When snow breaks a landscape into many small patches, I look for ways to group those patches into larger shapes. That is the short lesson I share during this Arizona snow outing.
Look past the scattered spots
The snow and clear light make the landscape beautiful, but they can also create a complicated pattern for a painter. Instead of treating every small white spot as a separate subject, I want to pull the shapes together. That is the idea I am keeping in mind as I gather references for later paintings.
Enjoy the landscape before painting it
The video includes a brief outdoor introduction followed by views of the snowy hills, trees, and vegetation. It is an opportunity to see the patterns I am responding to, rather than a step-by-step painting demonstration. Snow is an unusual pleasure for me in southern Arizona, and I wanted to share that experience along with the reminder to simplify. As you look through the images, notice the difference between larger continuous areas of snow and the smaller scattered marks around the growth.
For a related lesson, see another Arizona snow reference trip.
