Another day where a painter of faint heart would have returned to bed in the face of such cold and windy Irish weather. I knew that if I could find a copse of sheltering trees I would be able to get a good painting started. Sure enough as I walked up to the abbey the wind was broken by the forest and I found a quiet nook. I was mainly concerned in getting the perspective and dimensions set in the composition with the subtle shadows correct in the diffused light. I got a good beginning and with a few photographs I was able to continue to work on the detail in the evening at our Bed and Breakfast.