Winter Willows....after 'Ted Wesson' by Fiona Phipps

Fiona, lovely painting - there is a lot of this white stuff about at the moment! Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

You're finishing the year on a high. For my money, this is your best 'Wesson' effort. It's confident, crisp, and it looks like you had a clear idea of how this would end up looking. It's lovely.

Lovely, fresh, festive watercolour Fiona. Happy Christmas.

Simple but really effective.

I like the contrast of light and dark, and especially the melting of colours where one bleeds into another - just right. Did you use a little pen-work in this, by the way? Best wishes to you for Christmas and the New Year.

Very well done Fiona, the colours are much stronger and the trees are very convincing.

One of your best! Lovely confident work. Best wishes to you and your family for a happy Christmas and many thanks for all the encouraging comments that you've given me throughout the year.

Many thanks everyone......you're such a wonderful bunch! Robert, I was itching to get my hands on the pen but resisted, I used the rigger instead.Lol

This is really good, Fiona. Nice and loose and the confidence shines through. We are all looking forward to lots more!! "Keeeeeeeeep painting!".

Thanks Lionel......you really boost my confidence no end!!

Thank you for the comment Fiona,all these snow pictures must mean its nearly christmas I love your "loose" style,its something I have tried but cannot master. All the best for the holiday season

Its pictures like this which make switching on to the gallery so worthwhile - I agree with the comments above - one of your best. Thanks so much for all your kind comments over the year and all the best for Christmas and 2012 - keep posting

Merry Xmas Fiona, this painting is very evocative, simple yet effective, well done. Thanks for all your comments on my work too, it makes such a difference to get positive feedback,

This is just great, Fiona. As the above, I would say: this is one of your bests! I especially agree with Michael: this makes the POL so interesting. Best wishes :) Mia

Hi Fiona I bet there is plenty of this white stuff where you are at the moment LOL Like everyone says I think this is your best yet, perfectly executed and a great Christmas card. Seasons Greetings to you and thanks for all the comments you've made on my paintings over 2011.

I particularly like the excellent 'drawn' brushwork on the trees. More please!

I particularly like the excellent 'drawn' brushwork on the trees. More please!

Many, many thanks everyone, your good wishes and comments are greatly appreciated.

Love the contrasting tones, a really attractive painting with great trees. Happy Christmas Fiona.

A lovely painting Fiona and thank you for your kind words on my work too. Happy Christmas.

This is really lovely Fiona. Many thanks too for your kind and encouraging comments. Have a great Christmas and all the best for 2012

Thank you for those kind wishes. I hope your Christmas is lovely and Santa is kind to you. Super painting - I think you are making such fantastic progress and each painting is better than the one before. Keep up the good work in 2012!

Can I just say "WOW". Fiona this is wonderful. Have a great Christmas :)

Thank you all so much for your kind words and good wishes....all the very best to you.

Another fine painting Fiona, I can certainly see you have liked Ted Wesson paintings and techniques, this reminds me of his work so much. Sorry that I commented on this painting on another one of yours which you posted some time ago by mistake, anyway thanks for your kind comments on my own work this year and I hope you have a great Christmas and Happy New Year for 2012 -- Happy Painting.

The colours leap out of the paper. A wonderful painting

Many thanks Graham, Joe for your lovely comments, very much appreciated. All my best wishes to you both.

Fiona// ..I think we are both Wesson fans ,,I have all his books ,as well ,,I love this one ,, you and all your family ..have a happy christmas .. e mail me for a chat any time ...my email is in the forum all the beta Alan

Fiona you are a true talent, and you have been one of the artists on POL who inspire me all the time, merry christmas to you too and hopefully someone buys you loads of new paper to keep painting on! :-)

Alan, thank you so much for your comment, you and your paintings have been an inspiration to me. I love your style and your attitude, and I can't wait to see your next posting!!

What a lovely and generous thing to say Hayley, you are very kind, thank you. I did put paper on my Christmas list, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!

Fiona, I heartily agree with all the above comments. I think this is excellent and I'm sure Ted Wesson would think so too! Happy Christmas!, Terry

Excellent bit of work Fiona, love that loose treatment of the bushes and undergrowth, fresh and alive. Reminds me of one of my watercolour heroes, John Blockley, alas now dead, my other one is Turner. best Mick

Many thanks Terry, Mick for your kind comments. I hope I can carry on improving.

Ooohhh I do like this one It has loads of depth .The dark grasses on the waters edge ,the pale distant trees & the reflections are really good

This comment was meant for the Somerset river...oops

This is really, really super, Fiona! Your paintings are developing so very beautifully and every new painting is a giant leap in progress. I am envious!

Thank you very much Sue and Seok for your kind words, I really do appreciate them.

We all told you this is one of your bests! So for it to be in the December Top Tens is so well deserved. Many congratulations, Fiona!

What a beautiful painting, so good to see it in the December top tens, well deserved!

Hi Fiona, thanks for your comment.... click on the News page on the Nav bar just below the Painters Online logo at the top of the page, click on Dec top tens-the first item on the news page :)

Many congratulations for being in the December top ten Fiona, you truly deserve it

Fiona: to see the Top Tens: on the POL Homepage you can see "News feeds" -> Top Ten. Later in the month, if it is gone from the Homepage, you click on "News" in the top bar.

Many, many thanks Mia, Lesley and Petra, I'm truly amazed! Thanks also for telling me where to find it.....!!! LOL

No surprise that so many people have looked at this one! Well done and It's still one on my favourites. :)

Thank you very much Louise, it seems I'm the only one to be surprised by it! It's all thanks to Mr. Wesson.

Well done for your inclusion in the Top Ten with this super painting - well deserved.

Thank you so much Thea, your comments and support is really appreciated.

beautifully done fiona .... thankyou for your comment .

This, Fiona, is an excellent watercolour , painted with sure technique and fluidly applied local winter colours.Very skilful and artistic, and reflects the beauty of winter with a special personal style.

Jane, Leonidas thank you both for your comments.

A brill piece. love the subtle light on the fence wire.

Thanks for your comment re Pooley Bridge. Glad to see you are aWesson fan. This is so simple but tells the story. Well done!

Fiona, thankyou for your comment on my pyracantha painting. I really like this watercolour from your lovely gallery. I only wish I could "do" watercolours as well but don't have the courage !

I love this Fiona- can't believe I hadn't seen it before!

love the wintry feeling.

wow Fiona you got so many comments on this one . its a beauty though and my favourite in your gallery excellent

A very belated thank you to Leon, Alan, John, Beverley, Sheridan, Sunil and thank you Dennis for your comment. It's my favourite too and the only one of my own paintings to be framed!

Thank you very much Neli for this comment and the others you have made on other works.

Oh Yes! This painting radiates energy, freedom of expression, and a very painterly style. The brush strokes are 'there'! I see a little of Seago here too. I think your brushwork stands up easily to one of the new professional boys on the block; namely Jem Bowden, a very loose painter who works in 1/2 imperial size quite a lot. Well done indeed Fiona. I am coming along late to this, but better late, as they say. Best of luck. John

John, what praise! I’m humbled by your comment and thank you very much, if only it were half true. I’m afraid all the praise should go to Mr Wesson, I’ve merely tried to emulate his genius. You are very kind. I look forward to seeing your renewed foray in to painting John, I know you have been absent for a while but keep on painting! Thanks you again.