December, 2005
volume 3 number 10

November passed without me writing an update. And now we are in December looking at the up coming holidays. The streets are looking pretty festive around here. The air has cooled down and the skiers are starting to show up. It is Vermont, after all. The skiers will show up!

Winter has officially arrived today with a healthy 16 inches of snow in the first half of the day. After the snow stopped I went out a took a picture or two as the sun came out. Here's the view from my studio of the Connecticut River.

Once again I am not going to be able to share too many paintings with you as my output has been low. I think of it as a transitional time and have decided to allow myself the time to figure out where my work will be going. One of the things I am enjoying during this transition is reading all I can. I'm pretty well decided what the next round of paintings will be. I just want to clarify things a little more before I pick up the brushes again.

I've been reading lots of art history and lots of religious texts. Now we're going to take it one step further and do some in-the-field study in Spain. I'll be painting and drawing and studying. Traveling is always a privilege that I look forward to. Spain holds much history, culture and art that we very much enjoy. I hope you'll see the results when I return in February.

"Seraphim" Oil on Canvas 16" x 23"

In keeping with the mood of the season - that being "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All Men" - I offer you this Christmas card image of a Seraphim. It is the second "angel" painting I've done. There will be more, although they will most likely not have wings!

I'll leave you for the time being with this image of one of our celestial friends lifting a woman (in ecstasy) with the power of divine love.

"Lifted By Love" Oil on Canvas 38" x 28"

With that we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to come.

"Lifted By Love (detail)" Oil on Canvas 38" x 28"

Yours,

William H. Hays