More inspiration from winter sunlight in North Idaho.
Winter Magic
Tag: idaho
Over Hope 🔴
This painting is being shipped to a buyer in Florida. So many sales in Florida these days. I know have some friends moving to Florida, I am still in the snow country.
Just a note the title has nothing to do with pessimism. There is a town called Hope, Idaho… east of me where I often catch the moon rising. I don’t generally explain titles but this one, for once, wasn’t dour.
Moonlight
More nocturnal painting happening in the studio. Outside the wind is howling and everything is frozen. The moon is beautiful yet indifferent.
Lake Pend Oreille Sunset
Some of the most dramatic colors at sunset occur in the opposite direction of the descending sun. A wild punch of color illuminates the mountains to the east. I ran through the snow to film this and the color was intense and fading fast. Summer is gorgeous but that low winter light is magic.
Winter Light
Another small snow painting. This one from the deck of my studio which has far too much snow weight on it. I should have done more shoveling before it turned rock hard. I guess painting wins out on most of the projects I need to do.
Winter Commission
I have just finished this large commission. I am not taking many commissions this year as I am focusing on my solo show work. Winter inspiration everywhere in the snow country I live in… half a foot more coming over the weekend.
Shine the Way
A large new painting in the studio this morning. Continuing work on these 24”x36” panels, great size with room to roam. Inspiration is from my home water, Lake Pend Oreille.
Guiding
I have been painting some small winter scenes which have been a satisfying expression of the season. There is a lot of winter left, no doubt there will be more snowscapes.
January Scenes
Scenes from just outside my studio (eagles filmed through my studio window). This is where I draw my inspiration, the endless well. North Idaho is snow country which can be tough but it is also incredibly gorgeous.
I had a friend in college named Andrew Hofmeister. He was a retired art professor at Washington State University. He was a huge artistic influence on me, I wish I would have told him that. At the time he owned a family vacation home on Flathead Lake in Montana. He let me stay up there periodically, in the basement of his cabin. Mr Hofmeister told me “be inspired but don’t let the view dictate your painting”. I think about that a lot, I hope he would appreciate my work now. I am pretty directly influenced by nature but it is the mood and movement of paint that are my key subjects. Now I have a studio and live roughly half way between WSU and his former cabin in Montana.
9 from 21
Another recap in 9 photos. 2021 had some bright spots and good memories but the shadows were deep.
Best to everyone for the coming year!
brian sostrom 