Nature

Autumn is the time to gather ideas for winter creativity

| Patricia

“The landscape belongs to the person who looks at it.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

In countries like Canada, the winter can be an inhospitable environment for plein air artists and writers who take inspiration from nature.

Whether you hike on a forest trail, walk to the local park or snap pics of colour in your own backyard, now is the time to collect images to use through the winter as inspiration for making art.

You may choose to take your paints on your hike and create colour studies en plein air (en plein air is a French expression that means in the open air or outdoors, to describe the act of painting outside on location.)

Images can be colour corrected on your computer or tablet and reflected on to a large tv screen, as inspiration, on days when the icy winds are blowing in January. Writers can also find that images work as inspiration for writing a verse or describing a scene.

How do you like to work during the long, cold winter months? Do you brave the temperatures and go out on location, perhaps finding a sunny spot out of the wind, or do you prefer to work with photographs or rough sketches captured in your travelling sketchbook? Or both? Do you have an unusual process that others might try? Please leave a comment. Thank you for reading.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Goodbye Summer Segmented Landscape 8.25.2026

| Patricia

“August is like the Sunday of summer.” — Unknown 

GOODBYE SUMMER: As summer winds down, the fields are filled with wildflowers and dandelions morphing into cottony white feathers that disperse like a swarm of butterflies riding on the wind.

Lately I have enjoyed creating NatureScapes with various elements contained within their individual segments. It’s like a way to honour the feature by calling attention to it on its own.

WET WEATHER AHEAD: Ontario’s fall 2026 weather forecast, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, predicts a cooler, wetter September and October for southern Ontario with above-average rainfall. Chilly weather is expected to hit during the last week of September. So, fellow Ontarians, get out there and enjoy the waning days of Summer and dig out your boots and slickers for the coming deluge.

HOW HAS YOUR SUMMER BEEN? What is your favourite spot to sit outdoors and ruminate on life, love and all living things? Put your thoughts in the comment section. Many thanks for reading.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Inky Tree Concept Sketch

| Patricia

“If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls.” ~ Henry Rollins, Spoken Word Artist

Not every work is a masterpiece. Some merely get the creative juices flowing. Some become fodder for future works. Any practice is better than none.

I prefer thinking in the abstract—the unknown or the simplistic. At times writing a passage that can be interpreted in more than one way, so the reader has some responsibility in how they react to what is written. Painting in broad strokes and leaving some of the detail to the viewers’ imaginations. I’ve created a multitude of tiny landscapes in this vein. It is a good way to loosen up for larger pieces.

Perhaps I have a short attention span, and simply want to get on to the next thing. However, I generally think in terms of “I like this right now. If I continue, I’ll screw it up”.

In addition, I’m one of those people who has multiple thoughts running through their brain at any given time. So I don’t have a lot of time to concentrate on just one concept, unless I want the others to float off into oblivion. Anyway, this is just a thought. Anyone else out there identify?

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.