RSW's Diary Comments

A Mild Winter, c. 1940

⮞ Woodward did not keep records of his pastel paintings he called chalk drawings, however, in this scenario has a sibling oil canvas with a painting diary entry. See below ⮟

Diary Comments for A Mild Winter:

"Painted about 1940 - 41. The Heath Pasture Beech Tree, ledges, band of hills etc. in winter, but with 'open' winter effect showing much of the pasture growth and coloring through the snow. A 'warm' cheerful canvas. Beech tree to the left of center. Bought in Nov. 1946, by Mrs. Wm. S. Allen, 491 Main St. Greenfield."

After Rain, c.1941

In a letter to the owner of the canvas, A Mild Winter, Woodward describes the scene of this similar subject:

"from where the picture was painted, I do see many prominent New England mountains, the blue band of your picture happens to be a section with no noted peaks. It is the line of hills South West of Heath, including the general section of Buckland, Ashfield and Hawley and Conway. A little farther to the right one would see Mt. Greylock and just to the left of the frame would be Mt. Tom, Mt. Haystack and Sugarloaf."

⮜ After Rain is an example of what the artist is referring to. It is a view facing southeast with Mt. Greylock's peak in the distance.