This is one of three large (36 x 48) oil-on-linen canvases from inauguration day: sunrise as seen from the Lee-Custis Mansion (aka Arlington House). Having sketched the early dawn sky over Washington from Iwo Jima Memorial, I walked up to the mansion. A park ranger there on security detail was looking across the Potomac through a long-range scope. Before I got a chance to mention my project, he started talking about the beautiful sunrise — and showed me the pictures he’d been taking.