I am in Sweden at the moment and have just spent the past week in Vuollerim, which is far north and very close to the Arctic circle. Scandinavia is the place of tomtar and their folklore. Léon is a tomte, in case you did not already know that and so here, it is not at all unfeasible that he should be real. As you can see from the road sign, reindeer are often found on the road, and as I was driving past this sign, I wondered about all the tomtar who might need to cross the road too.
Photo that inspired the painting
Sharon Lacoste McDonagh, Tomte Crossing, 2009Acrylic on Paper 10 x 10 cm
