Original 9x12 acrylic on canvas panelboard. Unframed
 
The 9x12 acrylic painting on canvas board captures the haunting beauty of an old, abandoned farmhouse, nestled within a vast, open prairie. The house, weathered and decaying, stands at the heart of the scene, its sagging roof and crumbling walls speaking of years of neglect and abandonment. The  paint is chipped and peeling, leaving exposed wood that has faded to gray and brown. The windows are broken, their frames warped, and the front door hangs ajar, as though inviting the wind to sweep through its hollow rooms. Weeds and grasses have overtaken the yard, creeping up the sides of the house, making it appear even more isolated and forgotten.
 
Surrounding the farmhouse, the expansive prairie stretches endlessly, its golden grasses swaying in the evening breeze. The land seems vast and untamed, with rolling hills and distant horizons that meet the sky in a seamless, open expanse. The prairie's rich, earthy tones contrast with the vibrant, surreal colors in the sky above, creating a striking juxtaposition of nature's harshness and its beauty.
The sky dominates the painting, ablaze with the warm hues of a stunning sunset. Rich oranges, deep pinks, and fiery reds streak across the heavens, blending seamlessly with the dramatic storm clouds that loom overhead. The storm clouds are dark and swirling, painted in intense shades of purple, deep blue, and charcoal gray, their swirling forms creating a sense of tension and foreboding. The contrast between the fiery sunset and the looming storm clouds adds an element of drama to the scene, suggesting both the beauty and danger that nature can offer.
 
At the foreground, a stream winds its way through the prairie, its reflective surface mirroring the surreal colors of the sky. The water is a perfect mirror, reflecting the fiery oranges and pinks of the sunset, along with the deep, moody blues and grays of the approaching storm. The stream’s path cuts through the land like a ribbon of light, its shimmering surface adding a sense of calm amidst the intensity of the stormy sky. Small ripples in the water reflect the shifting colors of the clouds above, enhancing the surreal, dreamlike quality of the painting.
 
The brushstrokes are bold and expressive, capturing both the texture of the weathered farmhouse and the swirling movement of the sky and water. The contrasts between the warmth of the sunset and the cool, dark storm clouds add depth and emotion to the scene, while the reflection in the stream ties the entire composition together, drawing the viewer's eye back and forth between the land, sky, and water.
 
The overall mood of the painting is one of both awe and melancholy. The abandoned farmhouse, set against the vast prairie, feels like a solitary figure in the midst of nature’s grandeur. The storm clouds and surreal sunset evoke a sense of impending change—something about to happen, yet still uncertain. It’s a moment of stillness before the storm, a scene frozen in time, inviting reflection on the passage of life and the power of nature.