Ash Paintings

This closed custom series was created using the ash which rained down on the town of Santa Cruz, California during the wildfires of 2020. 50% of proceeds went to helping families and farmers who lost their land in wildfires happening all over the state of California.

Image depicts the impact of smoke from wildfires compared to fresh sea breeze by Waddell Beach, Ca

Photo by Cooper Borinstein

In 2020, California experienced the worst fire season in its known history. Ash rained down on cities across the entire state, engulfing local wildlife and large scale agriculture in a thin and toxic film of burnt homes, roads and trees. These fires are an unfriendly reminder of our sustained negative impact on our local ecosystems, and a reminder that we have the capabilities of reducing this impact by educating the public on the importance of forest sweeping, permaculture/ crop rotation practices and safe fire practices.

The ash painting series was made as a way for the public to get involved in their communities. 50% of the proceeds made by each painting was donated to one of several nonprofit organizations which focused on educating the public on fire safety, helping farmers and illegal immigrants who were directly affected by smoke and ash damage, and forest sweeping to help prevent frequent future accidents.

Process:

The ash which rained down on the streets and cars of Santa Cruz, Ca was gathered into a small bowl. Tweezers and bar spoons were then used to separate the dark charcoal pieces from the lighter ash pieces. Each pigment could be mixed directly with water and dabbed onto paper using a paint brush.