Painting explosion

"Hope Valley", 11x14 in., oil on panel

I just got back from a painting expedition to the Sierra Nevada, and one of the places I stumbled upon to paint was Hope Valley - a vast expanse on the east side of Carson Pass, just south of Lake Tahoe. I have a special fondness for that high elevation sage scrub habitat and did three paintings in the course of the afternoon. While I was setting up to paint this picture, "Hope Valley", I noticed a large bird circling in the distance. It eventually flew right above me, a juvenile golden eagle. All in all, a very satisfying painting day.