Frost and Fog

Oil on Board, 9 x 13 inches

Just when you thought it was safe to come out of your bunker, I'm firing another painting at you, nearly a month after the last one - where did that month go?

I must admit running the gallery has taken a lot more of my time than I would have liked, but it's a blast to be surrounded by such great art every day at work and for the gallery to accepted so well by art lovers. It's great to be painting again though.

This one is a reminder that Winter hasn't hit yet, at least here in Rutland, but there may be time for some hard frosts and fog...and snow.  I love it when these foggy, frosty paintings come off, but they are really so tough to get the relative tones right to be convincing. It's because the tones are so light and close, without the contrasty tones of Summer, that make such subjects tricky. When they do come off, they are very satisfying and the effect can be as striking as a bright, sunlit vista.

There is actually a metal bridge over the river just behind the Willow on the right, but I felt it was too dominant, so I painted it out. One day in another century, they might X-ray this painting and see the hidden bridge, ha ha!