Snow, silence and light draw the landscape into the immediacy of the present moment.

Available Original

Present Tense is an original gouache painting inspired by the snow-covered landscapes of Exmoor, where winter light and open space reduce the landscape to its most essential forms. Broad areas of white are balanced by restrained passages of black, distilling the moor into a minimalist composition shaped by tone, proportion and space.

Part of a contemplative triptych with Here and Now and Extended Pause, the work explores the experience of immediate awareness. Its quiet horizon, expansive sky and absence of unnecessary detail evoke the stillness of standing within a snow-covered landscape, where attention settles entirely on the present moment.

Artwork & Finish

Painted in gouache on textured paper, the work uses layered opaque and semi-opaque applications of black and white to create subtle variations in tone. The texture of the paper remains gently present within the painted passages, while the finished surface retains the naturally matt, velvety character of gouache.

Discover the Artwork

Explore the full artwork page for the story behind Present Tense, additional images, materials and surface details, related artworks, and available fine art prints.