My young-adult son worked as a wildland fire fighter during the very active summer fire season of 2007. This took him to the most remote parts of Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho and Montana, and he was often out-of-touch for weeks at a time.

In my imagination, and in my prayers, I traveled with him to the fires. Later, when he returned -- safely -- I questioned him deeply about what he had seen, smelled, felt, thought, feared, enjoyed. These paintings are the result.