Burns Statement:
The seasonal burning of the Tallgrass prairies of the Flint Hills is a sight to behold. It’s one of those things that’s almost too dramatic and beautiful, and an extremely popular subject for artists and photographers regionally, so it’s only been a peripheral subject for me. I did some plein air watercolors in the early 2000’s and a few other oils, but most were quieter blackened prairies, smoke, and flames burning out.
Last year, I took the opportunity to paint the burning on the Konza Prairie, painting multiple images on a single panel in real time as the burning progressed. Talk about being in the moment! Most burns are ignited and burned out in the space of a half hour so the painting is fast and furious, and it’s exhilarating.