Chinese Lanterns are a perennial plant with paper-like structures, resembling miniature lanterns, that turn a vibrant orange in the fall. If you can them and let them dry, you’ll have a very long lasting bouquet. That way, you’ll have something to paint in the winter.

I painted with oil sticks and oil paints in tubes. The combination of these slow-drying mediums helped me to build up layers and create a representation of these beautiful plants.

The slow drying time of oils mirrors the contemplative pace of winter, allowing the painting a good, long drying time.

This painting is available at Bear River Artworks Gallery in Bear River, Nova Scotia.