SNOW STUDY- A Letter from Finland

Featured Image: A view from the shed – gouache study on paper

Now into the second week of my residency in Finland, I realise my preconceived ideas for paintings have dissolved completely. The landscape here in early spring is incredibly challenging, new and so rich in colour. Each morning the light gifts me a new drama that I have never encountered before as a painter.

My greatest challenge is learning to paint snow. Snow is highly reflective and often brighter than the sky, but not always depending on the time of day. The colour of snow shifts dramatically throughout the day depending on the weather, temperature, angle of the sun and the colour of objects in the landscape such as trees, buildings etc. 

Gouache study of morning light

My start has been tentative, making numerous colour charts while looking out of my window. Painting outside is not an option as daytime temperature has ranged between -20 deg C to -2 deg C on a warm day. So I rug up and walk, always looking while asking, ‘why is the colour of the snow behaving like that?’ I commit it to memory and build up observational notes to self. Then I fumble with my phone to take a photo. My fingers go numb as I adjust the colours on screen while studying the scene. The photo is only ever an approximation. Daily repetition of this process builds the experience.

Back in my studio, I refer to my colour charts. From 4 reds, 2 blues, a green and a black, I’ve discovered many different muted purples. Yellow is an occasional visitor in this spring landscape so far. So much for the extra tube of yellow I bought in anticipation. My greatest regret is coming here with only 2 tubes of white. Wow, I really had no idea!

This is the visual part of the experience. A landscape is so much more. The stillness and quiet is an absence of sound and smell. A fellow artist explained to me how his grandmother taught him to smell when snow was coming. He said “the smell of snow is when there are no other smells.”

It is very white, very quiet and with very few birds. I saw a ginger cat walking in foot deep snow. As it sank with each step, I wondered if it had cold feet or a home to go to? The many deer tracks through the forest remind me that I am a visitor. Roadside signs tell me to beware of elks. Apparently the roads in this area have the highest number of collisions between elks and cars in the whole of Finland. That is 600kg of a living, breathing being!

Gouache study from a forest walk

The forest is silent and alive. It creaks and cracks on warmer days. Clumped snow falls with a thud. Snow has weight. Trees flex to accomodate it. Yet snow is full of air. As snow crunches under my boots I sink, and giggle at my clumsiness. I remember the cat as I lurch to find stability. The cat with its tiny paws was far more elegant. I practice, and through close observation snow is teaching me how to be here.

Thanks for reading my post. Please leave me a comment if you feel moved.

warmly Lynn