This rough color study by Susan A Walton captures a mallard pair—hen and drake—at sunset, cruising on the shimmering waters of the Mississippi at Grafton, Illinois, along the Great River Road. Painted in acrylic on Strathmore 500 cotton illustration board, the work is a vibrant exploration of light and reflection. The artist's visible brushwork renders the water in broad strokes of orange, yellow, and turquoise, with the hen's form mirrored in the rippling surface below. Though the piece remains unfinished, its energetic color and fluid composition convey a moment of quiet beauty on the river. Created in 2026, this original invites collectors to appreciate both its spontaneity and its promise.

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