Large vs. Small - It Makes a Difference!
February 19, 2018
The Inspiration
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I woke up this morning to six inches of new snow. I wanted to get out for a walk with my camera really early before the sun was too strong. The boughs of the pine trees were laden with pristine snow; it reminded me of a painting by Tom Thomson, the first of the Canadian Group of Seven painters.Â
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Truth be told, I think of him every time I see snow on trees.Â

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My First Idea
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As I walked back home along the snowy road, I wondered if I could compose a painting that would do justice to the beauty all around me. I was especially thinking of that big old pine tree.Â
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Should I go to the studio, and make a small painting? I've been advised to do that. They take up less space, are less expensive, you can do a "painting a day".Â
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But does that excite me? Not so much.Â
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                       Snow in October, Tom ThomsonWinter 1916-17
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           I've loved this painting since I first saw it many years ago in the National Gallery                                  of Canada, in Ottawa.
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Behind the piano!
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Answers can be found in the strangest places!Â
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Coming through the living room after my walk, I noticed a very large painting support in behind the piano. I had sort of forgotten about it. Actually there are two of them back there. Â (You might ask why! I don't have space in my studio to store many large panels, and so they tend to end up hidden away in the house).Â
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The first whisper that came into my mind was "now if I were to paint that pine tree, that's the size that I would like"!
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Shall I Give it a Go?
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I'm a big believer in following my instincts, even when practicalities say "just a minute now". I'd even say, that I think when we get ideas like this, they are presents from the universe and we should honor them.Â
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So I have been in the studio this afternoon, drawing that big old pine tree. Thanks, Tom!
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PS
I just measured the panel. It's 32 x 36".Â
Tom Thomson's painting is 32 5/16 x 34 8/16".
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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
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