Artist incorporates falling ash from Greenwood Fire into Grand Marais painting

The Greenwood Fire burning near Isabella nearly doubled in size Monday, fueled by dry vegetation, strong winds and low humidity.

As the fire grew Monday, it developed a pyrocumulus cloud resulting in extreme fire behavior and fire-created lightning, according to Superior National Forest Officials.

The cloud was visible for miles in all directions and smoke and ash from the fire were reported as far away as the North Shore, including Lutsen, Grand Marais and other nearby communities.

Dan Olson is a Minnesota artist who often paints landscapes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the North Shore area. He was in Grand Marais painting at Artists Point Aug. 23 when the smoke and ash started to fall. Rather than let the falling ash become a hindrance to his artwork, Olson opted to incorporate it into his painting.

He stopped by WTIP to share his story with Joe Friedrichs. Audio below.