The Alchemist

Artist Noelle Phares depicts the Feather River Canyon of Northern California, where curved bright forms represent flumes, man made structures that transport water. In this landscape, water functions as the great Alchemist, sustaining life and resilience against wildfire. The work acknowledges wildfire as one of the region's greatest natural threats, reflecting on the Camp Fire of 2018 that destroyed Paradise, California, the artist's former home. This print reproduction is based on the original painting created with acrylic, gouache, watercolour, charcoal and pencil on linen.