Sledging

I remember taking reference photographs of the folk sledging on Penny Hill on the outskirts of Ponteland when I was out sledging with my grandchildren. Around the same time I was also gathering reference of the Town Moor, Newcastle which is hugely popular when we have decent covering of snow. When I was in my early teens we used to go sledging on the Town Moor with my dad. Looking back it was actually quite dangerous with there being a real risk of colliding with other ledgers. Kids would use anything to speed down the ice covered hill from bin liners to large baking trays as well as conventional sledges. I had a go-kart that doubled up as a sledge but I found I could actual go faster on wheels as the ice was so hard. For this painting, I also used the sketchbook watercolour I painted by the Town Moor for reference of the figures. Winter afternoon sunlight is bringing that touch of warmth to low clouds that appear to be full of more snow. The nature of the brush stokes are just as descriptive as the small elements of detail which adds further interest. Unframed