Fire is a natural element that pushes an artist to take on the qualities of the element: powerful unrestrained organic force. When painting fire, oils and colors take on a life of their own, as it is effective to paint quickly and without overthinking the thickness, direction, or shape of the wild paint streaks and dabs flying from the brush. When painting as if directed by the energy of flames, the illusion of fire naturally appears. The degree of realism varies, but fire is understood from the gradients of reds, yellows and blacks. Often, subtle and blended shapes create a more natural looking fire, such as in “Forest Fire“, a tribute to fire fighters.