Live Oak

30" x 24"

Oil on canvas

   The oak trees that burned showed signs of recovery as new growth emerged from its branch terminus areas.  The new growth reminded me of miniature lightening bolts.  Many of the oaks in the oak woodland survived the fire due to their natural fire protective nature. 

                                        Path to Sun

                                   18" x 24"

                                Oil on canvas

This is a hiking path through what once were lemonade berry bushes that flanked the path.  Lupine and sages are re-emerging and the lemonade berry bushes are slowly recovering as new sprouts emerge from its root stock.

Lift Off

30" x 15"

Oil on canvas

This cactus skin in actively lifting off the surface, revealing a tender yellow flesh underneath.  Fresh green cactus frames this pear as it slowly heals.

                                        Detour

                                      24" x 36" 

                             Oil on canvas       

The fire was driven by Santa Ana winds that reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.  The fire was so powerful that it crossed the toll road which stretched six lanes across.  Cars were forced to turn around in the median, unable to travel through the heat of the fire. 

              Habitat Restoration (Do Not Enter)

                          40" x 30"

                       Oil on canvas

The cactus pictured here will not recover, but other plants surrounding the cactus are beginning to emerge and live cactus in the background hold a promise for recovery.

                    Stand of Lemonadeberry

                             24" x 36"

                          Oil on canvas

Woodland Stream

16" x 20"

Oil on canvas

Healing water returns to the oak woodland.  

Wild California

Jump

27" x 27"

Pastel on suede

Three Arches

11" x 14"

Oil on board

Boulders

12" x 12"

Oil on canvas

                        Central Coast Cottonwoods

                                    10" x 14"

                         Pastel on suede

The Fall

30" x 26"

Pastel on suede

Shadow Cactus

18" x 24"

Oil on canvas

These oil paintings explore how the native flora of the Southern California chaparral community recovered from the 2007 Santiago fire.  No one was hurt and approximately 30,000 acres burned.  The public was denied access into Whiting Regional Wilderness for a year while the area began to heal from the fire.  These paintings represent the chaparral's recovery and re-birth following adversity.

The cactuses were some of the most visually interesting chaparral plants to watch recover after the fire.  Either they were scorched black and therefore dead, or they were scorched white and able to shed their skin and slowly regenerate after the fire.  Here you see the cactus producing flowers and new pups from its damaged flesh.

Prickly Pear

19" x 16"

Oil on canvas

A tiny new cactus emerges from the ashes.

                                          Emergence

     24" x 18" 

     Oil on canvas

This prickly pear creates new cactus pups and flowers from its super-heated skin.

Scorched

16" x 20"

Oil on canvas

This cactus is shedding its scorched skin and revealing new tender skin growing underneath. Green healthy cactus pads grow in the background.

  Night Flight

       24" x 36"

    Oil on canvas

The fire passed through this area at 10:30 p.m. and birds were forced from their nesting places.  Many of the birds perished and fell to the ground that night as the fire roared through the trees.

Emerging Buckwheat

                                   24" x 30"

                               Oil on canvas

This painting shows young California buckwheat bushes sprouting and flowering one year after the fire.  A charred branch from a lemonade berry bush lies in the foreground in the sand.

Two Springs Following Fire

24" x 36"

Oil on canvas

California Carpenteria

11" x 14"

Oil on board

This is a portrait of one of the rarest and most beautiful California native plants.

San Juan Station

14" x 11"

Oil on board

Woodland Painter

14" x 14"

Oil on canvas

Canyon Sycamore

8" x 8"

Pastel on suede

Monastery Dog

15" x 10"

Pastel on paper