Frozen Oasis - Colored Pencil Drawing

"Frozen Oasis" Colored Pencil

Secreted away in a secluded canyon, a frozen oasis provides solace in the midst of winter’s barren wilderness. An extraordinary shaft of audacious light pervades the dim forest, creating shadows of sparkling blue.


After enduring the turmoil associated with a dramatic weather event, it’s uplifting to break trail and discover a setting that’s saturated with peace and tranquility. The snowy landscape is beautifully composed.


Anchoring the foreground, a pile of snow-covered rocks exhibit unusual forms that are suggested by a patchwork of soft shading. The hidden creek, also camouflaged by snow, is barely discernible except for a sliver of icy water that reflects the surrounding scenery.


Cascading from a broad ridge, the enchanted woodland is glittered with flecks of fresh snowfall. Drifts accumulate on the branches creating abstract patterns of light and dark that swirl through the forest like spirits.


The near trees are shadowed with violet, gradate to green and, where the edges are lit by the fading sun, they glow like gold. Look upslope and the atmosphere changes, the distant evergreens exude another metallic hue but this time silver.


Fragments of the purest blue fall from above, cutting a ragged contour that separates the earth from sky. The outburst has passed but a few wispy clouds straggle away before evaporating into the firmament.


The somber palette and deep values evoke a feeling of serene calm often found after a powerful storm. Following the chaos and confusion experienced during a foothills blizzard, a sense of balance and order are finally restored.

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 29, 2024 at 2:22 PM

    Beautiful work, Dan, and very original.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 30, 2024 at 8:02 AM

    This is my favourite work of all that you have posted. I do hope that you keep this one for your private collection; it is truly special.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2024 at 5:16 PM

      Thank you. It was such a nice evening. There was beautiful light and color for a mid-winter scene. I was pretty happy with how this one turned out. ~ Dan

      Delete
  3. Nicole CormierAugust 2, 2024 at 12:57 PM

    This has got to be my favorite of your work! Just looking at this puts a smile on my face. Thank you for sharing with the world!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2024 at 5:14 PM

      Thanks so much for the nice comments. This has to be one of my favorites too. ~ Dan

      Delete

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