This is an original pastel work by David Coates.
A restless, impressionistic landscape unfolds across the surface: broad, horizontal bands of color ripple from left to right like wind over water. On the left a low ridge or hillside is painted in intense blues and indigoes, its slope sweeping diagonally into the composition. Across the middle ground a series of warm stripes — saffron, tangerine, and a soft rose — slice through the cool palette and read like a sunset reflected in a misty plain or river. Those warm hues glow against the surrounding cools, giving the picture a luminous, almost breathing center.
To the right, a tight cluster of thin, skeletal trunks or reeds rises vertically, their dark, spidery marks puncturing the horizontal rhythm. They act as a counterpoint to the smooth bands — raw, gestural strokes that suggest bare trees or tall marsh grass silhouetted against the light. The foreground is scumbled with pale blues and chalky whites, evoking frost or low snow; the texture of the medium is visible, the marks grainy and tactile, as if created with pastel or heavily worked paint.
The sky and ground seem to mirror each other, with colors repeating and bleeding into one another. Purples and mauves settle into the lower planes while wisps of golden yellow and pale blue hover above, creating a sense of depth without strict realism. Overall the image feels atmospheric and transient — a moment between day and night, where color and motion define the scene more than precise detail.
This piece is a brother piece to "Autumn Vivid Sky" each one is a picture of the same location at a different season and angle.
This work is 8.5" tall by 10" wide. It is currently framed, but is available unframed as well.
This piece was made in 2024.
This piece is part of the temporary exhibit "Starry Eyed" come and see it in person through the months of February and March 2026.