Painting of the Month-September

Night Fires 48x10 $1575

My new series of fire paintings explore both man-made fires and wild, naturally occurring forest fires. This series demonstrates the many faces of fire: it can be warm and comforting, or wild and devastating. It is also a force that is necessary for regrowth of certain plant species. A forest fire that has passed through an area makes way for pioneer species such as Birch and Poplar trees to emerge and begin their important role of providing shelter and a new habitat for incoming species to the ecosystem.

Other trees, such as Jack Pine, require heat and flame to open their cones and spread their seeds. While these are some benefits of controlled or natural forest fires, accidental forest fires often cause problems for these ecosystems. Prescribed burns can mimic the benefits of wildfires while avoiding the risks associated with larger, out of control fires.

My new series invites you to reflect on fire and its positives and negatives, allowing us to incorporate its cyclical and cleansing nature in our own lives. By observing fire in its natural processes, we can ensure that we are also nurturing our natural cycles of emotion, resting when we must rest, creating when we must create, and removing what no longer serves us.

- Susan Wallis

Close up detail

Close up detail