“But clouds bellied out in the sultry heat, the sky cracked open with a crimson gash, spewed flame-and the ancient forest began to smoke. By morning there was a mass of booming, fiery tongues, a hissing, crashing, howling all around, half the sky black with smoke, and the bloodied sun just barely visible.” -Yevengy Zamyatin

I like to think of myself as an adventurous person, but as I painted this painting I thought of J.M.W. Turner and I realized I am not so brave. Turner would tie himself to the mast of a ship in a storm, and he ran to paint the burning of the parliament building in 1835. I painted this painting from a photo a friend from Colorado Springs sent me, no smoke, no danger, no noise, no heat, no immediate fear. For all who have no choice but smell the smoke, feel the heat, hear the roar, and fear the losses: of your homes, your community, and your precious forest, my heart and prayers are with you.