Chris Osborne Art 
Bush Fireworks
The Story Behind the Painting
It had been a busy day back burning to reduce the fuel around Possum Park in the event of future bush fires. As it happened two weeks later a few bush fires were burning out of control in the local forests, they lasted over a week and came within 4km of Possum Park. So our preparations were not in vain.
I had just cleaned up and was wondering what to watch on my iPad when I get a phone call from David the owner of Possum Park. “Do you like fireworks” my response was “yes”. “Bring your camera and a couple of ginger beers”.
I hung up the phone and immediately thought where has David gotten fireworks from. Anyway I jumped on my push bike with two ginger beers in each pocket and raced down to the dam.
As I rode around the corner I saw an orange glow and a tree on fire dropping sparks. David was stood next to his bobcat and pointed to a tree on fire and said “bush Fireworks” which became the name of this painting.
I asked David for an explanation and this was his response. I was clearing a safe area around the dam wall and I couldn’t push the bugger over so I had to burn it. This was a dead tree by the way.
So for the next hour or so we sat in the bucket of the bobcat and drunk our ginger beer and watch an amazing light show and the best fireworks I’ve ever seen. I’m sure a few spirits came out of that tree that night and danced into the sky.
I thanked the tree for putting on such a beautiful show and think of it every time I walk up the spill way of the dam photographing birds most mornings.
My Painting Process
You never know what your going to get with a blue was on black paper the results are always quite different.
Some basic colours for where the ground will be illuminated by the fire. and some basic trees.
Starting to paint in the sparks, and realise I had to mix in a little white to make the yellow more opaque.
Adding much more detail in the trees and a few highlights.
Major advance in my painting as I was so engrossed in painting for a few hours that I totally forgot to take some photos. This also happens at the end of the day if the light isn’t good and I think I’ll do that in the morning and totally forget to take photos.
Finished artwork.
Finished artwork framed in none reflective glass.
Since I’m so far behind in my blogs nowadays this artwork had gone on to win Second place for works on paper at the Western Downs Regional Art Exhibition Dalby theme Essence.
This is still on display until the 10th November 2023
Chris Osborne Art 
This is fabulous Chris. I love the painting, and the photos. Well done!
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Thank you, it was such a good painting I did it again in acrylics a few months later and just dropped that one off at a gallery the other day
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