Happy Holidays to all! Thank you Olly for the Christmas inspirational challenge. My first winter scene and a painting from my own photos. I followed your advise by taking my own photos (I actually used several different photos of the same scene and changed a few elements around). It was a very light snowfall on Christmas day here in Killingworth, CT. I did a sketch and tested colors. This was definitely challenging for me. I've been watercolor painting for just a couple of years and surely could benefit from suggestions. Thanks to all for your inspiring works of art.
So beautiful Danielle! Your painting has such a light and loose feel. I especially like the colours you chose for the background trees. If anything, you could make the undersides of those trees a bit darker and maybe bring them a smidge further down the painting. That would give you the option to have a lovely dark background to frame the white fence too!
You have done a nice job with this painting. In the future you might opt for being a little bolder, with stronger shadows and a cooler tone in the snow along with a deeper blue in the sky. This would make the light quality more in keeping with the reference photo.
That is a beautiful scene. I have only painted a couple of years myself, so my advice should be taken lightly. But I often get the advice to let the viewer "in" to the landscape. Oliver did it by painting an open gate. I don't always do that.. For me -it feels wrong. But I totally understand the thought behind.
But you caught the light beautifully! And lead the viewer nice with shadows.