On Fire

Sitting by the campfire watching flickering flames inspired this carving in red cedar. I wanted to capture the mesmerising effect of flames dancing in the light and their capricious nature, darting every which way. The shapes of the air spaces are as significant as the flames curling around them. These pockets of air fuel the fire with oxygen and determine the directions of the flames. Carving flames leaping in mid-air was a challenge, but on the other hand, the unlimited random shapes allowed complete freedom for abstract expression.