This piece asks questions and radiates intensity and transition—is nature irretrievably caught between serenity and destruction? Can humankind muster the resilience to resist this loss, and preserve the fragile beauty of our forests under threat?
This striking pastel features a hazy, atmospheric backdrop: The entire scene glows with intense oranges, reds, and ember-like yellows, creating the impression of a forest engulfed in heat or illuminated by a massive fire just beyond view. The warm tones feel alive, almost pulsing. The trees stand like dark sentinels—leafless, elongated, and stark against the fiery background. Their branches twist and tangle upward, giving a sense of tension and vulnerability.
Cool foreground contrast: Deep greens and muted blues settle at the bottom of the painting, grounding the scene. This cooler palette creates a striking contrast, as if the last traces of calm forest life are resisting the encroaching blaze.
This work represents the state of California in my Love Letter to American Collection.
- Current Location: Lovering Studio
- Collections: A Love Letter to America, Life in Georgia, Pastels
