I love sunsets, and California sunsets are somehow different from anywhere else. Having lived in Southern California for 30 years, I never ceased to be in awe of them. When my wife and I went to visit my daughter in Los Angeles, we went out for a long walk and ended up in the canals of Venice Beach.

Our timing couldn’t have been better, as the sun began to set in a partially clouded sky, providing a brilliant pastel color palette that reflected off the water and silhouetted the palm trees. Since I didn’t have my paints with me, the best I could do was to shoot several photos and work from them and my memory once I was back in the studio.

This painting was done alla prima (working wet paint into wet paint in a single session). My method is to block in values first—the darkest darks and lightest lights—focusing merely on shapes, then working midrange values between the two. This piece was done with a limited palette of only four colors (ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow light, and Italian terra verte (green), plus black and white.

As with many of my smaller works, this began as a simple color study. But as the shapes and features began to emerge, the sensory memories of that evening kicked in, and I then worked it into this finished piece.

This piece measures 11” tall by 14” wide. It sells in a gold wood frame (frame size approximately 16” by 19”) and ready to hang. Price includes frame and free shipping in the U.S.