Original artwork description:

: situated or occurring under the snow. With the winter months fast on their way, creatures all around are looking for warm and seeking relief from the harsh weather outdoors. Being one of these creatures bothered by the sudden changes in temperature, I want to depict and capture the beauty of those who thrive and endure this weather. Birds have always represented freedom to me for their ability to fly, yet they stay here and hunt and endure instead of flying from the elements. This is a lesson that we should all employ, for we too try to run too often , but we must remember we have the ability to endure.

To capture the warmth of the bird, I used 14k gold foil for the underside belly portion, as well as the head and tail. This would then be accented with the use of oil paint applied with a pallet knife. Finally to capture the cold and bitter winter present, I used different shades of oil paint splatters, topped of with broken glass. The addition of this glass is something that has become a obsession. This first came from my initial desire to create paintings which come alive in the presence of light. Now with the use of gold foil which reflects light so brilliantly that even my camera has a hard time photographing it, and the use of glass shards, the piece truly has a unique life of its own.

Materials used:

Grumbacher oil paint, glass , 14k gold foil

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