Frozen
With much of the U.S. locked in single‑digit temperatures and snowstorms, it felt like the perfect moment to embrace the cold and venture into the depths of our freezer— which had evolved into a gigantic, cluttered heap of unidentifiable objects. I decided to make the most of this otherwise uninspiring chore by sketching my findings, partly for posterity and partly to prove I survived the expedition. When I unearthed seven bags of peas and corn, I knew I’d made the right call. And so, at the risk of oversharing, here’s the inventory. Not bad for a frigid afternoon’s work.
Tips & Techniques- If you live in a cold part of the world, you may find it challenging to keep up a nature‑sketching habit during the winter—I certainly do. Years ago, I decided to broaden my subjects at this time of year. Better to sketch frozen food than to sketch nothing at all. Along the way, I discovered that drawing different kinds of subjects has actually expanded my skills as a painter. Perhaps your refrigerator is calling.
Sketching Through the Winter, online at Winslow Arts Center, starts this Thursday, 1/29. Join me!
Drawn In 
This made my day.
Glad to hear!
Love this so much, Jean! ❤️
Thanks Darienne!
Thank you, Jean! So fun! Stay warm and safe! Ann
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Thanks Ann! You too!
Hahaha, this is a good one in so many ways! You say it helped improve some painting skills, I hope it also help decide what was for dinner!
Yes, it did open up some dinner possibilities. And the freezer has never looked better.
I laughed at the baking soda comment 😂. Same situation here!
Oh…I know…it’s bad. But who thinks of swapping it out?
Priceless! Hope you dress warmly when taking your deep dive.
Wishing you a speedy transition towards Spring equinox!
(love your sketches)
Lots of snow and cold here, so warm layers are a must. Sketched birds that took refuge on our back porch today.
I’ll bet your porch refugees were very puffed up! What birds did you sketch? We got our blast of winter today; a foot of snow. We have a very busy bird feeder!
😂 I can so relate to the find of several bags of frozen peas and corn and the “unidentifiable objects.” I can’t clean out my freezer until spring as it’s in a basement room with little insulation, so freezing in that room at this time of year. We just call it the “freezer room!” Good plan though. I will forever think of you now every time I clean out my freezer! Could do the same with seasonal cleaning out of closets and drawers, sketching all the things that will get donated or tossed out! Oh and then there’s the stuff in my husband’s workshop too not to mention my studio!
I so enjoy your newsletters, Jean. So motivating!
There are plenty of similar subjects, Peri! This was my regular refrigerator freezer. I could just as easily tackle the fridge next!
Very cleaver.
Chuckling here.
Hi Robin– Hope the digging out isn’t too bad!
Giggling out loud! This was priceless – so real and so human.
Smart and funny! It’s those unidentifiable ones that give you pause…I was left with quite a few after Joe died and I have yet to defrost any of them. 😉
Great color matching, BTW, with the berries especially – the raspberries and blueberries look as though you used their juice for paint.
I had no qualms about tossing anything I couldn’t identify!
🙂
This is great, Jean! Made me laugh out loud to think of you with the freezer door open just sketching away! You’ve inspired me to sketch out of the box, once again. I love all the color you used in this one. How do you mix your shadow color? I love the purpley hue you’ve achieved.