…Raging flames dominate the canvases in Pastrňák’s forests, but there is little sense of impending catastrophe, as the flames often seem like benign campfires. They can also be viewed with less focus on the concrete motif and more attention to the process of painting itself, in which Pastrňák blends techniques of brushing, rolling, splattering and spraying, and in one case even washes over the entire canvas with transparent white so that the painted fire looks masked with a veil of smoke. Like more traditional forest painters, Pastrňák models his forests using light and dark within a limited color range and with big painterly gestures manages to achieve naturalistic passages that ring true to our own observations of wood fires. Each painting is different, but there is a strong sense of repetition and a regularity to the rhythm of vertical elements in Pastrňák’s “Burning Forest” and earlier “Forest” series, creating a unified impression of being surrounded by an expressionistic ring of fire. The vertical elements can either have the effect of individual tongues of flames drawing the viewer into an intimate campfire or of flames dramatically shooting up the trunks of tall trees seen from a distance.
Painting ideas with a fire motif
Art can help us to express our feelings without using words. The recent Australian bushfires have been devastating. So many people, property, animals and their habitats have been affected or lost. Sometimes these things are hard to talk about and expressing our feelings with our art can help. In this artwork we create a painting of a terrifying fire scene. We think about the fear and despair that people would have felt and we show this by the way that we use paint in our painting.
- White paper
- Paint: yellows, oranges, reds and black. Poster paints or acrylic paints will work best.
- Black oil pastels or crayons or permanent markers
- Paint brushes
- Newspaper or table cover to protect work space
- Paint shirts or aprons
- Space to store paintings while drying
Easy Peasy Tips:
- You will need two sessions for this artwork. One to paint the background and one to paint the burnt outline of the building and tree once the background is dry.
- Really try hard to imagine what you would be feeling in this situation. Try to put these feelings into how you move the paint with your fingers on the page.
So many students and people in Australia have been affected by these devastating fires. The need to treat this topic with sensitivity is a must and this lesson would need to be tailored to the age and experiences of those students in your class.
Other points to remember:
- Finger painting is obviously a very messy but worthwhile experience. Have in mind a well thought out clean up plan so that students know what to do with their paint covered fingers and hands.
- This activity would be a great end of day activity as you would then have space on the student’s desks for the artworks to dry overnight.
- Allow more capable students the freedom of drawing their own landscape over the flames. For some teachers this could be a little scary but the individuality of the artworks would be well worth it.
- Talk with your class about the idea of expressionism. This means that when an artist paints, he or she uses their feelings to help apply the paint or colour. For example, an artist might use sharp, jagged lines or reds and black to show that they are angry or scared.
Steps
Place your paper landscape style
- Background: Organise your workspace, paper and paint. Try to find lots of different shades of yellow, orange and red paint.
- Start with yellow. Dunk your fingers in the paint and then begin painting the flames. Paint in long vertical strokes, imagining the terrifying fire tearing through the landscape. Overlap the strokes but also leave some space between them for the other colours.
- Now begin using orange. Add more fingers so that you can move and swirl your fingers to show how scary the flames would be. During the fire, the flames were spread by huge winds causing the fires to spread quickly.
- Use red last to complete your flames. Try not to mix your paint into one big orange mess. Try to leave some flames yellow, some flames orange and some red. This will help to add to the effect we’re after of creating scary flames. Being a good artist is all about making decisions and knowing when to stop. If we go too far, we can ruin our work.
- Finish off the background by making sure you have covered all white spaces. Once your flames are complete, set your painting aside to dry.
- Foreground: In our artwork, the black burnt landscape is close to the person viewing the scene. This part of a painting is called the foreground. Once your flames are dry, begin the foreground by drawing a black irregular line from one side of the page to the other as shown. You can use a black oil pastel, crayon or felt marker the choice is up to you.
- On one side of the page draw the outline of a burnt building as shown. Make it nice and big and think about how the fire may have caused part of the building to tumble.
- On the other side of the page draw a tall tree stump. Begin thin at the top and get thicker at the base where it touches the ground.
- Now add branches. Think of the letter ‘Y”. Draw your branches in a diagonal direction from the trunk.
- Repeat this on each of the branches by adding smaller branches to the larger ones. Don’t worry if yours isn’t perfect as the tree would have been burnt badly in the fire.
- Add a fence as shown. Remember to use thin lines on the fence to keep your painting in scale. This means that the fence is the right size compared to the house and tree.
- Colour the ground and building black. Here you have the option of painting it black, or colouring it using your oil pastel, crayon or marker.
- Your artwork is now complete.
What do you like about your artwork? What would you do differently next time?
Fires in Literature and Art: Symbolism and Representation
Fire, with its mesmerizing dance of light and heat, has captivated the human imagination since time immemorial. Beyond its elemental force, fire has served as a rich source of symbolism and inspiration in literature and art. In this blog, we embark on a journey through the realms of creativity, exploring the diverse ways in which fires have been depicted in literary works and artistic creations. From destruction to renewal, passion to purification, let us unravel the profound meanings fire holds as a symbol and representation in the world of human expression.
I. Fire as a Symbol of Destruction and Rebirth:
A. The Phoenix Myth: Rising from the Ashes Throughout history, the mythical bird, the Phoenix, has represented the cycle of life and death, as it is consumed by fire and reborn from its own ashes. This powerful symbol of resurrection speaks to the idea that destruction often paves the way for renewal and transformation.
B. Catastrophic Fires in Literature: A Reflection of Human Tragedy Literary works often use devastating fires as metaphors for human tragedy and the impermanence of existence. From the Great Fire of London to the burning of Troy, these narratives mirror the destructive forces of nature and human folly.
II. Fire as a Metaphor for Passion and Desire:
A. Flames of Love: Love as an Intense Burning In poetry and prose, love is frequently likened to a burning flame, illuminating the fervent emotions that consume the human heart. This passionate symbolism ignites the essence of love as an all-consuming force.
B. The Heat of Desire: Passionate Longings Explored Fire has been employed as a metaphor for desire and lust, expressing the intensity of human longings and the fervor that drives us towards our aspirations.
III. Fire as a Symbol of Purification and Renewal:
A. Cleansing Flames: Purification Through Fire Across cultures, fire rituals have been performed as a means of purification, symbolizing the cleansing of the soul and the renewal of life. These rituals reflect the belief in the transformative power of fire.
B. Cultural and Religious Significance of Fire Rituals: From ancient civilizations to modern-day religions, fire plays a central role in sacred ceremonies, signifying spiritual illumination and divine connection.
IV. Fire as a Representation of Creativity and Inspiration:
A. Sparks of Creativity: Illumination through Artistic Expression Artists and writers often draw inspiration from fire, using its dynamic energy to fuel their creative endeavors. The flames act as a metaphor for the illumination of ideas and the birth of artistic expression.
B. The Torch of Knowledge: Fires as a Symbol of Enlightenment Fire’s association with enlightenment and knowledge is a recurring theme in both literature and art, highlighting its transformative power in igniting the human intellect.
V. Fire in Art: Masterpieces Depicting the Element of Fire:
A. Iconic Paintings and Sculptures Featuring Fire: Renowned artists have immortalized fire in their works, depicting its raw power and symbolic significance through stunning visuals.
B. Fire in Contemporary Art: Modern Interpretations In contemporary art, the symbolism of fire has evolved, with artists exploring new perspectives and interpretations of its representation.
VI. Fire in Poetry: Embracing the Power of Words:
A. Poetic Imagery: Flames and Emotions Intertwined Poets have skillfully woven fire imagery into their verses, infusing their words with the intensity of human emotions.
B. Fire in Haiku: Capturing Transient Beauty Even in the minimalist form of Haiku, fire finds a place, capturing fleeting moments of beauty and transience.
Conclusion:
As we immerse ourselves in the realms of literature and art, the symbolism and representation of fire reveal its multifaceted nature. From destruction to rebirth, passion to purification, fire continues to ignite the human imagination, influencing creative expression throughout the ages.
As Fire Prevention and Consultancy Services, we recognize the importance of fire safety in the real world, and we also celebrate the enduring influence of fire in cultural and artistic contexts. Just as fire has inspired countless literary masterpieces and artistic creations, let us also be inspired to protect lives and property from its potential hazards. May the symbolism of fire continue to spark our awareness and understanding of this elemental force, both in its physical form and its profound impact on human expression.
Impressionistic paintings of forest fires
If, after a lost weekend, you find yourself in Prague, Czechoslovakia this month, after checking to be sure you still have your passport, you should visit an exhibition of paintings at the Václav Špála Gallery (map). Yes, that’s right, I said paintings at a gallery. Our regular Wildfire Today readers may be thinking that they don’t remember seeing an art critic’s writings in this space, and they would be correct. I am neither an art critic, nor will I pretend to be one here, but I was intrigued by some paintings by Czech artist Petr Pastrňák who is exhibiting some of his works from his “Burning Forest” series.
The paintings are impressionistic, but undoubtedly represent forest fires. Flames from fires are difficult to duplicate in electronic simulations used for training firefighters, Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) in movies, or in paintings. So an artist might as well go the non-realistic route.
Here is an excerpt from an article about the exhibition, written by Mimi Fronczak Rogers for the Prague Post:
…Raging flames dominate the canvases in Pastrňák’s forests, but there is little sense of impending catastrophe, as the flames often seem like benign campfires. They can also be viewed with less focus on the concrete motif and more attention to the process of painting itself, in which Pastrňák blends techniques of brushing, rolling, splattering and spraying, and in one case even washes over the entire canvas with transparent white so that the painted fire looks masked with a veil of smoke.
Like more traditional forest painters, Pastrňák models his forests using light and dark within a limited color range and with big painterly gestures manages to achieve naturalistic passages that ring true to our own observations of wood fires.
Each painting is different, but there is a strong sense of repetition and a regularity to the rhythm of vertical elements in Pastrňák’s “Burning Forest” and earlier “Forest” series, creating a unified impression of being surrounded by an expressionistic ring of fire. The vertical elements can either have the effect of individual tongues of flames drawing the viewer into an intimate campfire or of flames dramatically shooting up the trunks of tall trees seen from a distance.
The exhibition ends February 27. If you are going to have a painting on your wall, it might as well be an interpretation of a forest fire, right?
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