#413 'Sheep on the South Downs' 30x40cm

Looking out for subjects driving is always a little hazardous!
Saw these sheep and a bonus place to pull in and park near by. They were sleepy and laying down until at least an hour into painting them. I worked quietly trying not to scare them. In the end they were very close and I could hear them pulling at the grass! Such a soothing place to paint. 

I thought the road was a bonus as it sweeps through to add an extra element of composition. I used a medium grain linen canvas which definitely has a different look I think I like it!
I painted the sheep as they were grazing and took some out when I got home to make a better composition.

By the end the sheep had all moved down hill

#278 'Sheep Grazing, Bramshott Chase' 12x16"

This was my third time painting this view (from our back garden) and I felt brave enough to have a go with a larger board (my biggest to date outside.) I had no idea whether it would work out, but having 'learnt the subject' and feeling comfortable with it I completed the painting in 90 mins and it wasn't a disaster! 

The sheep seemed comfortable with me, see the pic below grazing close, there's something lovely about being near creatures and wildlife when painting.  

The sheep circumnavigate the field so when they were in compositionally good spot I paint them in. You can see they are quite yellow compared to the snow.
The middle tree was the main focus so I painted that in first thin dark paint, plus the next two trees, changing the intensity of green/brown and tones.

I struggled with my paint as it was sodden from the snowy morning and still very sticky. I scraped off a whole section of snow I'd painted as it was too thick and clumsy. Scrapping back often works as you have remnants left and you can leave some of it showing.

The larger size felt a bit daunting to start with but once I got some blocked in it felt ok, and actually nice to have more space to work with. I feel pleased to have managed a bigger painting outside and will do more in the future as they make an impact in exhibitions and to improve my skills.

#273 'Shadows on Snow' 8x10"

Second painting from the back garden this time quite different weather being a sunny and crisp morning with long purple shadows on the snow. 
The shadows went surprisingly quickly which meant there was no time for mixing. I used some of the paint on my palette from the previous days snow painting, just tweaked a bit. 
I also spent some time painting the sheep I put them in before the main light snow as I wanted to paint around them as it seams to connect and structure the painting better. I simplified the sheep to 3 tones of muted yellow. (Light mid and dark) which helped make them look solid. You also don't have to put in all the detail like four legs just a suggestion is enough.
The tree trunks I did a dark green-brown tone first then a light strip not the left. The little tree in the centre was in direct sun and glowing orange!
Snow seams to make the land quieter, all I could really hear were the sheep munching on grass nearby :-)

Our back garden with the fence and then the field.