Coming into Rush Creek in minus degree temps in January 2014

6.5x8 oil on canvas

Rush Creek Conservation area McHenry County, IL. 0 to -15…silly me thought I could paint. I took the van that has heated seats and heaters all over, its 15 years old but at the time still worked, this winter was not kind to it.
I got out with my camera to help focus and take pictures and run back to the running, warm van. Ha! I was frozen…even with all the prep…all the layers and warmers and hats and thermals. The bite of the wind was just too much.
So this was done in the studio and was the first 30-minutes-or-less painting.