Ice Fishing at Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin.

Painted in February 2022, Ice Fishing at Lake Monona captures a peaceful slice of Madison life in the depths of winter. In the distance, a line of ice fishermen spreads across the frozen lake, quietly focused, almost sculptural in their stillness. Behind them, the curved silhouette of the Monona Terrace—designed by Frank Lloyd Wright—rises against the skyline. It’s a modernist landmark rooted in nature, echoing the relationship between people and place that defines this scene.

This 11x14 oil on canvas was painted from memory and reference after a trip to Madison. There’s something enduring about Midwest winters—how they slow time, how they mute the world and draw out the beauty in subtle contrast. The cold light, the soft greys and blues, the way footprints vanish in wind-swept snow. That quiet energy is what I wanted to capture here.

The painting leans toward a post-impressionist interpretation, with layered brushwork and a subdued palette that suggests more than it declares. The focus isn’t on precise detail, but on atmosphere, on what it feels like to stand by the lake and watch a quiet tradition unfold.