Monday 20 February 2012

Footprints in the Snow

Oil on Board, 9x12 inches

I did this painting as a demonstration for the Boston Art Group last week (no, not Boston, Mass. - we named our Boston first for all my millions of fans reading this across the pond).  As I always say, it's so difficult to achieve the same brightness of an early morning sky with the paint available to the artist.  As in 'After the Snowfall' in the previous post, there is no pure Titanium White in the snow at all, but I used some in the tiny highlights of twinkling light on the water where the reeds are disturbing the surface, that's all.  

To get this view, I stood on top of the hill looking down, so that all the footprints from the previous day's walkers were very evident, thrown into shadow with the strong sunlight.  It's a very different feel to this painting compared with 'After the Snowfall', with this one singing with light - lots of contrast with the sunlit snow and beautiful blues and mauves of the shadows.  I only used three colours - my 'primaries', Cad. Yellow Light, Permanent Rose and Cobalt Blue, with Titanium White of course.  I love the simplicity and discipline of mixing any colour required with those three colours, and it saves carrying extra weight when you're painting on site.

The demo was only just under two hours and this is how far I got in the time, before finishing it off back in the studio:

This is the last Oil for a while.  The next few paintings I shall post will be Pastels, the first being a portrait of a Longhorn Cow, so brace yourselves.  I haven't painted a Pastel for a while, so the change of medium will be challenging, before I get my eye in.

7 comments:

  1. Love the snowscene ...well actually I love all your work.
    Look forward to seeing the pastel paintings

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  2. A great little painting. Will it be going in the AAF, Peter?
    Andrew

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    1. Thank you Andrew. It may be, depending on what the Gallery want, otherwise it will be going to Devon for my solo-show. I'll keep you posted.
      Peter

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  3. Enjoy veiwing all your work and find your drivel most interesting. Ve

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  4. This is a loveley painting. I've just found your blog and am very impressed especially with the plein air landscapes. Paul.

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  5. Thank you Paul - I'm much obliged! I had a look at your Blog and you've done some fine work yourself, so keep up the great work and happy painting!

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