Through the Woods and Shadows

I have painted in this spot twice and each day was markedly different than the other. This afternoon was hot and the light, fairly flat; the mountain slope beyond has almost no shape. Even the values of the trees at center are not too dissimilar. What stopped me this day was the strength and pride of the evergreens, tall and resolute, even the dry one at far right. The forestry road that winds through them caught a few lengthening shadows as the sun just began to slide towards the horizon and I once again found myself intrigued with what might lie beyond as it wriggled out of sight.

Oil on panel     12” X 7”