Forest on Fire

This painting began as a simple forest scene, but then I found myself reflecting on the increasing number of forest fires we’ve been experiencing due to global warming.  As a result, the painting became something much more.  What you’re seeing isn’t just trees, it’s a forest on fire, where nature is under enormous pressure, trying to hold its ground while the forces of fire move through it.

I didn’t want to paint the fire itself as spectacle, I wanted to paint what surrounds it. The ancient Oak, the White Birch, and a single Bluebird attempting to escape. There’s tension here, and strength.  This painting holds three distinct truths: endurance, resilience, and hope.  

Oaks are known to withstand the heat of fire with their thick, layered bark together with their deep root systems.  In this painting, the ancient Oak stands for endurance. 

The White Birch represents renewal. It will not survive the fire. Its strength lies in its seed-driven nature, representing early signs of new growth. 

Finally, the lonely Bluebird lifts itself from the fire and ashes, finding a way forward, a powerful act of hope.  Together they tell a story not of destruction, but of endurance, resilience and hope through the persistence of time.

This painting is about awareness, paying attention to the nuances of life force that shape us on a daily basis.  This work also askes us a simple question; are we present enough to see what’s happening, and willing enough to care?