Winter Blanket

Winter Blanket by Martin Howard (2013)
Watercolour, 40.6 x 30.5 cm, 140 lb Fine grain paper.
Koppslahyttan, close to Romme Alpin, Borlänge.

In 2012, I was asked if I wanted the job of renovating a house. I was an out of work apprentice carpenter and with no other work on the horizon, I couldn't refuse a chance like that. The house was on the outskirts of town, almost next door to the local ski centre, where I got my first job in Sweden. This was the view from the back door, looking across farmland. I can't remember if this was the start or finish of the year, but there was no shortage of snow either way. I took a few photos that I thought might make good paintings even though I hadn't painted anything for seven years. The next year, I painted it. Watercolour snow paintings fascinate me. They use so little paint and I sometimes refer to them as 'dirty water' paintings because they can almost be painted with the water that I clean my brushes in.There is just a hint of colour here and there. From the air, I think Sweden looks black and white, in the winter. I enjoy looking for colour in winter scenes, however litte and using them to bring my paintings to life.