A Very Busy Ring of Fire

Coastal Pines Overlook II    ©2011 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 6 x 6"

 The weather here has warmed up allowing for improved drying time. Together with the longer days, that's good news for painters. I've been able to make progress on new paintings and finish this pair. These are imaginary scenes reminiscent of the California Coast near Big Sur. Although they weren't intended as such, they can work together as a diptych, yet I prefer them to be separate.

If there's a competition for our attention, it seems to me that Nature continues to win. It hasn't been a month since an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. As I was updating webcam information to post about the newest eruptions of Kilauea in Hawaii, the 8.9 earthquake hit Japan, followed by the massive tsunami. Just before the quake activity Japan's Shinmoedake volcano also began erupting again.

In Hawaii, the world's youngest and maybe most active volcano, which has been erupting continuously since 1983, has developed a new fissure developed between the Pu'u 'O'o and Napau craters on Kilauea. Here is a temporary camera set up to record the new fissure eruption which started on the afternoon of March 5, 2011 about 2 km WSW of Puʻu ʻŌʻō Crater. This panorama is a composite of eight images from a research camera positioned on the north rim of Puʻu ʻŌʻō's crater.



Coastal Pines Overlook I    ©2011 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 6 x 6"

 Just as it is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of destruction that parts of the world have been experiencing, the images broadcast over the Internet and the airwaves have been unbelievable as well, including the most recent coming from Japan.

In the midst of it I was grateful to find this list of charities on Charity Navigator that are organizing relief efforts. The opportunity to contribute something to help out aids me in feeling a little less powerless.