’m now a member and will certainly be exploring this place in all seasons, both on cross country skis and with my sketchbook.
On a snowy day, the landscape in the woods is monochrome, so I have to admit I did take some liberties with colour, using lots of Burnt Sienna plus greens, reds and blues to enliven the scene. I painted on a sheet of handmade watercolour paper from Two Rivers paper in the UK. This is great paper if you are painting a subject that has a lot of texture in it like this or this.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Wow. You are amazing
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Maggie, thank so much for writing!
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Scrumpdillyicious feast for the eyes (and heart)!!!! Your paintings make me LOVE winter.
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I love your use of color here.
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I have fond memories of cross country skiing at the arboretum. Take some bird seed with you next time. Years ago the birds were extremely acclimated to people and would feen from my hand. Hard to take pictures at the same time, maybe take a friend with you
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I am in awe of your handling of the background trees, and pushing the color worked well, adds drama to the subject. The building reminds me of my grandparents “Sugar Shack” in northern Wisconsin. Every year they collected, & boiled down maple syrup in a building like this–YUM!
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Thanks so much. I’m not sure if this cabin is a sugar shack but there is another one close to this that is indeed a sugar shack so I will have to paint that one as well. Thanks for writing!
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I get the urge for a cup of hot cocoa while looking at this picture. Just lovely!
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Shari, this is beautiful and the artistic liberty you took with enlivened colors makes it especially so. I keep hoping to take a class from you sometime in the future—in Massachusetts or South Carolina possibly.
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I usually use Fabriano cold press extra white and I just ordered a few sheets of the rough to try out.. I tear the sheets down to fit in my Fearless Felt Sketchbooks. The full spread is about 8” x16” so pretty good size.
Btw I am sitting out in my backyard right now in the sun.. we are having our usual San Francisco “winter”.. I have to drive 3 hours to get to snow.
Have a very happy and restful Xmas! Eileen
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Hi Shari,
So glad to hear you will be tramping in “my woods” and will be doing scenes from a favourite haven of our family (for over 60 years as per one of the benches and trees in my parent’s name)
This one is charming and will certainly inspire me to do the same as soon as the Christmas season is done.
I love doing snow scenes too.
Perhaps you can do this one or another as a lesson. Would be fun.
Be safe and happy holidays.
Jane
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I love your use of color here.
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It looks so inviting. The colors you use brings life to the whole scene. I was trekking in the snowy woods by my house two days ago and took lots of photos.. it will be raining Christmas..might be a day to paint. I’ve been getting through your class on the boats….unfortunately I can’t get it on my laptop and working from my phone. I found it interesting how you sketch it…putting the masts in first and painting the sky and water veritically. It was a learning experience. I will definitely need to do this again. Hope you are able to have your family with you for Christmas. We will not be doing that this year……good thing there’s FaceTime and zoom!!
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You really brought life to this scene with your choice of colours !
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Beautiful painting of the log cabin. It looks like you have more snow in Montreal than we do here.
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I really like how the burnt sienna warms up the scene a little. This is really lovely!!
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Beautiful. I love to find the colors in your winter landscapes. This one is unconventional and that’s a lot of fun!
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