Winter Forest 2016

Aleksander Belyaev made this oil on canvas, called Winter Forest. Just look at those strokes of white and blue – the snow almost sparkles! I can imagine Belyaev standing in the cold, his breath misting as he captures the scene. The way he's built up the paint, especially in the foreground, you can almost feel the crunch of the snow underfoot. There is a real sense of depth in this landscape. Look how the trees fade into the background. There's something so inviting about the light filtering through the trees. It reminds me of other landscape painters, like the Impressionists, who were also trying to capture fleeting moments of light and atmosphere. Painting is always in conversation with itself – that's the beauty of it. Each painter builds upon the discoveries of those who came before. Each artwork is another step forward. It is a testament to the enduring power of observation, imagination, and expression.