This piece is a colored pencil painting that is based on a photograph that I took from our front stoop one relatively recent winter morning. What attracted me to this scene was the way the sun was backlighting the trees and the shade of the snow that covered the ground. I felt that the lighting alone would make a very interesting painting of a residential landscape, but it needed a more precise focal point. So I added two male cardinals to provide focus. I admit, they were not present, but I felt that their bright color added much to strengthen the composition. I hope that you agree. I entitled this painting "Early Morning Visitors". It was done on matte surfaced Dura-lar polyester film using Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils. The size of the piece is 8 inches by 12 inches. Perhaps this scene is one that you too have experienced. Winter can be a beautiful season. Enjoy your winter too.