Lorne Bouchard, First Snow – Old Chapel and Church

This winter village scene captures the quiet stillness of the season’s first snowfall. Lorne Bouchard depicts a modest stone chapel with a steep, weathered roof, its small bell tower rising gently against a pale, wintry sky. To the right, a taller church structure anchors the composition, its vertical form contrasting with the low, horizontal sweep of snow-covered ground in the foreground.

Bare trees frame the buildings, their thin branches etched lightly against the sky, suggesting late autumn or early winter. The palette is restrained—soft greys, muted creams, warm browns, and touches of cool blue—allowing subtle shifts in tone and texture to carry the mood. Loose, confident brushstrokes describe snow, stone, and wood without excessive detail, giving the scene a sense of immediacy and calm.

The curving track in the snow leads the eye into the composition, reinforcing the sense of quiet passage and human presence without figures. Overall, the painting conveys a gentle, contemplative atmosphere, celebrating rural architecture and the hush that accompanies the first snow of the season.