This moody, dramatic scene was painted Alla Prima, or “all at once” in oil on canvas during an unexpected fall storm near the Arkansas River in Colorado. Trees still green with leaves, cold air settled in with the wind blowing wet snow. The first thought in this weather is to seek shelter but instead putting on a jacket and getting out paints seemed to be the priority on this day. Capturing the emotion of the incoming storm was the goal; fighting the wind blowing snow on the canvas and fogging up glasses while looking into the cottonwood river valley below.