This is the first of a small series of river scenes I have created for this exhibit featuring a bend in the Missouri River west of our home.  This site is where travellers on the Santa Fe Trail were ferried across from the starting point at old Franklin to Arrow Rock.  One of the most potent nature images burned into my memory is a darkened landscape with only a faint strip of molten sunset color at the horizon.  Many, many times I have observed this as a child; when on horseback, I raced to get home “before dark”.  As an adult I have returned to this moment again and again to capture that enigmatic moment when day and night coalesce.  This painting shows my fascination with the mood of color, and the American Tonalist movement.  NEXT