Autumn Sunset 1987

Eyvind Earle created *Autumn Sunset* using gouache and tempera. These water-based paints are opaque, allowing for the layering of vibrant colors, and creating a velvety matte finish. Earle was known for his distinctive style, simplifying natural forms into elegant, stylized shapes. Notice how the trees are reduced to slender vertical lines, contrasting with the rounded canopies. The buildings are geometric solids, casting sharp-edged shadows. This simplification is achieved through masking techniques, building up flat areas of color, one after another. The composition is flat and graphic, with little sense of depth or perspective. Earle embraced commercial design, most notably with Walt Disney Studios. His work in animation and illustration allowed him to reach a wide audience, effectively bridging the gap between commercial art and fine art. *Autumn Sunset* is a wonderful reminder that creativity thrives across all disciplines. By appreciating the materials, techniques, and cultural context of this artwork, we can begin to move beyond such distinctions.