Watercolour Painting... Snow at Linton, North Yorkshire

"Mid Winter Snow", Linton-in-Craven, North Yorkshire.
Watercolour. Alistair Butt © 2008.
The snow adding something special to what is already a delightful view of village of Linton-in-Craven or Linton, located in the North Yorkshire Dales. The village has many possible subjects for painting and also throughout the year, though it's not so open in the summer with all the large trees in leaf. Autumn time is stunning with the trees that line the stream changing colour and if timed correct the sun back lighting them - almost a reverse view of the above watercolour painting. Also at that time and through winter/spring the stone cottages scattered around the village green and stream come more into view and add an additional dimension.

Winter Landscape Watercolour Paintings...

"Across the Snow Fields", near Hill End, North Yorkshire.
Watercolour. Alistair Butt © 2008.

To help speed up the painting of the foreground, I first painted all the dry grass/vegetation. Then using Winsor & Newton Colourless Masking Fluid I masked each and every bit of dry grass/vegetation. Then the North Yorkshire stone wall and shadows on the snow could be painted. It should be noted that some colour is or can be lifted when removing the masking fluid therefore it's not something I'd normally do. The alternative would be to mask the areas of dry grass/vegetation and then paint them in, after having painted the shadows and wall, a technique that works better when there's some colour behind for example: grass or masking leaves on trees
 

"Last of the Evening Sunlight", Yockenthwaite, North Yorkshire.
Watercolour. Alistair Butt © 2008.

A late afternoon patch of sun bathes one of the collection of farms at Yockenthwaite, Upper Whafedale, North Yorkshire. If there's one 'minor' drawback to the North Yorkshire Dales in mid winter, it's that the sun drops down behind the hills an hour or so before sunset. This place one valley side into shadow which then quickly climbs the other.

Watercolour Painting - North Yorkshire village with snow...

"Winter Snow at Thorpe", Thorpe, North Yorkshire.
Watercolour. Alistair Butt © 2008.
Thorpe is a delightful collection of stone farms and cottages a short distance from the main road though Whafedale in North Yorkshire. A regular spot for many art groups, though not that easy to get to when the small lanes to the village are covered in snow. It does have the added bonus of the equally stunning village of Linton and Linton Falls (waterfall on the River Whafe) a couple of miles up the road, which makes for a superb day's sketching or painting.

Watercolour painting - boats in the harbour at Mousehole, Cornwall

"Early Morning Shadows", Mousehole, Cornwall.
Watercolour. Alistair Butt © 2008.