So sad to hear of friends and friends of friends who have been affected by the bushfires earlier this year. As a kid I watched fires burn in the paddock opposite, smelled the smoke and learned of the phenomenal power of the Crown Fire. It all had a lasting impact on me. I deeply empathise with those who have lost animals, land, buildings, loved ones! and maybe a bit of nerve!
In the months following the fires i found it hard to paint landscapes as i had been seeing them. Green grass seemed unrelatistic. I found comfort in painting some kind of expression of bushfire. And we had the opportunity to take another road trip, this time we went specifically out to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills, where the fire had been exceptionally devastating. We spoke to some locals. It was heart breaking but also completely inspiring. With-in weeks images of new growth appeared. Even that was somewhat disturbing. Delight, and hope mixed with devastation. Nature can be a brutal “mother”.
So here is my bushfire offering:
