In this portrait of Mary Jane Mountain near Winter Park, Colorado, the last light of day settles across the upper slopes, turning snow and stone into soft notes of rose, peach, and amber. Below, the mountain’s broad shadow descends into the timberline, where dense evergreens gather in cooler blues and deep earth tones. The contrast between the glowing summit and the quiet darkness below creates a moment that feels both dramatic and deeply still.
This pastel painting is less about topographic precision and more about atmosphere, light, and emotional contrast. Vertical marks in the forest suggest the rhythm and density of the trees without over-defining them, allowing the illuminated mountain to remain the clear focal point. The result is a landscape that captures that fleeting mountain phenomenon when the day has nearly ended, but the highest places still seem to hold the sun a little longer.
