Ice-bound River

Charcoal pencil on paper, 59x43cm: Another of my winter drawings of the River Calder this time choked up with ice-floes. Having stumbled upon the possibilities of this type of scene I would go looking for them which was actually more difficult than it seems. I was looking in particular for good river shapes behind clearly defined tree verticals to make something out of general tangle of undergrowth on either side of an at times unprepossessing small river. It's amazing what you can find if you try hard enough!

Icy Woodland River

charcoal pencil on paper, 59x43cm: Last winter I made a series of drawings like this of the River Calder as it passes through the Calderglen. By the time I got to this one I had distilled the scene to this minimalist view with just the dark river itself with ripples and runs behind a screen of verticals in these trees giving it a sparse feel of winter. I really should take the drawing out from behind the glass which holds it in place above my fireplace!
Pencil on paper, A5: This little drawing made on the spot continues this fascination with the river flowing on it's way behind vertical (and not so vertical) trees. I am storing these up in my head and one day will make paintings when I have decided how to go about it!