Wings of Deliverance

In early January 2025, Southern California was once again gripped by devastating wildfires. As communities braced for loss and first responders battled the flames on the ground, a familiar sight appeared overhead: the yellow-and-red Super Scoopers, diving low through smoke-filled skies, collecting water from nearby reservoirs, and returning again and again with their precious cargo.

It’s a scene we’ve witnessed many times here in Alaska as well, where Super Scoopers from our Canadian neighbors come to the rescue during our worst fire seasons. As I write this, I can’t help but think that they’re likely busy at home this summer, fighting to save their own communities.

“Wings of Deliverance” was inspired by these aerial firefighting missions. I’ve always been struck not only by the power and precision of these aircraft, but by the symbolism they carry—cutting through smoke and chaos to offer relief and hope in dire circumstances. Although the scene depicted in this painting is a composite painted from several different reference photos of this remarkable plane, it’s grounded in reality: a firefighting aircraft mid-flight, releasing water over a burning forest, framed by the toxic haze that blankets everything near and far. It’s also a reminder of the stark contrasts these planes embody: the violence of wildfire met with the grace of flight and the promise of relief by the water they carry.

To me, these pilots are heroes in a category of their own. They put their own lives at risk as they come our aid. Their presence—both here in Alaska and across the lower 48 and North America—brings with them a sense of reassurance and hope: a reminder of human courage and cooperation in the face of volatile and extreme conditions.

This painting is a tribute to those aircraft, their pilots, and everyone on the front lines of wildfires. Above all, “Wings of Deliverance” is meant to be a gesture of respect for those that put their lives on the line to bring hope to those in harm’s way.