14x18 | Oil on Panel

Week 22

Colorado fire. Fire is an interesting element; we thought of so many cool compositions we could do to portray fire. In the end however, we set up outside the Colorado house for an evening sunset painting. To capture a sunset is very tricky, the light is changing rapidly and so is your painting. 

Sweetly, our friend Mark watched Orielle while we began. As a mom, it's hard to have your brain to yourself when your child is in earshot. But pressing in, our painting began to form. I'm not sure if it's because our drawings for these are more loose or because of the oncoming shadows, but the shapes of the darkness (and trees changed) . At first frustrated -thinking "why is Laert changing this shape, I had it great"?! Then, letting go to see the fluidity as it all transformed. 

When thinking though fire qualities, I was really struck when I realized: it's the gift of transformation. Sometimes to truly see something, is best done in seeing what it made in its wake. So when it burns me that I have less control than I want or things are really hard- I will think of this and the changes that are allowed only after a struggle or even defeat. Regardless, I do feel as though I'm truly transforming.