Spacescape:  "Rise of the Galaxy", (2 ft x 1.5 ft), Acrylic on canvas, May 15, 2011.
(Click on the image for a larger view)

It's evening hour, in a river valley on this exoplanet. The slanting rays from the planet's star (its "Sun") reach only the top of the mountains. A neighboring galaxy rises beyond the far mountains. Since this planet is in the outskirts of its galaxy, the neighboring galaxy appears quite large from here. Below, an alien watches this dramatic scene from an observation ledge, before resuming her evening walk on the pathway along the cliff-side.