Red Sleigh on Winter Road

About Red Sleigh on Winter Road

This folk art painting of a red sleigh in winter is by Maud Lewis.

Maud Lewis is perhaps the best-known and most beloved folk artist in Canada; indeed her work has attracted a large international audience.
Known best for her masterful use of color and light, the self-taught artist painted iconic images of her home in rural Nova Scotia.
This charming winter scene is classic Lewis showcasing a snowy landscape, and in the center frame a bright red horse-drawn sleigh driving down a country lane.
In the distance are several snow-covered houses also painted in red, that sit against a backdrop of forest green fir trees, rolling hills, and a bright blue sky. Lewis painted scenes from memory, often finishing a painting in one sitting. Despite the hardships of poverty and advancing arthritis, Maud was able to create a remarkable cache of cheerful paintings that belied her situation – the fluffy white and black cats, the jaunty sleighs on wintery roads, the oxen festooned with bells, and more.

“As long as I’ve got a bit of brush in front of me, I’m all right.” Maud Lewis

Maud Lewis was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1901. She was never formally trained as an artist but used to paint postcards and Christmas cards with her mother. As an adult, she sold paintings from the house she shared with her husband for five dollars. She died at age 69.
The little house was restored and is on permanent exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Her artwork is held there and in the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Maud Lewis is the subject of several biographies and two National Film Board of Canada documentaries. In 2017, a biopic of Maud's life titled "Maudie" was released starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke.