Bringing Home the Turf – 1007

Men walk home with donkeys carrying loads of turf in this watercolour painting of the west of Ireland. Their silhouettes stand against a warm sunset, with light catching the puddles on the uneven track in the foreground.

I based the scene on an old black-and-white photograph, probably from the 1950s, showing donkeys and wooden crates used to bring home the day’s work from the bog. I introduced the sunset and softened the figures further away to create depth. Keeping the dark areas lively, without letting the shadows become flat or lifeless, was a little tricky in watercolour.

Explore more scenes of rural life in my Irish landscape prints collection.