A cold and barren landscape doesn't have to be grim. I did a phoenix-like abstract work before, so I thought an ice phoenix would be an interesting variation. Created in Vue, with the streaming effect done in Paint Shop Pro. The texture on the phoenix is from the background of Waltz of the Snowflakes.

A fantasy winter landscape created in Vue. I wanted a winter scene that focused mainly on the landscape but was obviously fantasy. This was also an experiment in working with snow, getting it to sparkle and reflect the light for an “other-worldly” effect. It was an extremely long render on account of all the lights and reflective and translucent surfaces, but I was able to just run it in stops and starts over about a month.

This is the kind of day to stay inside and drink something hot while you look out the window at the winter landscape. If that sleet and black ice don't make the indoors more inviting, I don't know what does!

This is the third variation of this scene,
Clouds Go Sailing By
Clear Autumn Day

Lake Nojiri near Nagano, Japan. This is where my family used to go on vacation in the summer and sometimes winter, and I took this picture there, probably around Christmas of 2000. Although it wasn't cold enough to form much ice on the lake, because it was in the Japanese Alps there was usually a lot of snow in the winter.

This scene from some far-away frozen planet was created in Terragen. I don't remember if it's where I got the name, but it makes me think of John Rutter's Distant Land.