Horse Herd in Autumn Painting: 'The Calm Before Winter'

This piece captures a serene moment of anticipation and preparation, where a herd of horses pauses along a creek in late autumn light. I employed layered brushwork with water-soluble oils to evoke a strong interplay of light and shadow enhancing the mood of the scene, representing the dualities present in the life of a rancher: the brightness of hope as well as the somber realities of nature's cycles. This contrast invites viewers to ponder the balance between work and rest, activity and contemplation, as they navigate seasonal changes in their own lives.