Snowy Afternoons

(C) 2014 Dale DiMauro

Here in Vermont, right after a snowstorm I love to take photos with my digital camera of the afternoon light on the fresh snow and in the shadows. My current exhibit has many snow scenes of local buildings not far from where I live. I paint many of these on 140 lb arches watercolor blocks in various sizes from 9 "x 12" up to full sheets (22" x 30"). I love to start by painting in the sky with many washes first. I keep the pigment lighter as I get closer to the horizon. Next I start as in this painting, by putting a light wash over the building and darken the window and eves. I work on developing the snow with two or three blue pigments which provide temperature, texture and shadows to the ground. The trees and vegetation masses I work on at various stages until I establish some depth in part to help make the focal point, in this the building, pop out. It is wonderful to see the progression, and as I go to bed, I imagine what the next step will be, whether mixing a rich dark or focusing on some light in the house.