These two paintings were shipped to Ft Collins CO for the "Ashes 2 Art" Fundraising project on Sept 20, 2012. This is a project to raise funds for the Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire Dept. to replace and refurbish equipment used this past summer during the wild fires this department helped fight. What I understand is that they helped fight four major fires. That had to be a long summer for those fire fighters!
They asked 3 artists from each state to contribute. I was one who was asked. They sent charcoal (burnt wood ashes) from the fire. The artists were asked to incorporate the ashes in their works. I painted the scenes, then sanded the ashes off the wood. I took the fine ash and layered it over certain trees and the ground.This is the same spot. First, during the fire with the fire fighters silhouetted by the glow. It is titled "Cleansing". The overgrowth, dead trees and limbs are cleaned up by the fire to make way for the new. The second painting is, of course, titled "New Life". The fire is now out and the tree and grass is the first to show signs of the new life that will be coming back.
The size of the each painting is 10"x12"x1" Acrylic paint on canvas stretched over hand made stretchers. Protected with four coats of UV resistant varnish. My plan is that the two paintings will be auctioned together as a set.
