finding inspiration in each season: winter

This is my second post in my blog series about where and how I find creative inspiration during each season—as is obvious in the title, I’ll be talking about winter in this post! A lot of my inspiration comes from my environmental surroundings—and while I grew up and currently live in the Bay Area where it never snows :(, I was lucky enough to live in New England for seven years and Oregon for three, where it snowed each winter. I LOVE snow!!! I know that might be a controversial opinion, but there’s something magical about snow that’s hard to deny!

My painting below, “Quiet Wonder,” was inspired by a snow-shoeing trip I went on with a friend in Oregon during my law school days.

In addition to snow, I’m enchanted by holiday lights, how they sparkle, and the feelings of hope and cozy-ness that they evoke. I painted the abstract piece pictured below, “December Streets,” based on a photo I took in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco a few years ago in December.

December Streets, 18x18, acrylic on canvas

“December Streets” is one of my favorite abstract paintings of mine. It was perhaps the first time where the composition seemed to click, which is usually difficult for me when painting in an abstract style. Having the original photograph helped helped to map out the placement of the loose blocks of color and the angles. Using this approach in how I paint abstract pieces has helped me develop a style of abstract painting that I absolutely love and look forward to experimenting with.

What are some of your favorite things about winter?? What about this season inspires you?! Let me know in the comments :)