I like painting the mood of a scene, and this haiku had an atmospheric feeling to it. I could visualize an image as soon as I read it. I wanted to do something with dramatic lighting, an evening scene, where the sun has just gone down. I like painting specific times of day, like early morning or evening. I love being around campus when the sun is setting, watching the shapes the buildings make with their shadows.

I looked around and took a lot of pictures of houses in Syracuse, trying to get the right silhouette. I wanted an outdoor scene with the porch, the light, and a calm, still feeling of home. I didn't want to include any people or movement. I just wanted stillness.