Inspiration or lack of...

I decide what to paint based upon a predetermined self-imposed painting challenge. Often the proposed challenge is not what the real challenges become during its progress -- but often they are.

Most of my recent paintings have been color riots and busy compositions. It's time to settle into calm and challenge myself to attack and control muted color and peacefull subject matter. Also the seasons are changing around me.

Today in Grapevine, Texas, where I live and paint, the sky hangs gray and white and cool drizzle soaks the ground, our first day of approaching winter. Makes me think snow even though the white stuff is weeks away, if we receive any this year at all. But some years North Texas does blanket white and gray. I will paint my memory of one of those years.

My first impulse is to establish the tone of the painting which I will do and post the result when it is accomplished.

First, I washed in a sky with Payne's Gray and lots of water. I chose a high horizon to emphasize the expanse of snow and because I usually like low horizon's. Break the mold, you know? This was a quick wash, perhaps took me a minute to apply it. At the same time, I was making a conscious effort to hold the feel of atmosphere and suggest cold air.