"Snowy Patch" captures a moment of late March near Whistler, BC, where the warm sun had recently melted snow from the tree branches. Yet, one resilient young tree remained bent, its tip still gripped by ice. What truly drew me to this scene was its abstract nature, compelling me to focus on the intersection of that small bent tree and the thicker tree trunk immediately behind it.

It was a sunny day, with the shadows of the trees distinctly visible on the snow-covered ground. Snow is rarely pure white; in this piece, I observed and painted cool blues in the shadow areas of the snow, contrasting beautifully with the small vivid evergreens and the muted pinks and greys of the leafless shrubs behind them. The paint itself has an almost sketchy, rough feeling, conveying an immediate and raw impression of the landscape.

This painting experience was such a pleasure. As I worked, I could hear the delightful laughter of children playing – one of my favourite sounds. They soon discovered me, shyly peeking from a distance before gathering the courage to ask if they could see what I was doing. Happily, I invited them over, sharing a magical moment of connection in the quiet beauty of the landscape.