I was inspired to paint this vista because of the light. It seemed to flatten everything as it poured in from the right. It looked like a painted stage backdrop where simple outline shapes were highlighted with spot lights and special effects. I wanted to capture that essence in oil paint.
It was an early summer morning and the light seemed to be bouncing off particulate in low-lying areas that the light was bouncing off of. I tried to keep the painting simple and the detailing minimal to reinforce its stage backdrop effect. Even the dark foreground had a front row feel. Looking past the foreground leads your eye to the horizon with all its details and plays on the colors of purple, blue, pink and mauve: scenery paint.