Winter Spirit
Winter Spirit, acrylic on canvas © 2024 D. Yael Bernhard
This smallish painting was done during the winter cold snap that took hold of the Northeast in early December. Six weeks later, another “polar vortex” descended on the entire country, reminding us of the power of winter. Life-threatening temperatures gripped the forests in a frozen trance and choked the streams with ice. One wonders how the wild creatures survive such weather.
There’s no shaking off the seasonal cloak that surrounds us. We can insulate ourselves in the warmth of our homes and our winter coats, but still the frigid air prevails, affecting our daily lives in numerous ways. In an effort to accept these conditions and align myself with the forces of nature, I created this image of a woman wrapped in a shawl woven from the cold itself. A chilly wind whips around her, while also cocooning her in its embrace. She surrenders, becoming part of it – much as I imagine the animals of the forest do.
The image takes its form from an ink drawing I did some time ago. It wasn’t easy to convert the drawing into color. The colors come from the naked trees and wintery hues of the Catskills. Cool lavender and peachy brown dominate the landscape, depending on the light – the former when cast in the shadow of clouds or other mountains, the latter in direct sunlight.
Winter is also a time of solitude for many people, including myself. Folks stay indoors, turning inward. The voice of the stream is muffled, and snow blankets the world in silence. The woman in the painting makes peace with this, too – better than I do, sometimes. Easier imagined than done.
Now that I’ve created something out of winter, I’m ready for spring!
I shall have to paint an image of patience.
Winter Spirit is for sale. It’s acrylic on canvas, 12” square. Please respond directly to this post if you’re interested in acquiring an original.
A warm and cozy week to all –
D. Yael Bernhard
https://dyaelbernhard.com
Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!
Beautiful!