No. 858 Toolbox Meets Pumpkins

Toolbox Meets Pumpkins

Oil on Canvas Panel

5" x 7"

The next benefit from painting outdoors in January is freedom from cabin fever. I had never really noticed how trapped I was feeling until I no longer felt that way. Good clothing really goes along way in this department. Actually I was inspired to do this whole painting outdoors thing by a Norwegian saying, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes". You may want to argue about this but I felt there had to be something to it. 

So in December, when all the good sales were on, I invested in a NorthFace coat from the garage sale department of REI. I'm telling you right now, it made all the difference!

This mid calf length down coat was secret to my winter outdoor painting success. Sure I looked like a small round abominable snow person but I was warm!

No. 843 Toolbox Latch on a Winter Afternoon

Toolbox Latch on a Winter Afternoon

Oil on Stretched Canvas

6" x 8"

January bums me out big time. Every year I try something new to cheer myself up. The only thing that seems to work is a trip to sunny Colorado. Alas, that isn't always possible. This is one of those years. 

My newest attempt to evade the winter blues is to do a plein air everyday in the month of January. I'm hoping all that time outside and a challenge to focus on will do the trick. So this is my first. It's a close up of an old toolbox I normally have flowers in during warmer, happier times of the year.