A favourite of mine, Betula pendula aka the silver birch, naturalises swathes of Wimbledon Common providing an idyllic setting for painting.
Meandering paths through meadows and pockets of dense woodland with nothing but birdsong to listen to, Wimbledon Common is a wonderful escape from the hubbub of London. However, being used to searching for broader landscapes and big skies, I found myself struggling to find the 'hook' amongst the level landscape presented in front of me. Combined with a high afternoon summer's sun in late June, the shapes, forms and enclosed views all conspired against my inspiration to paint.
It is a stressful activity when you set the time as an artist to paint at a location and find yourself uninspired by what is around you. However, the two hours or so that had passed since beginning the outing had come with a key shift in the sun and with it the charm of the Common. The sun's lowered angle now illuminated areas once hidden in shadow and a gently lit group of silver birch bathing in the sun.
A keen test on capturing subtle shifts in green, the painting began to take shape with an enjoyable emphasis on the diffuse light on both the soft blue sky and foliage. The late June sun was moving swiftly, however and it was not long before the light had changed sufficiently to require a return visit.
Fortunately the sunny weather held and within a couple of days I had an opportunity to revisit the spot under similar conditions and complete the painting.
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