Based on the Pioneer Fire in Idaho, 2016. This piece has been the first wildfire at dawn I’ve ever painted. The colors are striking, deep, and soft. The smoke cloud commands attention yet invites the viewer to experience the subtile shifts in color, shapes, and light given by the sunrise. The deep green grass of the summer in Idaho means a safe spot to view the fire.

Taken from the viewpoint of a wildland firefighter, these men and women fought an extensive fight with this fire that many will forever remember. It took months to put out and burned almost 300 square miles.

It’s an experience hard to forget like some challenges we each face in life. But when we look around we notice or may meet others who have or are going through the same thing. This is a truth I have learned from my own life. I find strength to endure when I know I’m not alone in what I’m going through.

Oil on canvas, 30 x 48 inches. 2018.  

Prints available