Our beds are burning

Burnt, Gouache on Paper, 8 x 8, 2024 by Helen Ries

When I started painting I wanted to focus on the beauty of the natural world like flowers, landscapes, forests, waterways, birds and animals, I definitely didn’t want to paint anything disruptive or disturbing. 

There are forest fires every summer in Canada, but this year has been the worst on record so far, and the summer has only started. Not so long ago we watched in horror as Australia burned and now it is our turn. Our natural world is at such risk and so I can’t help but paint the devastation. 

We are just sitting by holding our breath and waiting for policy makers to make the bold moves necessary to stop our beautiful world from burning.