Too Hot: Fire in the Hills and Canyons of a Golden City
Too Hot: Fire in the Hills and Canyons of a Golden City

The great American West Coast city of Los Angeles was attacked on 1/7/2025, just as the great American East Coast city of New York was attacked on 9/11/2021. Why did we respond violently to the foreign enemies who attacked New York City, but not to the enemies within who attacked Los Angeles? It was not “weather” or incompetence, that attacked Los Angeles. It was the violent whipsaw of the manmade Climate Crisis caused by the burning of oil in our cars and factories, and civilization writ large. The resulting historic atmospheric levels of CO2 brought on a blanket of heat, rains, plant growth, and then a long drought that dried everything to kindling. Violent Santa Ana winds blew cascades of embers through dry canyons to the sea, burning all. This was a man-made disaster that originated with the oil companies and all who genuflect before them. They knew. This is their responsibility.

If we are going to burn stuff to create energy, why not reject oil and turn to the sun instead? 48” x 36”, Golden paints on canvas, finished 1.11.25

Too Hot! Pure Water Flowing into a Polluted Sea. in Memory of Cynthia Anderson
Too Hot! Pure Water Flowing into a Polluted Sea. in Memory of Cynthia Anderson

The pure water is Cynthia.

I remembered the heat of our recent hideously hot “summer” and older memories of something very different: pure cool water. Once, high in the mountains of Colorado, I was in a place where snow melted and a perfect river began. 48” x 36”, Golden paints on canvas, finished on 1.4.25.

This is painted in memory of my sister Cynthia Anderson. The pure water is Cynthia.

Too Hot! Blooming in Fire
Too Hot! Blooming in Fire

I needed to paint this painting. This is Los Angeles in January, 2025, and the Texas panhandle in February, 2024, and fires globally. Climate change has increased the risk of large, frequent, and severe wildfires. 48” x 36”, Golden paints on canvas, 1.13.25

Too Hot! Oil Flowers Burning, Scorched Earth, Cerise Sea
Too Hot! Oil Flowers Burning, Scorched Earth, Cerise Sea

Flowers, opening to the blessing of the sun, burn in the fires of Los Angeles, their soil red with fire and blood. A view of scorched black earth stretches out beyond them. The ocean glows cerise. 48” x 36”, Golden paints on canvas, 1.17.25

Too Hot! Burning Sky, Water, and Oil; Exploding Sun
Too Hot! Burning Sky, Water, and Oil; Exploding Sun

One of a new series in a new palette responding to the miserable heat of the man-made “summer” of 2024. 20” x 16”, Golden paints on canvas, finished on 12.30.24.

Too Hot! Shattering, Oil Streaming
Too Hot! Shattering, Oil Streaming

Responding to the heat of “summer” 2024. This uses a palette of colors I generally avoid, yellow and cerise, but they are the colors I see when I see things too hot to touch. Golden paints on canvas, 48" x 36", 10.4.24

Too Hot: Fire in the Hills and Canyons of a Golden City
Too Hot! Pure Water Flowing into a Polluted Sea. in Memory of Cynthia Anderson
Too Hot! Blooming in Fire
Too Hot! Oil Flowers Burning, Scorched Earth, Cerise Sea
Too Hot! Burning Sky, Water, and Oil; Exploding Sun
Too Hot! Shattering, Oil Streaming
Too Hot: Fire in the Hills and Canyons of a Golden City

The great American West Coast city of Los Angeles was attacked on 1/7/2025, just as the great American East Coast city of New York was attacked on 9/11/2021. Why did we respond violently to the foreign enemies who attacked New York City, but not to the enemies within who attacked Los Angeles? It was not “weather” or incompetence, that attacked Los Angeles. It was the violent whipsaw of the manmade Climate Crisis caused by the burning of oil in our cars and factories, and civilization writ large. The resulting historic atmospheric levels of CO2 brought on a blanket of heat, rains, plant growth, and then a long drought that dried everything to kindling. Violent Santa Ana winds blew cascades of embers through dry canyons to the sea, burning all. This was a man-made disaster that originated with the oil companies and all who genuflect before them. They knew. This is their responsibility.

If we are going to burn stuff to create energy, why not reject oil and turn to the sun instead? 48” x 36”, Golden paints on canvas, finished 1.11.25

Too Hot! Pure Water Flowing into a Polluted Sea. in Memory of Cynthia Anderson

The pure water is Cynthia.

I remembered the heat of our recent hideously hot “summer” and older memories of something very different: pure cool water. Once, high in the mountains of Colorado, I was in a place where snow melted and a perfect river began. 48” x 36”, Golden paints on canvas, finished on 1.4.25.

This is painted in memory of my sister Cynthia Anderson. The pure water is Cynthia.

Too Hot! Blooming in Fire

I needed to paint this painting. This is Los Angeles in January, 2025, and the Texas panhandle in February, 2024, and fires globally. Climate change has increased the risk of large, frequent, and severe wildfires. 48” x 36”, Golden paints on canvas, 1.13.25

Too Hot! Oil Flowers Burning, Scorched Earth, Cerise Sea

Flowers, opening to the blessing of the sun, burn in the fires of Los Angeles, their soil red with fire and blood. A view of scorched black earth stretches out beyond them. The ocean glows cerise. 48” x 36”, Golden paints on canvas, 1.17.25

Too Hot! Burning Sky, Water, and Oil; Exploding Sun

One of a new series in a new palette responding to the miserable heat of the man-made “summer” of 2024. 20” x 16”, Golden paints on canvas, finished on 12.30.24.

Too Hot! Shattering, Oil Streaming

Responding to the heat of “summer” 2024. This uses a palette of colors I generally avoid, yellow and cerise, but they are the colors I see when I see things too hot to touch. Golden paints on canvas, 48" x 36", 10.4.24

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