Saturday, November 01, 2008

October Fire is Finished

I finished Fire last night except for the edge and that is started already. This was a particularly satisfying page to work on. I love the outdoors and dread the coming of fire season every year. Too many trees are lost to carelessness and the loss of homes and lives is tremendous. Thousands of people's lives are changed within hours when one of these firestorms starts. This past year has been particularly bad in California with all the lightning fires. Our firefighters are overworked and exhausted, but they continue to forge ahead with each new fire that starts. Just when the summer fire season is over, the Santa Ana winds start in southern California and we are off again. This page is meant to represent the tragic losses suffered due to fire.
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22 comments:

The Lone Beader® said...

It looks fabulous!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Wow Arline. double clic on the pic and see the detail of your beading!You depicted the fire perfectly. Living in Indiana, I had always heard about the fires on TV, but and hated the devistation, but it was all in a distance. But I have come to be close friends with Deb who lives in Southern CA so its all so much more personal now.

GraceBeading said...

Powerful, beautiful and tragic all at once. It evokes many memories for me - you have captured it perfectly.

Heidi Cervantes said...

WOW! You did a beautiful job, and I got to see it come to life! Posting your progress is fun. I love the tips of the flames and the windows look realistic. Color!!!!
Thanks! I can't wait for the next one.

Tracey Leeder said...

Oh no!!! The little cabin has caught fire! This is amazing my dear! You really captured the real life drama of a fire. I cannot imagine how it must feel, to have everything you have ever worked for and cherished all your life go up in flames. this is a masterpiece, I hope you are extremely proud of what you have done.

coral-seas said...

Brilliant! I think fire is really difficult to portray and you have done it so well, capturing all it's drama and beauty.

Well done.

Marty S said...

Super! The page really conveys the thoughts and feelings you express in your description.
Marty S
Crackpot Beader

Sabine said...

Fantastic, Arline. The flying sparks you added make the atmosphere of the picture still more menacing and realistic.

How can you live with a constant fear of fire? Obviously, nature is responsible for a lot of the fires. Are there many man-made fires, with a criminal background or ignited because of carelessness, too?

May you always be protected from the worst.

Sabine

flying fish said...

Well done! You captured the flames so well, and the fabric is perfect for the subject! Amazing piece.

beadbabe49 said...

all surperlatives taken already...I'll just have to double them!

Denise said...

That looks hot! And I mean that in all applicable ways!
Cheers, Denise

heidibeads said...

Our firefighters are blessed people. I think this page says it all - it's shows how powerful fire is. A wonderful tribute to our heros, too. Wonderful colors and textures.

The bad Liz said...

This piece is a strong, strong statement. Very visual and striking. Good job

MixPix said...

What a beautiful page from such sad and traumatic events - bravo!

Susan Elliott said...

Very well portrayed. I feel the fear and the fire and the vulnerability all at once...

Nancy K. said...

Great page Arline, I look forward to your future ones.

abeadlady said...

Thank you all for such kind comments on my page. It was one of those things I just felt compelled to do.

Arline

Timaree said...

You did one terrific job here! It looks just like the fires at night. Well done Arline!

dochoamom said...

Arline, Great job on this piece. You did it beautifully. In Sierra Madre where I live we had our fires early in the season Thank God and it burned off a lot of the fuel. We have a volunteer fire department that did an awsome job along with other agencies in saving the homes up in our canyon community. Thank you again for this work.

Deb

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Oh this is cool! I love the different colors in the flames, just gorgeous!

Robin said...

I'm writing this before I read the other comments so I won't be influenced by them. Arline, this piece just takes my breath away... when I clicked to enlarge it, my hand went, involuntarily, to my heart and I expelled a huge sigh of sadness... the flames and the little licks of flames just starting to burn the cabin, the glow of the fire and the smoke filled sky... It's so very real and so very sad. I know this is your personal journal, but I'm wondering if a poster-sized version of it would be of interest to the California fire association, or some such organization... It carries the message of caution so well. Thank you for dealing with this subject. Love, Robin A.

PS the scramble letters in the word verification area below are: emble... one letter different would be ember...

ArtNtheheart said...

That's a beaut, Arline! You captured the theme very well.