Gold Mountain Fire Painting

I painted all afternoon and could not stop, even though the wind exploded, and all the smoke from the fire blew into our town, putting ashes in our eyes and filled my studio with unbreathable air, but I still couldn’t stop painting. This painting is for the Gold Mountain fire who has become our companion. It is for the firefighters who have me they are working 16 and 18 day shifts with 48 hours off. It is for the pilot, Nick, who died in a plane crash trying to put out our fire. And for the hot shots, which I used to do, who are working in 100° heat and I know how that feels. It’s for my friend who still can’t get back to her house, and for all of us here living in the smoke and waiting for our lives to get back to the hum drum of everyday living.

This is a mixed media acrylic and collage painting with handmade bird stamps, decorative rice, papers and copper and brass illustrative lines and touches.