Collection Inspiration: The Warmth of Winter
The Warmth of Winter collection is made up of small mixed media paintings that celebrate things that bring us joy during the cold Winter season. Since these collections are near and dear to my heart, I decided to share the story and inspiration behind this body of work. My hope is that you enjoy this light read and that it opens a gateway to deeper connection with these small nature-inspired paintings.
Now that you’re here, get super comfy! Grab your favourite blanket, make a tea, find some quiet, and let yourself enjoy a beautiful and inspiring short story.
As some of you may know, I’m a Canadian artist, born, raised, and currently living in Ontario. Winter here is cold, has short days with limited daylight and feels like the longest season of the year—I know, sounds lovely, doesn’t it? However dreadful Winter may seem, in the recent years I’ve learned to embrace the warm and cozy things that surround us during these chilly days. This shift in perspective and learning to focus on the beauty that surrounds me during Winter is how the “Warmth of Winter” collection came to be.
I have to say that some people here in the north absolutely love Winter—others, not so much— as you can probably guess I heavily fall into the “definitely not so much” category. As a means to cope with the cold, I decided to lean into my painting practice and challenge myself to practice gratitude and simply enjoy the quiet time indoors. I normally like to practice mindfulness in my everyday life and pay attention to small, subtle things that are actually quite beautiful if you give them energy and attention. It’s amazing how you can transform your experience in any given moment if you just choose to pause, breathe, and notice your surroundings.
I promise I am going somewhere with all of this… just bare with me! We will now get to the story of the moment the idea of Warmth of Winter collection came to life.
From May 2019-December 2021, I lived in a beautiful small town called Foxboro and I had the most beautiful backyard that backed onto a marshy forest. The sun set in our backyard every night, and nature never failed to give us the most beautiful evening shows. Sometimes I would just stand there and stare out the window. Or in warm weather I would step outside our sliding doors and just soak it all in. In times of need, I knew I could rely on my beautiful backyard to offer grounding sensations of peace and ease… as long as I chose to notice and take in all the beauty, of course.
One day in the dead of Winter, I came home from work just as the sun was setting. The sun was heavily saturated with warm hues and was hitting the snow just right, turning the ground into a blanket of shimmering sparkles— as per usual, I stopped in my tracks and took in the moment. I had watched many beautiful sunsets during my time there, but this one felt different. Standing there staring at the sunset behind the trees, my breath was frosted in the air, my face felt ice cold, but my mind was still and my heart was warm.
I felt so in love with the scene and what I was feeling in that moment that I ran and got my camera and spent the lasting minutes of the sunset photographing and videoing my backyard. Below you will see in the video not only some of the process and finished pieces, but the actual the footage I took in my backyard this very day.
When I looked at the photos and video I had taken, I noticed an interesting contrast: the warmth of the orange sunset light against the cold and icy snow. That word, “warmth” started playing more in my head and I started to think about all the warm things I love about winter. Like cuddling under blankets and enjoying hot chocolate—we would not be caught dead doing this in the summer! Winter may be cold outside, but it makes us get a little warmer inside… I kind of love that.
Winter is also always a time of slowing down (minus the Christmas/Holiday season rush). But the worst of Winter always comes in January-February (at least where I live). So, the Holidays are never that bad, it’s in the dead of winter when everything is quiet and there is little to do outside when things get a bit dreary. But then I thought, what a beautiful gift it is—to have a natural season of quiet. As the flowers sink back to the ground and animals rest in hibernation, we can also follow the example of Mother Nature and choose to be a little quieter until the days grow longer again.
Once I started thinking of Winter in a bit more of a positive light, I decided to appreciate the things it can offer rather than focusing on the things I disliked about it. I felt so inspired by this that I just had to paint it out! And that is where the inspiration for the Warmth of Winter collection came from.
I first thought that winter was cold and dreary but I’m happy I had the opportunity to stop notice the chilled silence that winter brings has a beauty of its own. Living like all living things around us in these down months and in the seasons of change I finally felt enlightened I found so I began to appreciate the things winter is naturally meant to offer. The things that I initially disliked about winter, the short days, cold weather, and low key lifestyles are the very things that gave me the opportunity to see how winter can be beautiful.
This collection is a reminder to embrace the season you’re in and choose to notice and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you no matter the circumstances. You have the power to see what nature is always offering us and in return you may experience comfort, healing, peace and joy.
Thank you for reading the story behind this collection, I’m so thankful that you are here with me today.
Original paintings from the Warmth of Winter collection are available both on my website and online or in-person at Twentyseven in Toronto, Ontario. There are originals offered exclusively at each location, so make sure to check out both if your heart is calling you to do so!
