This is the sister painting to 'Out Early', made on the same dawn outing with a fellow artist, when we set off just after dawn and headed up the hill to paint in the clear, crisp morning air.
There is something especially invigorating about those early starts. The mind feels quieter, the light feels fresh and full of promise, and the landscape seems to reveal itself slowly, almost shyly, as the day begins. Painting outdoors at that hour asks for a certain alertness, but it also brings a wonderful sense of immediacy and connection.
This small piece holds that feeling of being present before the world fully wakes, when the land is bright with new light and everything feels open, spacious and alive.
We headed back down mid-morning, with hearty appetites for a late breakfast!