An original acrylics painting, on canvas panel
10 X 8", unframed
$100.00, ( plus $10.00, pack and ship )
( click on image to enlarge)
It is usually around this time of the year, that I begin to look around the studio, to
choose a suitable painting to use as the cover art, for my annual, holiday greeting-cards.
One option this year, could be this little, impressionist study, of a cardinal in a snow-
laden, spruce grove. One drawback to choosing this painting is that, as subjects for
Christmas cards, cardinals are as common as snowmen. But on the other hand, the
painting is composed of the traditional colors which are used for the season's decor,
a custom which has it's origins clear back to before the Christian celebration, at this
time of the year..
The pagan Scandinavian and Germanic people of northern Europe celebrated a
twelve-day, winter-solstice holiday called Yule. Our modern Christmas traditions,
such as the Christmas tree, the Christmas wreath, the yule log and others, are direct
decedents of yule customs. I am reminded of that when I hear carolers singing of
bringing in the evergreens and "the holly and the ivy", with the bright green leaves and
the red berries, which are such cheerful emblems of the holiday season.
Some of the beautiful simplicity, of decorating with evergreens has been lost, now
that we have electric-lights displays, and gold and silver metallic paints, which set many
of our homes ablaze with the glitter and dazzle of a Los Vegas casino. But are we willing
to return to the simple joys of an evergreen tree, decorated only with edible treats and
other, small hand-made gifts? No, unfortunately, we are probably not willing to deprive
ourselves of indulging in the yearly, seasonal madness.
Wow, what a perfect profile of "don" the skunk!
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