I’m slowly unpacking and easing into the studio. Not ready for monumental hero art; just playing and re-acclimating. Here is one of five such ‘re-acclimating’ pieces – a little oil on panel I did a few years ago, after returning from the Sierras. The last day was smoky due to nearby fires. I put it back on the easel and added more paint to it (it’s fun to use oils again). While working on it I scribbled down in my notes, “suppression just makes the fire burn hotter” which is true for fires and forest health long-term, and on other levels too I think. I did feel like it needed a backpacker, and immediately intuited who could model it – a small wooden figurine I have that my grandmother carved decades ago. She fit perfectly. Thanks, Grammy for the inspiration!
