"December Winter". 16x20 inch acrylic and oil on birchboard. The stark, cold, and ominous cold of the rural northern winter presents to me as a generally inhospitable place. I've played in it my whole life, only to return to a warm place at night. This painting is meant to capture the harsh elements as early winter takes its grip in the wild. I think that it also represents the season of frost of the mind and heart that is a natural part of the seasons of life. There is a beauty in the reflections of life's cold moments that make one appreciate the late winter, hints of spring, and full blown growth and the flowers that come shortly after. This painting took me about 6 hours to paint. I counted 17 separate steps from start to finish. I hope you enjoy it.