Hubris

Deep Winter (Deeper Still)

February 18, 2015 /

Meredith d’Ambrosio

“Silent snowfall on deep woods; the crunching of my footsteps in the dry, thick snow; the promise of a warm fireplace and hot cocoa when I reached home and shed my winter clothes.”—Eddie Higgins

The Disappearing Land

By Meredith d’Ambrosio

Meredith d'AmbrosioDUXBURY Massachusetts—(Weekly Hubris)—2/23/2015—

“Raging Blizzard,” Oil on Canvas, 20” X 30” (2006).
“Raging Blizzard,” Oil on Canvas, 20” X 30” (2006).

This painting is the second of my three depictions of Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia. I love to walk in a heavy snow storm. Whenever I gaze at this painting, it draws me in; then transports me to another white-out, the great blizzard of 1978, when the snow was five feet high. People were walking in the blinding snow with wooden, tennis racket-like snow shoes. No cars were allowed on the streets of Newton, Massachusetts for five days. I shall never forget that storm.

“White Mountains Birches,” Watercolor, 19.5” X 27.5” (2000).
“White Mountains Birches,” Watercolor, 19.5” X 27.5” (2000).

Every other weekend in the mid-1970s, I would travel from Boston to New Hampshire to explore different towns. I was enthralled by this pristine scene with its simplicity of line and spacial relationships. Because of this, snow scenes have become one of my favorite subjects to paint.

“Elm Street Blizzard,” Watercolor, 21.5”X 29.5” (2003).
“Elm Street Blizzard,” Watercolor, 21.5”X 29.5” (2003).

Here is what my late husband, Eddie Higgins, had to say about this painting: “Having grown up in New England and having spent the first 18 winters of my life there, this scene really speaks to my childhood memories. Silent snowfall on deep woods; the crunching of my footsteps in the dry, thick snow; the promise of a warm fireplace and hot cocoa when I reached home and shed my winter clothes.”

Note: Meredith d’Ambrosio includes a quote from jazz pianist, composer, and orchestrator, Eddie Higgins. For more about Higgins and his work, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Higgins (and to his YouTube clips, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0zJmvJE8_I).

Boston-born Meredith d’Ambrosio, a Renaissance woman whose creative work crosses many genres, has successfully combined careers in the musical and visual arts. In 1958, in Boston, d’Ambrosio began singing with small bands, accompanied by Roger Kellaway on piano. Although she has worked primarily as a jazz singer-pianist, she is also known internationally as a calligrapher, watercolorist, creator of eggshell mosaics, composer, lyricist, recording artist, and teacher. D’Ambrosio branched out into New York City in 1981 and, since then, has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe (view d’Ambrosio’s complete discography at www.meredithdambrosio.com). D’Ambrosio’s paintings, both watercolors and oils, may be viewed at www.meredithdambrosio.com, her multifaceted website, which covers her work as a musician, painter, and writer. (Author Head Shot Augment: René Laanen.)