Right now, my house is filled with a chill I can’t shake, the sky is a gloomy grey, and all I want to do is hide under a blanket until spring, which seems so far away.

As someone whose primary painting subject is flowers and nature, this is a tough time of year!  

Obviously flower stores exist and I sure have picked up a few supermarket bouquets for inspiration here and there. There are other things to explore also, my collection of photos taken for future use, everyday objects, and fruits and vegetables (I still have a reference photo of a grouping of onions that is just waiting to be captured).

There is something to be said for the winter landscape itself.  Rendering light and shadow on the pure white snow is a tempting idea. In the Golden Hour, rather than empty white, the snow displays blues and violets, pinks and golds.

I also find myself turning to more whimsical illustrations with ink and watercolor.

What will I find to inspire me next?