Allium byTonya Opperman
Featured Artist 2022 Tonya Opperman
I'm a full-time wildland fire professional working as a fire analyst on fires throughout the US. I fell backwards into this line of work after earning a degree in Forestry, but haven't looked back because it's a fulfilling career that's allowed me to visit exciting places for fire assignments and meet really wonderful people in the wildland fire community.
When I'm not working, I paint, run, knit, garden, and travel. I've painted since high school, but only recently heeded advice to paint what I love--this made all the difference for me. I entered shows, started selling work, and reproduce it on everything from totes to shower curtains. I know that fire can indeed be destructive, but in the natural environment, fire means renewal, regrowth, and a diverse landscape patchwork, and that's what I aim to capture. My artwork is water-based using either pure watercolor, gouache, acrylic, or a combination.
When I'm not working, I paint, run, knit, garden, and travel. I've painted since high school, but only recently heeded advice to paint what I love--this made all the difference for me. I entered shows, started selling work, and reproduce it on everything from totes to shower curtains. I know that fire can indeed be destructive, but in the natural environment, fire means renewal, regrowth, and a diverse landscape patchwork, and that's what I aim to capture. My artwork is water-based using either pure watercolor, gouache, acrylic, or a combination.