Winter Has Arrived along with December!

Our December snowfall, before it melted away. As a Minnesota native, I LOVE the winter snows! Snow brightens all the dark days by laying a layer of white everywhere. Alas, here in central PA, the snow rarely lasts long, so it turns to slush and mud quickly. But while it is here, I'm always thrilled!

As you can see, it's not much, by Minnesota, Vermont, or Maine standards. But it sure is beautiful when it's new and fresh. Ever notice how quiet it is outside when it's snowing? All those snowflakes must also absorb sound, because it's always magically quiet in a soft snowfall. Now a windy, blustery, stormy snow - that's another animal altogether...

Meanwhile, I completed two autumnal collages for our Bellefonte Art Museum Annual Christmas Show & Sale.

The one on the left, entitled "The Lost Chord" from the sheet music in the background, has already sold. So it's been replace by the one on the right, entitled "Autumn in Pennsylvania." Had a lot of fun doing these. I've not done collages in the past, so it was a happy experiment that I enjoyed doing. I printed some of my photos on sheer organza prepared for inkjet printers. Then cut them apart and rearranged them with natural object, art, and papers. So much fun. A new medium to explore!!!

My other framed entry is a watercolor with graphite of one of the great-grands. I call this one "Stars & Stripes" - alternately, "Save the Children."

And I'm somehow revived during the cold, dark season....probably because I've just received my orders of another new medium: Pan Pastels!

Check out Pan Pastels on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pan+pastels+techniques

I'm participating in an upcoming exhibit honoring women in our community. Each woman is having her portrait done by one of our Bellefonte Art Museum member artists. I need to complete the portrait within the next month - for many reasons! Mostly so it can be framed for the special exhibit in March 2020 at the Museum. Also, because Frank will be having a total reverse shoulder replacement at the end of this month, so I'll be a tad busy after that!

So I'll be experimenting with pan pastels for the next week or so until I feel a tad confident that I can do a great portrait of a wonderful woman in our community, to be honored in March! Wish me luck!!!