2024 Solar Eclipse from Little Rock

I had the privilege this month to see the total solar eclipse from a farm and winery to the northwest of Little Rock, AK. Words fail when describing totality. The ominous, storm-like approach of the Moon's shadow, the strange sepia tones the world turns as the light dims, and then a sudden sunset followed by the ring of fire. As with 2017's total eclipse, this one is painted faithfully to what I saw. The flares in the corona are positioned accurately, the light to the lower right is a planet (Jupiter, I believe), and the eerie clouds that thankfully kept out of the way are included. It'll be 21 years before another total solar eclipse of note passes over the continental US, but I hope to see it. 

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17" 

2017 Solar Eclipse from Glendo

In August, 2017, I had the pleasure of going on a guided tour with about 250 people out to the Rocky Mountain region of the nation to see the solar eclipse as well as other beautiful sights in the area. We went through Rocky Mountain National park to an elevation of a bit over 12,000 feet and saw the sites around Denver and Cheyenne; the mountains were incredible and the cities were a lot of fun. The highlight was, of course, the total solar eclipse, which we viewed from the tiny town of Glendo, WY, and it was overwhelmingly beautiful. I've made this painting as accurate as possible without sacrificing the artistic aspects of it. The 3 main helmet flares from the sun are placed accurately, the faint star to the left of the sun is Regulus, and the brighter one further away to the right is Mars. No painting or photo can convey the experience of standing in the unreal twilight cast by a total solar eclipse, but I've done the best I can to capture that fleeting moment.

Acrylic painting: 14" x 17"