Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC - Original Pastel by Cuban artist Elena Maza

It was a beautiful, warm fall day--rare for November in our area. I was driving home after a day of painting on Rock Creek Park near Pierce Mill when the light filtering through the beech woods caught my eye. The rays of the sun low on the horizon were reflected on the forest floor, casting a golden glow on the fallen leaves. I stopped at a pull-off to take some photos of this unique moment.  When I saw my photos, I just knew I had to paint this! Pastel seemed like the most suitable medium for it. You can read more about it on my blog at Maza Studio.