Happy Holidays!

Welcome winter!  Old man winter has certainly arrived in the windy city.  We've already enjoyed a few snow showers and a number of single digit days.  The change of season which has taken firm hold inspired this painting.  It is based on an image from an edition of the Chicago Tribune from 1950.   

I love the nostalgia of this image, which I painted using Japanese Sumi Ink.  The gracious curves of the car, the houses marching along in the left portion of the image, and the simplicity of monochrome colors.  It conjures memories of the freshness of a new snow, being inside watching the snow fall, and the words of poets like Claude McKay, who wrote in his poet "To Winter:"

Stay, season of calm love and soulful snows! 
There is a subtle sweetness in the sun, 
The ripples on the stream's breast gaily run, 
The wind more boisterously by me blows, 
And each succeeding day now longer grows. 
The birds a gladder music have begun, 
The squirrel, full of mischief and of fun, 
From maples' topmost branch the brown twig throws. 
I read these pregnant signs, know what they mean: 
I know that thou art making ready to go. 
Oh stay! I fled a land where fields are green 
Always, and palms wave gently to and fro, 
And winds are balmy, blue brooks ever sheen, 
To ease my heart of its impassioned woe. 

Wishing you warm and healthy holidays!  
What do you think to be the best part of winter?