Love at first sightIn Private collection

14 x 10 inches
Watercolour and gouache on Bockingford

A fantasy painting of two unicorns meeting for the first time in a glade in the forest. The sunlight filters down between the leaves of the trees, casting patches of light and shadow and making the painting more dramatic for the changes in tone. I mostly used strong Egypt Violet and deep Touareg Blue for the darks, and added Viridian Green and Quinacridone Gold for the warmth and freshness of the mid tones, and used a white and warm cream gouache for the unicorns and patches of bright light. There is a pale ethereal light around the unicorn on the right, as it trots into view, out of the light. The focal point is the unicorn on the left, since the light is pointing at it, but the trees and branches point towards the right hand unicorn too, whilst the mossy hillock with the three tree trunks in the middle of the painting is splitting up the painting, showing the distance between the unicorns, but because of the way the painting is constructed, you know they're going to go and nuzzle each other in a minute.....

And there are secret shapes amongst the trees, adding to the fantasy feel of the painting. Infact you can almost see a third unicorn hidden within the foliage.....