Carol had prepared an initial sketch of a winter scene and dabbed masking fluid using a "funny brush" made of rubber, She then soaked her paper (600gsm hot pressed) with water before laying down washes using Light Red, Raw Sienna and Ultramarine Blue. She then removed paint from the washes with a damp brush to leave pale areas where the trees would be painted, and removed more paint with a cotton bud where the pale winter sun would be.