Oil painting The first snow fell Oleksiy Ivanyuk

№AAA5135

The oil painting on Cardboard titled "The first snow fell" captures the ephemeral magic of the changing seasons—a moment when autumn’s fiery splendor meets the quiet arrival of winter’s touch. Through expressive palette knife strokes and a bold, almost sculptural texture, the artist creates a scene teeming with contrast, energy, and emotion. This painting is not just a landscape; it is a vivid sensation—of breath visible in the air, of crunching footsteps on newly fallen snow, of golden leaves reluctantly giving way to winter’s silence. In the composition’s foreground, the snow lies fresh and untouched in swirls of whites, icy blues, and hints of lavender and mint green. The thick impasto conveys the softness of freshly fallen snow while giving it volume and life. The way the paint is laid down suggests uneven terrain—small hills, dips, and frozen brush beneath the surface. These textured strokes evoke both movement and stillness, pulling the viewer into a world where time seems to slow with each flake. Dominating the scene are tall, slender trees adorned with leaves in various stages of transformation—vivid orange, ochre, and deep red, with flecks of green and violet holding on to the last memories of warmth. Their trunks are dark and textured, anchoring the canvas in strong vertical lines. The trees appear to rise like sentinels through the snow, bridging the seasons—autumn clinging to the upper branches, winter claiming the roots. The way their fiery foliage contrasts with the cool snow below creates a dramatic tension that defines the soul of the painting. In the middle of this forested passage, the path winds its way upward, framed by the glowing trees on either side. Along this snowy path, a group of small human figures dressed in blue, yellow, and red bring a spark of life and narrative to the scene. Whether they are walking home or beginning an afternoon sledding adventure, their presence feels intimate and familiar. Their bright clothing stands out like lanterns against the muted ground, reminding us of warmth, movement, and human joy even in the chill of early snow. The sky above is a light, clear blue, dotted with warm and cool hues that suggest a low sun and thin clouds moving swiftly overhead. This patch of open sky, peeking through the tops of the trees, adds openness and breath to the otherwise immersive landscape. It balances the composition and evokes a feeling of quiet optimism—a promise of crisp winter days ahead.

*** ABOUT THIS PAINTING ***
* TITLE: "The first snow fell"
* ARTISTS: Oleksiy Ivanyuk
* SIZE: 20x15 cm/'7.87x5.90 inches'
* MEDIUM: oil, cardboard
* HAND PAINTED: Original painting from our collection
* CONDITION: we tried to convey the maximum information with the help of photos about this product

About the artist: Born March 13, 1954, in the city of Piryatin, Poltava region. He graduated from the Art College named after N. Samokish (1887). Teachers in the specialty: V. Grigoriev, M. Morgun, L. Gracer. Painter. The main genres are landscape, still life. The paintings are distinguished by emotional openness, warmth, affirm the harmony of life. Dominants of creativity are the deep roots of national traditions, Ukrainian cultural heritage. Member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (2008). He taught fine art at the Pyryatinsky school - gymnasium of aesthetic education (1988-2008). At creative work. Participated in exhibitions: national and international (since 1978). Personal exhibitions - in Kiev (2003, 2007-2009), Lubny (Poltava region, California (USA; 2006), Poltava (2007, 2010), Priluki (Chernihiv region, 2008), Warsaw (2009). Main works: “Flowers field ”(2007),“ Still life with a daffodil ”(2004),“ Indian summer ”(2007),“ Birch ”,“ Spiral panychi ”,“ Kalina red ”(2004),“ Field of the sun ”,“ Apple blossom ”, “Evening Breath” (2005), “Silence”, “Summer” (2006), “Sunflowers” (2007), “Plowed Field”, “Such is Life ...”, “In the Garden” (2009), “It's Cold” (2010). Individual paintings are stored in the National Museum of Art, National U. T. Shevchenko, Museum of Cultural Heritage in Kiev, Poltava Museum of Local Lore, lived and worked in the city of Poltava.