Kattfjorden Blizzard

I continue with paintings I did quickly back in Norway (typically within an hour) and finished later, during the past several weeks. I've been practicing painting skills - and especially mountains and clouds - and actually it has been very enjoyable. I hope you enjoy as well.

So for this painting the idea was to paint a glimpse of a landscape seen through a gap in the blizzard, lots of mists, clouds and yet sunlight piercing through and lighting up particles of snow flying around. Most of the inspiration was from that one incredible hike on Brosmetinden 6 years ago, but winter in Norway can give a lot of such moments at any time actually. It was rather messy at first, but I think the sharp details of the mountains give it definition, and the eagles probably help as well.

Speaking of the eagles.... They are white-tailed eagles (you may notice if you look closely), and the two in front are a couple, as in the earlier days we saw a pair consistently and we speculated they are mates.... later we just kept seeing a whole bunch of eagles coming in for fish residues left on the ice. The third one is a youngster flying through the blizzard and against the wind. I remember once we were out for a walk and there were strong winds and the eagles were all sitting on the ice, not very eager to fly. But there was this young one who just kept beating against the wind with the determination and stubbornness of a youth who hasn't yet learned to appreciate that sometimes waiting for easier conditions is actually better XD Also, I know it looks here as though he is flying with the wind, and to be honest I didn't think of that while painting, I just kept to the memory.... but the truth is, the wind in the fjords does funny things. It twists and turns and swirls around, it can change direction to 180° within seconds or within meters, and it often swirled in such a way that looked from the coast where we are it looked consistently like it's snowing upwards. So yeah, wind in the fjords - you never know. It goes in all directions at once so you're basically always flying against the wind XD

Anyway. Hope you enjoy :3

Rebelle 5 with Wacom Intuos4.

Original size: 2710 x 1500 px

Art painted by hand.