White Christmas Hellebores

Last week I had just finished another plein air painting of the hellebores. Even though I was so busy I wanted to paint the hellebores again before the blossoms withered. I carved out two afternoons to make this painting right before Christmas. It had just snowed. I placed the metal "planter" that is usually down by the bees next to the hellebores(which by the way is the Christmas Carol Hellebores variety) I also wanted something in the painting that would again stand as metaphor for my hands. I chose a brush tool that my 90 year old neighbor gave me before she died. I loved making this painting outside ...sitting and looking ...the air so cold and sounds muffled by the snow.