out and about : autumn into winter

Autumn changing into winter - such a lovely time of year to capture on paper. Of course, the shorter days which are always pretty damp and can sometimes actually be freezing make for challenging conditions for sketching! A big flask of hot tea and lots of clothes certainly help. Having lots of patience, too, is necessary, as the paint washes take lots of time to dry and you certainly learn pretty fast that you can't rush things or the whole sketch will be one blurry mess of colour.

But when I find a sheltered, sunny spot and the hills have fresh snow and the trees either their golden coats or the beautiful bare bones, then I can't think of a better time to be outside with my sketchbook and paints.

Here are just a few snaps from my excursions in my local hood from April through to June.