Ode to Joy
I have many fond memories of sledding as a kid: steep hills, thrilling descents, and inevitable wipeouts were all part of the fun. Sledding is great, in large part, because it packs so much emotion: anticipation, fear, exhilaration, wild abandon. I felt especially challenged to capture some of that experience in this small painting, which I did as part of a Christmas book commissioned by my cousin for his daughter. Sledding is one of the things they like to do together– so although I don’t typically paint people or snow, I resolved to illustrate the scene. My reference was the view from their backyard; the rest I had to imagine.
Wishing you a sense of wonder and bit of wild abandon in the New Year! Thanks for following!
Drawn In 
This is a charming illustration, happy and full of color and life! Love it. Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 20:55:26 +0000 To: jurackcp@hotmail.com
Thanks Carole! I really had fun with this special project.
Happy New Year Jean!
I too feel that landing that is about to take place on the saucer! Gosh, I loved sledding as a kid.
The way you have captured the snow kicking up and the shadow below, action packed. Precious!
Thanks Cindy! Happy New Year to you! If it snows maybe we should get out on our prospective slopes for a bit of old time thrill.