Oil. Alistair Butt © 2008.
The reference material (sketch and a photo) for this oil painting came from a snow fall early last year on Froggatt Edge, Derbyshire. A slightly hazy afternoon sun provided a wonderful light behind the trees and on the snow with its highlights and shadows. The small path leads over the edge and down to some interesting large rocks.
The Painting:
The painting was started by drawing in the basic elements (outlines of the hills, tree trunks etc) with thinned oil paint. Following this the main darks were established - these being the rocks, dark vegetation (bracken and heather) and the larger tree branches. Next to be painted was the background hills before painting the darker (shadow) areas of snow.
The trees smaller branches were then painted before painting in the sky and then the snow covered sections on the distant hills. Some further small branches where then painted or re-established over the sky and distant hills - this is not the ideal/recommended way to do it.
Having established the darks for the snow, the mid and lighter toned areas were painted around the almost black stones/vegetation before finally adding some tall grasses. Lastly the path was painted.