Sun Setting Over Braco

The Scottish village of Braco sits somewhere in this dusky scene, though it is the sky that first grabbs your attention. Tony Allain painted a thin band of golden light burning low on the horizon, pressed down by great masses of grey and purple cloud. A little white cottage rests peacefully in the middle distance, and a wet road stretches into the picture, holding the last cool reflections of the fading day. Along the foreground, tall grasses blaze in orange and yellow, giving the whole thing a spark of warmth against the coming dark.

Allain built his reputation working in pastels and oils, and this painting shows why. He skips the fussy details and instead uses quick, sure strokes and bold contrasts to catch the feeling of a particular moment in the weather. The chill of nightfall and the glow of the setting sun sit side by side here, each making the other feel stronger.

Born on the island of Jersey and later settled in New Zealand, Allain has picked up plenty of awards over the years and is well respected among pastel painters. This is a plain stretch of countryside that most people would drive right past, but he found something worth stopping for in those few short minutes when day tips over into evening.