I poured a lot of emotion into this acrylic painting, aiming to capture the sheer, overwhelming feeling of a dramatic sunset.
​I used an intense, high-saturation palette of fiery reds, vibrant oranges, and deep magentas. It makes the light feel almost molten, casting this incredible glow against the dark, craggy monolith that anchors the scene. I really wanted that contrast to hit hard!
​The impasto texture is key here—I built up the paint thickly to give the whole piece a tangible, almost sculptural quality.  The energy in the brushstrokes, especially how the broken color in the sky creates a shimmering effect, contrasts with the sweeping, bold bands of paint in the water that perfectly mirror the drama above. It's a bold piece that uses color and texture to transform a simple coastal scene into a sublime, unforgettable spectacle. 
I created this painting from a reference photo I took on my trip to New Zealand. This coastal scene is just under an hour north of Auckland.