Lingering Beech

pastel on sanded paper, 13x16.5cm (5x6.5in)

This little American beech is in the same Taconic wildlife refuge as the stream and wetland in the painting I posted on November 11. I came across it in the upland as I meandered through the forest on my snowshoes. They always amaze me: they hang onto their leaves all winter, and seem to shimmer even on overcast days, gold against the snow. I've had photos and sketches of this one for two years, and finally, I "saw" it in pastels. It painted very quickly once that happened.