I found myself at the edge of a majestic aspen grove in Colorado several years ago. I was entranced by the fields of orange that their leaves gave off and knew this view would soon make its way onto my easel. Masses of orange branches have been simplified to create “tree holes” to let in the light of the sky. As your eye moves down the canvas, the light transitions to the forest floor where dark shadows prevail. Fields of oranges and reds give way to very subtle greens, which act as the secondary enhancers at the bottom middle of the canvas. This transition is the strength of this predominately vertical piece.