Quiet Presence — Outdoor Crèche After Snowfall Watercolor on paper, 15 x 22”, Richard Burke Jones

This watercolor depicts the new outdoor crèche at Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport just as snowfall begins to gather on the figures and ground. The scene is rendered with loose, washes and selective detail, allowing the snowfall to soften edges and quiet the composition.

The figures are arranged in a gentle arc, their bowed heads and layered garments emphasizing humility and reverence. Color is restrained yet warm—muted violets, earth tones, and soft whites—suggesting both cold air and spiritual warmth. The angel stands watch in calm stillness, while the Mother and Child remain the quiet center of the composition.

Rather than illustrating narrative detail, the painting focuses on atmosphere and presence. Snow becomes both a unifying element and a veil, drawing the viewer into a moment of contemplation. Rooted in a Newburyport setting along High Street, the work hopefully reflects a living tradition—one experienced not as spectacle, but as quiet grace within the rhythm of winter as the Christmas season comes to a soft close.

Unframed This Price of 195.00 for this week only. Thank you!