Steve Stanley offered this image up to our holiday collection and we couldn’t resist including it! The colours just scream Christmas and the idea of a lovely hot cup of cocoa is just the thing to make you feel warm inside. Apart from the general mood and composition of the painting, we were also impressed with the smooth skin and realistic fur trim to the hat.

Kim Treffinger entered a snowy scene based on a photo taken in Central Park during last year’s Valentine’s Day ice storm. Despite being stranded in the city for six days, Kim took the opportunity to take some beautiful photos - and this one has been turned into a Christmas card! I loved the colours in this image and how it captures the perfect winter’s day. Just goes to show you never know when a creative opportunity will present itself

Barbara Hartsook is the artist behind our second holiday image. She has sent over a painting of an angel that sits by her computer at Christmas time. I like the mixture of soft paint and black lines - giving the image an almost animated quality. The black background makes the light dusting of snow even more effective. It’s a lovely image and has a deserved place in our painted holiday countdown! Click the green link below to see it.

Not only is today the start of the most festive month in the year, but it also heralds the first entry in our daily holiday picture! Kicking things off is Marcelo Chiarella with his painting of a patchwork Christmas tree his sister made a few years ago. I love the warmth in the image and also how the different layers of tree look like iced gingerbread! To see the image, click the green Editor’s Blog link below!