There’s a magic to the Great Lakes at sunset—when the sky turns into a fiery blend of oranges, pinks, and purples, and the water catches every bit of that glow. That’s what I wanted to capture in this piece, that fleeting moment when the sun is just about to dip below the horizon, and everything feels like it’s lit from within.
The waves roll in with energy, their blues and greens edged with golden light as they crash against the rugged, rocky shoreline. The distant hill rises up, lined with evergreens standing tall against the sky, grounding the scene in the untamed beauty of the Northwoods. Everything is in motion—the water, the clouds, the light shifting by the second—but for a moment, it all feels perfectly still.
I used gel pastels on a gessoed board to bring out the depth and texture in the sky and water, then layered in a watercolor ink wash to create that soft, dreamlike atmosphere. The result is a piece that feels both dramatic and peaceful, like standing on the shore, breathing in the fresh lake air, and watching nature put on its last show of the day.
The golden hour doesn’t last long, but it leaves an impression—and that’s what this painting is all about.
There’s a magic to the Great Lakes at sunset—when the sky turns into a fiery blend of oranges, pinks, and purples, and the water catches every bit of that glow. That’s what I wanted to capture in this piece, that fleeting moment when the sun is just about to dip below the horizon, and everything feels like it’s lit from within.
The waves roll in with energy, their blues and greens edged with golden light as they crash against the rugged, rocky shoreline. The distant hill rises up, lined with evergreens standing tall against the sky, grounding the scene in the untamed beauty of the Northwoods. Everything is in motion—the water, the clouds, the light shifting by the second—but for a moment, it all feels perfectly still.
I used gel pastels on a gessoed board to bring out the depth and texture in the sky and water, then layered in a watercolor ink wash to create that soft, dreamlike atmosphere. The result is a piece that feels both dramatic and peaceful, like standing on the shore, breathing in the fresh lake air, and watching nature put on its last show of the day.
The golden hour doesn’t last long, but it leaves an impression—and that’s what this painting is all about.