Ablaze is a compact oil painting, just 2 by 3 inches, where I used solely knife work to build the scene. The sky dominates with a fiery blend of orange, red, and yellow, its intensity balanced by a jagged horizon of dark greens and browns. Below, deep blues and purples ripple through the water, reflecting the heat of the sunset above. The textured strokes bring a tactile energy to the piece, capturing the transient power of a moment when sky and water converge in color and movement. This painting came from my ongoing fascination with sunsets—their ability to hold a brief, charged stillness that feels both alive and expansive.