Finale is a small oil painting, just 3 by 4 inches, created entirely with a palette knife. The work captures the intense energy of a sun hanging low over a forest of tall pine trees. I focused on the contrast between the glowing yellows and oranges of the sun and sky, and the deep shadows of the silhouetted trees and rocks. Below, a rocky stream mirrors the sun’s warmth with shifting patches of light and shadow. The thick, textured brushwork brings out the dynamic movement in the scene, emphasizing the constant flow between light and dark in this natural landscape.