Under the cover of snow they stole the Moon

under the cover of snow they stole the moon, new painting by Mark Easton

"Under the cover of snow they stole the Moon"

9"x12"

Acrylic on canvas, 3/4" stretcher

SOLD This painting is available as a poster. And as a note card.

Magpies, Stellar Jays and sometimes Crows come feed off the deck rail every morning in Vail. I put out stale bread or the muffins I made that nobody eats... except the birds and they love them. Such beautiful colors, blacks, blues, greens and white.

Detail from Under the cover of snow... by artist Mark Easton

The idea for the background came to me in the middle of the night. I saw thick conifer woods during a heavy snow storm. First I painted splotches of greens and blues. Then I mixed tiny amounts of those greens and blues with white which I painted over the base of blue/green. After painting the magpies I then did the snow. I love painting snow and obscure that which I just painted in great detail. Like a real snow storm the "snow" flies everywhere!

Detail from Under the cover of snow... by artist Mark Easton

I have always loved snow, watching it fall obscuring the landscape... especially when I am inside warm and cozy! Magpies strike me as both curious and opportunists. I began to wonder just what they do under the cover of snow... perhaps steal the Moon.