Silver Flow

This was painted up Mana Road, about 3 miles in from Mauna Kea Access Road. On The Big Island of Hawaii, one sometimes sees stunning, and ephemeral, light effects. Crossing tight to Mauna Loa a line of clouds and a lava flow beneath them were suddenly brightly lit by sunlight. A section of the flow beneath the luminous cloud shone like bright silver for perhaps 10 seconds and then faded. For another minute the flow was dimmer but still bright. I was able to make a quick oil sketch and then finished it from memory in the studio. From that vantage point I believe the flow may have been from the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa, its surface reflective and not yet worn dull by the elements.