Autumn Texture

I began my art career working in pastels before I changed my medium to oil painting about seven years ago. I moved into oil painting because I wanted a new challenge, sort of like picking up a second language. As I've gained greater fluency in oils, I like to sprinkle in influences from my past work in pastel, especially the use of a heavily textured surface. I discovered this subject in the Great Smoky Mountains near our home in east Tennessee. I thought that the added textural component allowed the fall foliage to shine brilliantly.