On the Retreat Trails

(C) 2015 Dale DiMauro

In late fall and winter when I am not so busy, I try to walk, hike or snowshoe the Brattleboro Retreat trails as they are a block from our house. This picture is from one of those walks. Overnight a new thick coating of white gives the woods that fresh snowy look as seen in this watercolor. I love how the fresh powdery snow sits in the crotch of this hardwood tree seemingly protected from any disturbance. 

This little watercolor I did on an Arches watercolor block (9" x 12"). The challenge in this picture for me, was to depict the roundness of the two trunks and provide a sense of depth to their girth. I ended up putting more dark washes on the shadows and painting the ridges of the bark, which I discovered cast their own small dark shadowed edges.

The forecast for the next twelve hours includes chilly temperatures and another 12+ inches of snow.  I don't mind at all, particularly with the Harris Hill Ski Jump in less than two weeks.