A tidal creek winds from the dark foreground toward a low sun on the horizon, its calm water carrying a vertical column of orange reflection. Tall rust, copper and olive marsh grasses frame the water, and a wooded shoreline in red, orange and golden foliage rises on the right. A tiny dark wading bird stands at the water's edge, with faint sailboats along the far left horizon.

Billowing lavender-gray clouds catch peach and cream light along their edges. Loose brushwork, light impasto in the sky and quick directional flicks for the grass give the oil painting a warm, hazy, gallery-subdued feel.