For this demonstration, I took a very simple winter subject. A sense of utter stillness lay over the field on this morning, contrasting with the brisk activity of the clouds above. I try not to be too prescriptive about order of working, as much depends on the image itself. However, it is important to check what is in front to see which foreground details need to be addressed first. In this image the foreground is clear, but the overhanging trees block some of the middle distance, so should be tackled first. Establishing background shapes and building up, as in watercolour, will lead you into trouble; it is preferable to work in sections, usually starting at the front, to eliminate any crossover problems. As an etcher, I was accustomed to working on separate areas and pulling the image together in the final stages, and I find that this approach also suits ink and coloured pencil.
WINTER WOODLANDS – A SNOW SERIES
This series originated in
