In 2002, I created a painting from this very spot overlooking Pilgrim Heights in the Cape Cod National Seashore. That first visit was at the height of summer, but this time it was early October. As I discovered, the quality of light and color between the two seasons were quite startlingly different. The vibrant colors of summer were replaced with more subtle hues.

I did this particular painting after four intense days of non-stop activity, typically doing three paintings a day from dawn til dusk. I was exhausted by the time I started this autumn scene, and I had trouble with certain aspects. I could not resolve the foreground, and I could not get the colors to portray distance. Tired and frustrated, I was ready to throw it away in disgust; however I was happy with the top portion of the painting. I thought to myself, "If only I could get rid of the bottom part..." So I did. I tore off the offending bit, and finished the painting to my satisfaction.