A Sunny Winter Day

 “A Sunny Winter Day” was painted on location in a new area I discovered some time ago above Coronation Park in Ystradgynlais.

Unfortunately, at this time of year it is not easy to walk up there, as much of the route is covered in marshy grass and mud. In the end, however, I found a lovely dry, sunlit patch of green grass from which I had a wonderful view.

149.
A Sunny Winter Day
Oil on wooden panel
9.4 × 7 in / 24 × 18 cm
25th November 2025

I began the painting using brushes, but then switched to a palette knife, which I used for the remainder of the work.

I really loved the rare sunny afternoon up on the hill. The colours of nature were vivid and varied, and the temperature was very mild.

Photo taken at the end of the painting session.

Winter Land

When it isn’t pouring with rain, it’s the perfect moment to head outdoors and capture the landscape where I live.

This piece is a study painted in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve. By standing on higher ground, I was able to take in a wider view — from the walking path below to the clouds drifting across the sky.

148.

Winter land
10 × 7 in / 25.5 × 17.8 cm
Oil on wooden panel
24th November 2025

As the sun began to set, the sky started to display soft pink hues.

Photo taken on location

I loved being out there, witnessing the magic of nature.

Returning to the Garden

This time, I have done something completely new for me: a commission based on a painting I made over the summer.

It features the garden pot on the steps that lead from the patio to the lawn in our garden, encapsulating the joy and happiness that our first few months of gardening have brought us.

Working from a previous plein air piece of mine as a reference, and noticing how different the approach was, was truly a new adventure for me. It is, in fact, a reinterpretation of something I have already experienced, but with a fresh, updated twist, allowing me the freedom to alter and adjust it according to my current perspective.

I really enjoyed the process and learnt so much from it.

147.
Returning to the Garden
29.7 x 21 cm / 11.7 x 8.3 in
Oil on wooden panel
12th November 2025

Below, you can see the painting process divided into three stages: drawing, blocking in, and refined painting.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Autumn on the Moors

Autumn on the Moors is a small plein-air painting capturing the wild character of the higher ground, where wind, sun, clouds, and marsh grass create the atmosphere of untouched beauty.

It was painted on a glorious autumnal day in the Ystradgynlais area, in an alla prima style.

I was drawn to the spot because I wanted to enjoy the good weather after many days of rain.

145.
Autumn on the Moors
6.1 × 7.7 in / 15.5 × 19.5 cm
Oil on wooden panel
8th November 2025

Here you can get a glimpse of the environment I was working in.

It is a landscape painting with a focus on the clouds above the land.

The two people in the photo really were there — quite an unusual sight up there.

THREE AUTUMNAL PEARS

I decided to paint this still life for a few reasons:

• It’s been raining for some time, and the weather outdoors is awful.
• I fancied eating some pears, and they inspired me when I saw them in Tesco.
• I thought they’d make a good painting subject.

So, I used my last available painting surface — a canvas board that had been lying around for a few months.

I normally paint on wooden panels, as I prefer them to canvas for plein air painting, but in this case it worked well for a still life.

144.
Three Autumnal Pears
11.8 x 11.8 in / 30 x 30 cm
Oil on canvas panel
26th October 2025 

This is the painting on the easel in my studio where the still life was arranged.

It is now available in my shop.

The Country Lane

The Country Lane is an oil painting depicting a lane I discovered a few days ago behind Callwen Church, in the Upper Tawe Valley.

I was drawn to its rural atmosphere and the gentle, meandering course of the little road winding through this peaceful countryside.

143.
The Country Lane
10 x 8 in / 25.5 x 20.5 cm
Oil on panel
19th October 2025

I like it when the colours reflect those found in real life.

Photo at the end of the painting session on location

Trees and sunlight

Trees and Sunlight is an oil painting that was started on location and completed in the studio.

It depicts a group of trees bordering a field in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, captured in the afternoon when the sun was shining brightly on their foliage and the surrounding grass.

This strong backlighting created an atmospheric glow behind the trees in the foreground. As I was painting contre-jour, I found it difficult to see my panel clearly, so I worked en plein air as much as possible before finishing the piece in the studio, relying on my visual memory.

I particularly enjoyed the warm sunshine and loved capturing the light as it touched the still-green leaves and grass.

142.
Trees and sunlight
8 x 10 in / 20.5 x 25.5 cm
Oil on panel
13th October 2025

Photo taken on location.

SEPTEMBER STRADA EASEL CHALLENGE

September has quite literally been a challenge, as I took part in the Strada Easel Challenge.

It meant creating one painting from life every single day throughout the month — and I ended up with a full collection of 30 artworks.

I took on this challenge to push myself through an intensive painting practice, to keep learning and growing, and ultimately to create a brand-new collection of paintings that I hope you’ll enjoy.

30 paintings created during the Strada Easel September 2025 Challenge by Valentina Teghillo.
© Valentina Teghillo

You can view and purchase them on my website via this link.