Spellbound River is a large oil painting on canvas, 36 x 60 inches, of two ducks flying over a summer riverbank with flowers and meadows and hills beyond. It is a semi-abstract and contemporary landscape, and very colourful, which has a late-summer afternoon feel to it. I wanted it to be magical, and I think that it is, hence the title. It was painted from memory, having been inspired by the River Cuck near Alfriston in Sussex. To the left of the painting is a dark curtain of trees, and to the right you can see a male and a female duck flying over some wildflowers across the river towards where it bends, with some South Downs hills visible in the distance. It was a very hot day in August, and I have tried to show the bright sunlight contrasting with the shadows and reflections on the river, as well as the heat and haze and exuberance of nature in summer. Living with English weather means that glorious sunny days do not happen as often as we would like, so I always try to capture the best ones by painting them so that I can look at them during the long grey days of autumn and winter. It is painted on deep-edge canvas, white edges, ready to hang; no frame needed. Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3ayb20ugrg
