Plein Air Pyrocumulus

Available for a limited time (through 12/20), in limited edition. Each size is a select limited edition, with the 8×10 and 16×20 artwork printed in house on Baryata paper, with archival inks. The 30×40 artwork is produced by my locally owned printer and each is on a matte fine art paper and personally inspected by me. Each print is signed on back, and includes a serialized certificate of authenticity.

8×10 - edition of 24

16×20 - edition of 9

30×40 - edition of 9

The story behind the image:

It took me 10 years of photographing wildfire and climate change in the American West to realize the California Plein Air and Impressionism movement of the early 20th century, has, in fact, heavily inspired many of my landscapes that aren’t made at night. Growing up I was fortunate enough to get exposure to the style in art class at school, and a few paintings in my parents’ home. 

To me Plein Air was always a naive take on California, a land not yet “discovered’ by European colonizers and an idealized view of California prior to 19th century industrialization. While it didn’t detract from the beauty of the natural scenes, it always felt detached from reality in a state rapidly developing and using water and timber resources at the turn of the 20th century (I’m looking at you, Los Angeles Aqueduct). Conversely I personally credit the California Plein Air movement for helping protect many areas of the state from development and ecological damage. It captures the collective imagination of the Golden State in open spaces, sunsets, rolling hills, and rugged coasts. 

But, as the band Bad Religion says, “you can’t deny the living is easy, when you never look behind the scenery (Los Angeles is Burning, 2004, The Empire Strikes first, published after the 2003 CA Fire Siege). For fire, I am trying to capture similar serene scenes, but punctuated by the reality of the Pyrocene in the same frame. This gentle scene of a mountain sunset at the Airport Fire on Santiago Peak is full of invasive Eucalyptus and the tail end of a 20,000 foot Pyrocumulus. Just out of frame are subdivisions of suburban sprawl and tract semi-custom multi million dollar homes (see slide 2). Oh, the irony.

I made this image in September and finally have some time to reflect on this day, and realize that this landscape is my own protest and correction of where I found both fault, and inspiration, with CA Plein Air. As always, fire is a paradox. - SP

Logistical Details:

• Image made in house at my studio on archival Baryata Rag Paper (8×10 and 16×20). Signed en verso by me, and includes a serialized certificate of authenticity.

• Shipping is complimentary within the US, and is flat packed via USPS or FedEx Ground

• Prints are in production and will ship the week of December 9th for the 8×10 and 16×20. The 30×40 large prints will ship around December 16th and be delivered by December 24th.