Edward B. Gordon's "Leitmotiv"

Another one of Edward B. Gordon’s blog paintings has just traveled half way around the world to arrive at my door! “Leitmotiv” was the 730th posting on his blog. Edward lives in Berlin, Germany. He began posting a painting a day in November 2006. I enjoy his work and this little painting instantly became another one of my favorites. 

You can find notes and a sketch for this painting by clicking on the green words below. You will need to scroll down to November 16, 2008.

The Season of Joy!

click any image to enlarge

past Christmas Trees

from some of my sketchbooks

I have been looking through some of my old sketchbooks today, one of the things I enjoy at the end of the year. Our family traditions center around Christmas in December. We have had thick fir trees and open spaced alpine fir trees. Each has its own magical feeling. The decorations are always the same, things collected over the years. These sketches are from trees in the 1980s.

          However you celebrate the season, 

I wish you great blessings, peace and joy.

"Silent Swirl"

8 x 6 inches

oil on wooden panel

It snowed again last night and more today. The snow flakes so small and falling so softly, they managed to pile up on our wind swirls. I have never seen that happen before, so that's what I had to paint today . . . sitting in the house with hot tea! 

Click on image to enlarge.

"Snow Day: Reading Room"

7.75 x 7.75 inches

oil on panel

Today it is snowing again, beautiful flakes softly falling everywhere. Fresh white rests in all the trees, brightening every room in the house. This looked like the best spot to paint today. In the evening we will have a fire again, something we all seem to love in northwest rain and snow.

"Along The Path"

6 x 8 inches

oil on wooden panel

More sun today . . . and a little less snow. It is still enchanting around our house. The weather report is for more snow tonight. You never know - maybe yes - maybe no.

"Winter Dress"

8 x 6 inches

oil on wooden panel

Our first snowfall! I love the snow. Everything seems so peaceful, so still. This afternoon the sky was blue and bits of sunlight fell through the trees, making diagonal lines of brilliance across the garden. Magical! 

"Snowflake Lane"

6 x 8 inches

oil on wooden panel

This little painting was designed to capture the experience of an evening visit to Snowflake Lane. Snowflake Lane has become an annual event in downtown Bellevue, complete with drummers and “snow.” Each evening the drummers gather in one of the town buildings and, at the precise moment, march across the sky bridge and soon reappear on the sidewalk below. They drum their way along the sidewalk until they each come to a round platform, where they climb the steps and stand with the wooden drummer boy already there (shown on right). Snow flakes fall, music blares and the crowd loves it! Once again you know the Christmas Season has begun. 

Click image to enlarge and see color more like the painting.