Shadows of a Drought

This painting is oil on canvas. It was inspired by how moved I was when I encountered this scene of the Truckee River near Lake Tahoe. It was autumn and the brilliant yellow of the quaking aspens surrounded by jeffrey pines and white fir trees, all towering over a Truckee River depleted by drought was striking in so many ways. I was traveling with family and could not paint that day, so I photographed the scene and began painting after returning home. Having just started painting after a long career in design, I used this painting to reinvigorate my love for painting and to learn, so it was a lengthy process, but a very rewarding one.