A Hidden Gem, at McGalliard's Falls

I had initially started out inspired by the old red mill in the background when painting en plein air at the Valdese Plein Air Festival but sometimes a painting will have a mind of its own and take you somewhere totally different. Such was the case with this one as I saw the sunlight gradually making its way across the path that led to the old mill. I needed it to tie together better anyway and the sunlight stretching across that path seemed to do just that. An imprimatura of burnt sienna set the values up and then, one or two passes of color to finish this rendering.