Three degrees under

 

Minus three degrees

watercolour on paper

7.25 x 11.25 inches

(12 x 16 mounted)

 

It was minus three degrees when I set off this morning and it didn't take long to find an irresistible view - actually there were any number of views crying out to be painted.

 

 

The washes were actually freezing on my metal palette, but I managed to prevent them from becoming too slushy by putting an old theory to the test. I had added a drop of brandy to the painting water before I set out and it seemed to work ! Do oil painters have such problems, I wonder?

 

 

Fallen tree

watercolour on paper

7.25 x 11.25 inches

(12 x 16 inches mounted)

 

I am often asked how I know when a painting is finished. The answer today when I reached this point in "Fallen tree" was easy - My fingers were so cold I could no longer grip my paintbrush. Time to finish - Simple!

I don't know that I have ever been quite so cold and so happy...