My move West has really begun to manifest itself in both my personal life and my artwork. We now own three horses, and the saddle in this painting is one of ours. My oldest daughter loves horses and I grew up with them, as my dad used to race, breed and train quarter horses. You might say we've come full circle. The wide open spaces give one a different perspective. This scene is one I remember vividly, watching the sun come up on a crisp morning in late September. It was so serene and peaceful. The flames from the rekindled embers began to leap just as the sun rose over the mountains to claim the night. - Daniel Smith