EMBERS: Fire Paintings

EMBERS: Painted from Fire A small collection of paintings by Jamie Madison, September 2020

www.jamiemadisonart.com

The 2020 fires near my home in Northern California were particularly fast, extremely hot and covered vast swaths of the land I frequent. Seeing the blackened earth, the trees scorched to a shade of white, and smelling the acrid smoke I was compelled to paint from emotions of alarm and wonder. So strong were the feelings it was almost as if the paintings painted themselves.

Here is the thing about fire: something that you know and trust in a certain form changes in an instant. It evaporates, it transforms into something very different. Words like “loss” and “devastation” seem trite compared to the vision of this amazing transformation. As I painted, I thought about Samsara, the great wheel of life turning now. Realizing how temporary our short visit to earth is, I felt deep appreciation to be here witnessing this sadness and promise of these embers.

Down Here on Earth 30” x 48” Oil and Fire Charcoal on Wood Panel

Rewritten 22” x 30” Acrylic on Paper

Pleasant’s Valley 29” x 41” Mixed Media with Fire Charcoal on Paper

Conjuring Samsara 18” x 26” Oil on Canvas-wrapped Panel

Recalculating 22” x 30” Acrylic and fire charcoal on Paper

Cadmium Sky 11” x 15” Oil on Paper