Wisps of snow curl off Rocky Mountain peaks in Jim Bagley’s painting Near Fairplay. The eye first sees white, snow-covered mountains and prairie foreground, greenish brown forest and sinuous blue river. Then it notices the cool blues of mountain, forest and fence post shadows. Bagley has captured the majestic serenity of the winter scene and evokes a feeling of our actually being there. He says, “My paintings are records of the places I have been. I try to go ‘back there’ in my mind when I paint these places later.”

Gallery Wild, Daydreamer, oil, 40 x 60”, by Silas Thompson.His love of the outdoors began when he was growing up in Oregon, hunting and fishing with his father, and spending time sketching and drawing. He had thought of a career in fish and game management, but after years in graphic design and advertising, he and his family moved to New Mexico and then to Durango, Colorado, where they now live, so he could devote himself full time to painting. 

Traveling throughout the Rockies he makes mental snapshots to recreate in his paintings, not as photographs of the scenes but as evocations of his emotional response to what he has scene.

Mountain Trails Gallery, Nocturnal Stealth, oil, 36 x 32”, by Edward Aldrich.Josh Elliott hones in on a flowing stream and its partially frozen surface, its subtle colors and those of the surrounding snow in his painting Frozen Opalescence. He grew up in Montana where he now lives, continuing the tradition of three generations of artists. “I cut my teeth painting outside,” he explains. “I paint nature as I see it, not the way I think it should be. I rely on my observations.”

His depiction of the frozen and flowing water and the snow itself is full of color, the reflected light reminiscent of an oil slick or the milky colors of an opal. Describing the challenges of painting snow he says, “It is difficult to gauge the value shifts in the snow, if it is in sunlight it is all very bright. Some parts are brighter than others, however, so I need to look for those areas. Paint pigments are limited, so it takes some exaggeration to imply the highlights of snow. Snow is not pure white, it is full of color, sometimes it is a challenge to describe the color accurately.”

Claggett/Rey Gallery, Frozen Opalescence, oil, 46 x 48”, by Josh Elliott. The color of moonlight appears to be blue because of the Purkinje effect named after the 19th-century Bohemian physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkynë. I remember opening the flap of my tent one night in the Northern New Mexico mountains and being overwhelmed by the blue light. I learned later that the phenomenon is a result of the effect in which the light sensitivity of the eyes shifts to the blue end of the spectrum in low-light conditions. My brain interpreted the message being sent to it as “blue light.”

 Sorrel Sky Gallery, Grey Fox, oil on canvas, 18 x 30”, by Doyle Hostetler. 

Gallery Wild, The Rise of Spring, oil on linen, 30 x 40”, by Patricia A. Griffin.Two Arctic wolves, stalking their vulnerable prey, stand out against the blue of the winter sky in Edward Aldrich’s painting Nocturnal Stealth. The wolf in the foreground gazes into the distance, and the background wolf appears to have discovered the observer of the painting and involves the viewer in the scene.

Brought up in the confines of New York’s Manhattan, Aldrich now lives in the open spaces of Colorado. When observing animals in their natural habitat, he is cognizant of the light that delineates their form and illuminates the textures of their bodies. The expressions of both wolves in Nocturnal Stealth attest to his keen observation and his ability to express the illusion of their mood in paint.

Throughout the pages of this special collector’s focus, readers can dive into even more scenes that capture the spirit of the winter season, from snow-dwelling wildlife to frigid landscapes.

Legacy Gallery, Wintering on the Saskatchewan, oil, 10.4 x 14”, by Charlie Fritz

“Part of being an artist means noticing the things that others often miss. Whether that’s a color shift within a shadow, the curve of a mountain skyline or the way an elk herd moves across the vast landscape—the artist makes a viewer aware of the subtle beauty around them,” says artist Carrie Wild, who owns Gallery Wild in Jackson, Wyoming, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. “Winter provides an endless source of inspiration for artists and collectors alike. When looking for the right winter landscape to add to your collection, notice what the artist wants to draw attention to and allow that to connect to a warm winter memory.”

Pat Cheal, Frosted Arch, oil, 30 x 30”

 

Gallery Wild, Finding Satisfaction, encaustic, 25 x 40”, by Bridgette Meinhold.

In early December, Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, is holding its 24th Annual Holiday Small Works Show, filled with a variety of artwork, including stunning winter scenes. This year’s show will feature nearly 80 different talented artists from across the country. With many artists submitting more than one piece, the gallery is expecting more than 150 works will be up for sale. Among these is an oil by Charlie Fritz titled Wintering on the Saskatchewan. “The evening of the show is very festive with holiday décor, carolers and holiday goodies,” the gallery notes. “Everyone enjoys the entertainment, the wonderful art and always the sale.”

Sorrel Sky Gallery, Determined, oil on canvas, 24 x 32”, by Doyle Hostetler

 

Sorrel Sky Gallery, Nanook, oil on canvas, 13 x 24”, by Doyle Hostetler.

“When creating a genre-specific or scene-specific collection, it’s important to think about what you personally connect with, what resonates with you,” says Shanan Campbell, owner of Sorrel Sky Gallery,which has locations in Durango, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. She adds that this is especially important if you’re creating a collection within a collection, in order to create an overall sense of continuity. “That continuity should come from your heart’s connection to the pieces that you select, not from what others say you should or shouldn’t include…If you’re looking at winter scene pieces, ask yourself: Are you drawn to stark, minimalist winter scenes or warmer, softer imagery? Do you want to feel the stillness of a snowy forest or the energy that figures bring to a scene? Do you prefer wildlife over people? Known landscapes or unexplored locations? Identifying what sparks joy and excitement within you will ensure your collection awakens meaningful memories and emotions each time you view the pieces.” Among the artists represented at Sorrel Sky is Doyle Hostetler, whose lifelong love of the wild is clearly seen in his monochromatic oil paintings.

 

Sorrel Sky Gallery, Near Fairplay, oil on canvas, 16 x 31”, by Jim Bagley.

Artist Pat Cheal uses her bold impressionistic style to capture the color, light and mood of the beautiful Southwest, always searching for an unexpected and unique composition. Favorite views like Frosted Archshare the fire of red rocks tempered by a blanket of cool blues in winter. Relatively new to the contemporary art scene, she strives to elevate an ordinary scene into something remarkable and striking through her paintings. Cheal is a full-time illustrator in Michigan and in her spare time enjoys taking her brushes outside to paint in plein air. Creating these informal works brings a freshness and spontaneity to her larger studio pieces. Her many adventurous trips to the West are often showcased later in her paintings. “I would hope that my paintings can transport you to that spot every time you glance at them,” says Cheal, “where you can almost feel the frosty air and the crunch of snow under your feet.”  —

Featured Artists & Galleries

Claggett/Rey Gallery
216 Main Street, Suite C-100, Edwards, CO 81632
(970) 476-9350
www.claggettrey.com 

Gallery Wild
80 W. Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 203-2322
203 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 467-8297
www.gallerywild.com 

Legacy Gallery
225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 986-9833
7178 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 945-1113
www.legacygallery.com 

Mountain Trails Gallery
301 Main Street, Park City, UT 84060
www.mountaintrailsgalleries.com
155 Center Street, Jackson, WY 83001
www.mtntrails.net 

Sorrel Sky Gallery
828 Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301
125 Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.sorrelsky.com 

Pat Cheal
(248) 207-4455
www.pattheartist.com 

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