While hiking with my sister in Colorado we walked through areas of forest that had burned. I collected some of the charcoal that had fallen off the charred trees. It was this charcoal that I used to begin this painting. 

I had marked the drawing underneath with a measured grid. Some of the gridlines show through and were the inspiration for the window panes in the sun. The sun ray design came from tracing an object I found on the ground while out walking one day; it's arch shape with cut-out rectangles appeals to me. I'm not sure what it is, but it has inspired designs in many of my paintings. 

I did not create this artwork with Halloween in mind, but it does have a spooky feel to it, and it's that time of year again! 🎃