Although my current focus is still life and figurative work, I decided to accept a landscape commission. Just the thought of painting a beautiful country sunset after having been indoors for a year seemed therapeutic to me - and indeed it was! When viewed from a distance this painting feels traditional, but closer examination reveals areas of loose abstract brushwork. Radiating from the center of the painting my brush strokes are smooth and edgeless in order to portray the properties of sunlight. Toward the perimeter the fields and soil are layered with crisp unblended strokes. During the dark winter days just the act of painting this beautiful work provided welcome relief from my social isolation and, simply put, restored my soul.