Exhibited: Sorelle Gallery, Westport, Connecticut
Private collection, Rancho Mirage, CA
 
My thanks to the very supportive collector of this oil.
 
About this oil:
After completing Reluctant Sunset, 40 x 40 inches (first version) I missed the pleasure of working on that piece. Since I'm the one in charge, I did this smaller version with the idea of applying more paint so the color layers are more apparent.
 
You would think that the second version would be easier, but as soon and the new composition began, all of the shapes and colors were vying for their own position and prominence. It took a number of sessions, but with a lot of cajoling, everything settled into their complimentary places at last!
 
Thoughts on Reluctant Sunset (first version):
This is a segment of a broader vista and I purposely cropped the view down to this scene. I liked the flow of it, the way the clouds and mountains move across the space in an easy way, almost in step together.
 
My first intention and to confess, 3 more intentions after that, was to set up the bright mountain shapes at the bottom against a bright, colorful sky. Weeks and many hours later, I began to notice that softer colors in the clouds made for a more appealing artwork when the mountain blues were allowed to take the primary role.
 
This was one of those oils where the painting and the artist are enjoined in a high dialogue. Since this painting was not moving toward a bright evening sky, softer tones were required and a variety of bright colors were added last but sparingly used. It took a lot of reworking to distribute the softer sunlight and to balance that large color array. 
 
It was a real effort to usher this to completion. This was a reluctant sunset after all, only emerging after the sun had left the sky, whispering its color songs.