"Fading Boundaries" Painting the morning mist

Finally January draws to a close.
 It's seemed like long month full of fog and mist and not very good conditions to get out and about with my camera .
One day last week I couldn't even see the house over the road as the mist was so thick, so I decided it would have to be a cleaning day instead. However , just after 9am the sun started to shine through and I found myself spending more time looking out of the window than being productive.
It was no good trying to fight the desire to get out so I grabbed my camera, put on my boots and headed off.
I didn't want to walk far as my ankle is still rather painful after spraining it. With this in mind I decided to take a stroll along one of my favourite paths which is part of the Ouse Valley Way.
The path takes me north of the village through Rotherfield woods. These are lovely woods and have an almost magical atmosphere to them, they are the sort of woods that would make you believe in fairy tales !

Rotherfield woods, Newick (Sussex) 

On the far side  the path leads you to where the River Ouse meanders between the fields and the outskirts of  the Sheffield Park estate (Sheffield Park Gardens) . It's a lovely part of the river , I have spent many Summer days just watching the Dragonflies and Beautiful Demoiselles dance and swoop over the water.  But the Winter brings a different kind of light and it all looks very different.

Winter along the river Ouse

I usually end my walk when I reach the Bluebell Railway but the mist added such a magical atmosphere to the morning that I ventured a little further to explore the other side of the river .
Now my walk took me around the perimeters of  Sheffield Park , best known for it's beautiful gardens  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden
This area is a much more natural landscape than the gardens and a delight to explore...

Sheffield Park, Sussex 

I could have spent all day there but the Winter light fades so quickly and I still had the walk back.
As I was about to leave I met the archaeologist  David Brown, who is working with the National Trust tracing the boundaries of an ancient deer park.
 I didn't realize at the time but this brief meeting would play a big part in my next painting !
On returning home I browsed through my photos and was delighted to discover that I had managed to capture some of amazing misty views that I had seen.
Now it was time to paint! I loved the way that the scenery just seemed to suddenly disappear and I chose a gate and fence to be the subject of my composition....a fence....a boundary....
it was then that I recalled my brief meeting with David Brown and how fitting the idea of the deer park boundaries disappearing just just like my own.....
                                           
                                          " Fading Boundaries"
                                 Acrylic on canvas 24"x 12" 

"Fading Boundaries" Acrylic landscape of a misty morning in Sheffield Park, Sussex

"In the grounds of Sheffield Park estate (Sussex, UK) Morning mist lays heavy over the long forgotten landscape of an ancient deer park. Now new boundaries disappear into a magical and atmospheric view bringing back images of the past.
This painting contains gentle iridescent highlights that catch the light enhancing the "glow" of the early morning mist." https://www.artfinder.com/product/fading-boundaries/

 

"Winter Reflections "

Well it's been a bit of a slow start to the year. I unfortunately sprained my ankle which meant I havn't been able to get out much . It's been so very frustrating!
Stubborn determination couldn't keep me in for long though and my recent walks have been close to home ( just to be on the safe side).
I'm lucky to live in a village where there are plenty of rural paths to follow and in  the recent frosty weather they were a delight to walk.
My path took me around the south side of Newick through woods, over fields and by the frozen waters of Winter.....perfect....just right for a painting!
                                            "Winter Reflections"
                                  Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18"

"Winter Reflection" Acrylic painting

 "A cold Winter's day in the Sussex countryside when the sunlight barely manages to break through the trees upon the icy waters of the lake .
The muted colours mingle with the mist and soft rays of sunshine as the wild geese fly in almost unnoticed . "
 https://www.artfinder.com/product/winter-reflections-ba03/

                                      

The South Downs and "Lunch along the way"

The South Downs at Firle, East Sussex

Happy New Year!
I thought I would start 2017 off with a South Downs painting.
The blue skies and sunshine were too good to miss over the holidays, so we took  a trip down to Firle beacon for a break out in the fresh air.
 We obviously weren't the only ones with that thought , I couldn't believe how busy it was!
 My explorations are usually during the week so I'm used to hardly seeing anyone else but with such wonderful views along The South Downs Way I wasn't surprised .
I spotted some walkers taking a lunch break on the bench whilst looking out over  the  Sussex Weald as it faded off into the horizon.
 So many times I have done the exact same thing myself.
 Couldn't be more perfect for a painting!

                                 "Lunch along the way"
                           Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18" 
                   

"Lunch along the way" Painting of the view from The South Downs Way at Firle, East Sussex

 

If you would like to see more then pop on over to my gallery page https://www.artfinder.com/paula-oakley