I saw several trees in the immediate vicinity with this peculiar pattern of fire scarring. I surmise that the fire traveled underground through roots and burned the tree up from the base. This tree grew near the Stanley Glacier Trail in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, and I painted it while in residence at the Banff Centre. I wanted the painting to have impact, so I made it taller than I am.

Installed, wrapped around a live tree (Ruth Nielsen photo)

Installation detail (Ruth Nielsen photo)

In January, I took it out to the woods to photograph it wrapped around a local tree. I would like to exhibit it on a half-round bas-relief column, emphasizing the contrast between idealized tree shape and this specific burnt specimen.