This painting was completed in my studio in the middle of winter, but I had started it four months earlier during the Great Black Hills Plein Aire Paint Out held in Spearfish, SD.  This canoe at rest was on the shore of Iron Creek Lake.  Looking for a location suitable for a sunset painting, I became aware of this peaceful lake on a map.  The setting sun created a pink veil over the landscape.  In particular, the granite mountain face just beyond the lake was decidedly influenced. 

My goal for this painting was to convey the serenity that I felt here.  When surveying the available subject matter, I felt that the resting canoe was a natural fit for my storyline.  To emphasize peace, I depicted all objects at rest.  In particular, the water was painted with minimal ripples, only enough to effectively convey water.  There was a great complimentery color scheme at work.  The reflections in the water juxtaposed the pinkish granite and the green canoe.