Old Bawn, Ballinaclash

Old Bawn, Winter Wonderland, Ballinaclash, Co. Wicklow

In 2009 in heavy snow, I made my way through Clash village over the bridge and straight up the hill. I was nervous about the car so left it, to walk carrying a camera and the barest of art materials. Within minutes of my trudging - a now barely detectable path in the forest - to my unbounded delight, a fawn stood in front of me –as much as to say ‘what are you doing here!’ I was left wondering if I had actually seen what had appeared - no photo to prove it - of which I was strangely glad.

But, I did take several later and rapidly of the forest filling up with snow. I even managed a quick colour study as by now it was snowing heavily. I returned to my car with a wiser heart than I had had on another occasion when the danger had stared me in the face and I hadn’t heeded earlier warning signs of angry waves as I stood painting with an easel on a rock in Co. Kerry. It almost cost me my life!

I painted this oil painting very soon after the forest adventure as we were snowed in. I love the result with its twee Christmas card feel – (It was accepted by Charity Cards the following year and proved to be very popular as a Christmas card) Tones and textures of a myriad of warm and cool greens, in trees and banks, contrast with the blues and whites of snow and sky. Shadows, tints and tones dart about the snow to give the image a freshness and vitality that almost does justice to the real experience.