My friend wallypete posted last march a photo called Fire in the Blues. The photo was taken thorough a wildfire racing through the Blue Mountains of Oregon some years ago. While wildfires sometimes are natures way of cleaning and beneficiary for old forests, this fire was caused by human stupidity and had tragic consequences. [For more information see wallypetes photo.] The photo is very unique. The smoke and the flames seem to form a face. While most people interpret this face as pure evil, I did not see evil; but a tortured face. To me it looks like the face of nature in agony of what was done, not unlike an accusing victim of evil done by man. I worked a long time on the face to get the impression of pain. I thank wallypete for the permission to use his photo as reference for my painting. This painting is dedicated to my good friends wallypete and Lynne his wife of almost 50 years.