Weather Diary: 29 Cold weather colour

Now already into December and the weather has turned decidedly wintery. On the clear, bright days I've really wanted to get out and photograph as much as possible.The low lying sun has been no less intense and interesting in how it shapes the landscape.

Natural rock shapes illuminated by the winter sun

Water seepage turned to ice glinting in the sun.

Ice cold

This time of year has such a different feel and sense with the air cold and the ground damp and hard beneath your feet. Bouldering is a completely different prospect now...cold hands and snow (last w/k !) covered rock makes it feel a good deal more challenging.

Last of the sun, Ruberlaw in the distance.

Through the week if we do get out for a walk it's with torches along a country road. At the week ends, always late to get out or if out I've never been in the right location and haven't managed to see a full sunset yet. However the sillouetted hills and trees have a very real magic of their own.

Sun setting out of view.

Snow covered Cheviot Hills

Recent work has been studio based. I've been working on a couple of commissioned paintings which is always a challenge.Although I often use exaggerated colour I couldn't justify in my mind why I was using such an intense orangery colour in one of these paintings. To be honest although it looked appealing enough I felt a kind of fakery in what I was doing. It gradually occurred to me that this intense orangery colour is very much in evidence in the landscape at this time of year.
Decaying ferns,heather, grasses and dead beech hedging which line many of the country Border roads appear to shine brightly in the midday and very early afternoon sun. So it's not that unusual that bright intense oranges should feature in some of my recent work.

Work in progress. Oil & wax on canvas.

Quick sketch book pastel drawing.

You never can be too sure with the weather.I was over in Ireland a couple of weeks ago visiting my sister. I optimistically packed my bag not bothering to take a warm coat thinking that the weather would be mild. Little did I know that - 4 degrees was the night time temperature with the day time temperature not getting above 0 the whole time I was there !