…new life begins again but it needs to be intentional.

Trees hold the land together, yet they need our protection to thrive. Native trees, planted with care, spaced for light, nutrients, and fire resilience, are essential to restoring our ecosystems. As they grow, they need clean water and protection from grazing animals, so they may reach their full strength.

After escaping a forest fire in Portugal this September, I gathered wood ashes and charcoal from the ground, carrying a piece of that landscape with me. This painting is my tribute to the trees, ecosystems, and life that the fire claimed, created with remnants of the forest itself.

This piece is a reminder of nature’s resilience and our role in restoring balance.

Name: Specks of Love 2 Size: 40×60 cm Materials: wood ashes, sand from Portugal, clay, water from levadas and soil from Madeira island, acrylic on canvas Year: 2024 Frame: Unframed