Dusk in the Woods, pastel, 31″ x 23″, 2007 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Dusk in the Woods

Dusk in the Woods, pastel, 31″ x 23″, 2007 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Dusk in the Woods, pastel, 31″ x 23″, 2007 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

ABOUT THE ARTWORK
That “blue time of day”…a quick walk in the woods after a heavy snowfall as clouds parted and the sun set on the distant horizon, bare trees like sentinels. This time of day always carries a certain melancholy for me, as if a deep instinctive part of me realizes the sun is about to leave and may not come back. The moment stands in all its silent beauty along Robinson Run in Collier Township, on a trail in the woods running parallel to the Panhandle Trail.

I didn’t have my art materials with me when I saw this, I had just visited my mother in the personal care home and felt a need for some time in nature. When I stumbled on this, stopping right where you see, I planned to return to do at least a portion of the painting under similar conditions. That time of day the light changes so quickly, but I could set up and be prepared for the moment I wanted. Alas, we had no appreciable snow for two years and this image was really begging to be painted—I was visualizing it daily and even dreaming about it, which is how I know a painting really needs to be done. I began with my photos, then put them away and spent the hours remembering that moment, the sound, the smell, the cold…

Most important was the color of the snow at that time of day, difficult to achieve in a painting because so much of that color depends on the reflected light from the sky, that in turn difficult to reproduce in a two-dimensional painting. I also wanted to capture the stillness of the woods in the large expanse of unbroken snow at the bottom, as all the winter wildlife had taken cover before the snow and still stayed protected, leaving only the constant, comforting gurgling of the water as it flowed past, shallow water rippling over a rocky stream bed.

This piece was the signature painting at my first annual poetry reading and fine art show at Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, Paths I Have Walked. The theme was, literally, the paths I’ve walked all over this valley since childhood, and the inspiration they’ve given me. Visit the page to see more artwork and read the poetry from that reading.

PURCHASE A PRINT

The original of this painting was pastel, 31″ x 23″, on illustration board hand-finished with pastel ground. The original was purchased by the couple who worked very hard to preserve this spot in the woods.

I offer full-size giclee prints as well as a variety of digital and canvas prints and greeting cards.

Visit the product post to purchase a print.

I also have this image on gift items like ornaments, votives, keepsakes and trays. Search for the title and you’ll find everything available.

SHIPPING AND CHARGES

Shipping within the US is included in the cost of each print.

Prints up to 16″ x 20″ are shipped flat in a rigid envelope. Larger prints are shipped rolled in a mailing tube unless otherwise requested; flat shipping is an extra cost because it’s oversized.

GICLEE PRINTS

The giclees are printed on acid-free hot press art paper for a smooth matte finish using archival inks. Giclee is the highest quality print available because the technique uses a dozen or more ink ports to capture all the nuances of the original painting, including details of the texture, far more sensitive than any other printing medium. Sometimes my giclees look so much like my originals that even I have a difficult time telling them apart when they are in frames.

I don’t keep giclee prints in stock for most of my works. Usually I have giclees printed as they are ordered unless I have an exhibit where I’ll be selling a particular print so there is a wait of up to two weeks before receipt of your print to allow for time to print and ship. All are countersigned by me.

DIGITAL PRINTS

Digital prints are made on acid-free matte-finish natural white 100# cover using archival digital inks. While digital prints are not the quality of a giclee in capturing every nuance and detail of color, texture and shading, I am still very pleased with the outcome and usually only I as the artist, could tell where detail and color were not as sharp as the original. Digital prints are only available up to 11″ x 17″ and some of the prints are cropped to fit standard mat and frame sizes. All are countersigned by me.

CANVAS PRINTS

Because the standard size canvas prints are not proportional to the original painting, canvas prints of this painting will have a portion cropped off.

I usually have at least one of the smaller sizes of canvases on hand, but order larger ones as they are ordered because I have limited storage space. Smaller canvases are a 3/4″ in depth, Canvases 12 x 16 and larger are 1-1/2″ in depth. I set them up so the image runs from edge to edge, then the sides are black or white or sometimes I slip in a color that coordinates with the painting. This canvas mirrors the edges of the image around the sides.

FRAMED PRINTS

I do all my own framing and can custom frame a print for you. Please ask.

Browse other Landscapes as well as other inspirations from along the Panhandle Trail.

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© 2022 | www.PortraitsOfAnimals.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit “purchasing” for availability and terms.

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