Through the Winter Doorway: My First Landscape on a Round Canvas

There’s a particular kind of quiet that only winter can offer—the kind that settles over mountains, softens the edges of pine trees, and turns a simple path into an invitation. That feeling is what inspired my newest painting, a circular winter landscape framed by a doorway that opens into a world of snow, stillness, and mountain air.

This piece is especially meaningful to me because it’s the first landscape I’ve ever created on a round canvas. Working within a circular shape felt like stepping into new creative territory. Instead of the familiar corners of a rectangular canvas, the round format naturally pulls the eye inward, almost like a portal. I leaned into that idea by framing the scene with a doorway—an intentional moment of transition between the viewer and the world beyond.

Inside that frame, the mountains rise sharply under a sky full of winter clouds. A forest of evergreens gathers at their base, surrounding a frozen lake that reflects the cool light of the season. A snow‑covered path leads forward, inviting the viewer to step into the scene, breathe in the crisp air, and wander toward the distant peaks.

I loved the challenge of balancing realism with atmosphere—capturing the coldness of the snow, the softness of the clouds, and the quiet strength of the mountains. The doorway adds a sense of place, as if you’re standing inside a warm cabin, looking out at a world that’s both serene and full of possibility.

Creating this painting reminded me why I love landscape work: it’s not just about depicting a place, but about capturing a feeling. And in this case, it’s also about celebrating a new artistic milestone—one that has me excited to explore more circular canvases and more “windows” into imagined worlds.

Thank you for stepping through this winter doorway with me. I can’t wait to share what comes next.