Autumn Comes to the Ranch, 8x10in Oil on panel
$640 Framed in a gallery-quality handmade frame 
 
>Purchase Through: Wilde Meyer Gallery
 
About this oil:
 
Here’s a little window into my version of fall in the West. Autumn Graces the Mountains started as a quick study for a future large piece, but the scene took on a life of its own. I pictured three cowboys heading home at the end of a long day, framed by those first hints of changing leaves and the deep blues of the mountains behind them.
 
Working on an 8×10 panel pushed me out of my comfort zone. I tend to paint big, so fitting an entire narrative into such a small space meant simplifying—something that doesn’t come naturally to a former hyper-realist! I also had to be thoughtful with the background, balancing enough autumn color to suggest the season without pulling attention away from the riders.
 
The result is a compact little painting full of energy and atmosphere, and I’m delighted with how it came together. Studies don’t always behave, but this one felt like a cheerful celebration of everything I love about fall.
 
Note: the actual frame for this piece is displayed.