Ashdown Forest painting

The sun going down over Ashdown Forest

It snowed! Nothing like the rest of the country had and most had melted by the following morning !
That's very typical for here and we probably won't see any more. Oh well, maybe next year.
As a compromise we went to Ashdown Forest in the hope of catching a good Winter sunset.
 There, to our surprise there were still patches of snow lingering on the high ground ....happy me!
The sunset turned out to be rather amazing as well....

Sunset over Ashdown Forest

 Just as the sun started to sink and before the sky turned red, there was a glow over the forest which to me seemed rather magical and a great scene for a painting ....

                                                     "Forest Glow" 
                                                    Acrylic on canvas 16" x 12" 

"Forest Glow" Painting of Ashdown Forest just before sunset

                                                  "As the sun prepares for bed,
                                                      before it's pillows turn blazing red .
                                                   There is a momentary glow,
                                                      on fiery gorse and Winter snow. "

"Snow and Still Water" Painting the Winter landscape

Winter in Chailey, East Sussex

Wow! How different the landscape looks with a little bit of snow!
For my third and final snowy landscape of this Winter I return once again to my walk around Chailey.
I loved the contrasts of light and dark, the crisp clear reflections against the frozen patches of water. The brown and purples among the Winter foliage....
"Dear Winter snow...
you were short and sweet...
but a delight to paint!!!  "
                                        "Snow and Still Water"
                                    Acrylic on canvas

"Snow and Still water" Acrylic painting . Sussex Winter landscape

  

"Snow and Still water" in progress

Snow at Sheffield Park Gardens

Well, as we don't get much snow I thought I would paint another snowy scene from my walk around the countryside of Chailey where there was just a light dusting for a few hours.
Then....to my amazement.... a couple of days after I started painting the weather turned worse and presented us with several inches of snow!  Oooooh!
Once the showers had stopped the blue skies and sunshine turned the landscape into a wonderful and rather magical sight to see.
I took this opportunity to take a walk with my friend around Sheffield Park Gardens ...

Sheffield Park Gardens , Sussex

It was a lovely day out and the colours were stunning!
On  finishing my painting I thought how perfectly it depicted the week ....
                                          "A walk in the snow" 

"A walk in the snow" Acrylic painting on canvas

 

A light dusting of snow

Snow! We actually got snow!
I have to admit though it was only a tiny bit and it was all gone by mid day. But...it was just enough to get out into the countryside and enjoy the views.
I set off to cover some of the footpaths in Chailey. There are some really nice walks and as the area is mostly agricultural it has a constantly changing landscape. It's also quite flat terrain and as I'm recovering from a cold it meant I didn't have to try and tackle any hills  ! 
I wished I had been feeling better though and able to venture up the South Downs as they looked rather splendid in the distance ..

Snow on the South Downs

So anyway, as I said, it wasn't much snow but just enough to enjoy and make the most of ...

A Winter walk around Chailey, East Sussex

I usually see deer around here and was surprised not to see any, just saw a few rabbits and pheasants that were far too quick for me to photograph! 
It was a good walk and opened up the opportunity for me to paint a snowy landscape at last!
                                               "A light dusting of snow"
                                               Acrylic on canvas 24" x 18"

"A light dusting of snow" Painting the snowy landscape of Chailey in East Sussex