Beech in Winter, watercolour, 2007

This drawing is actually a combination of two paintings about the winter forest on a sunny day.  Small beech trees like the one in the inset image are striking because they do not lose all their leaves.  Those that remain will dry and turn a bright orangey-rust colour that contrasts so beautifully with the grey bark and blue tree shadows all around. The blue snow shadows make an amazing striped pattern in the bush especially on hilly terrain.  The little bird on the text page is a white-breasted nuthatch; a very friendly type of bird that makes a funny honking sound.