Storm clouds have a way of transforming familiar landscapes into something quietly dramatic. I once saw a photograph of heavy, layered clouds looming over a wetland, and the contrast stayed with me long after. Where I go for walks in the winter time, I sometimes encounter Great egrets standing alone with their pure white appearance. It makes them feel almost luminous against darker surroundings. In this painting, I wanted to bring these elements together—using the approaching storm as a backdrop to highlight the egret’s stillness and brightness within the wetland landscape.