Strange what catches the eye. I must have walked past this view since childhood, probably hundreds of times. Then, one afternoon last summer I stopped and leaned on the gate on, and saw a painting. So out came the sketchbook. Maybe it was the light or how I felt at the time, who knows? I've never been good at identifying what motivates me to paint something. How do others feel about this?

This is my second painting on Arches rough, usually paint on Bockingford or Jackson's Eco paper, I like the way the surface takes the paint, but, my word! It really soaks up the paint. Would be interested to hear how others find this very popular paper. Comments about any of this, included the picture, are welcome.