Palmetto Flame Study

Little St. Simons Island, Georgia
February 9, 2016
Oil on paper
10 x 10 in. (25.4 x 25.4 cm)

Private collection

I was intrigued by the way the palmetto fronds collapsed to the ground as the fire consumed the fine fuels accumulated in the middle of the plant and weakened their stems. This quick study was the first painting of four attempted in situ on that day’s controlled burn.