Ring of Fire

The story behind this painting is one of my favorites. While wandering through the desert, I stumbled upon a hillside ghost town called Jerome—a seemingly charming place with stunning views at every turn. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find it’s known as the wickedest town in the West.

As I explored the more haunted corners of town, I came across a striking iron sculpture—a massive ring forged from all the confiscated weapons from the old jail. It stopped me in my tracks. Something about the beauty and darkness welded together in that piece made me have to paint it.

Jerome holds a special place in my heart. My grandparents used to bring me here as a kid to pan for gold and listen to ghost stories. What was once a memory has now become a story on canvas—an eerie, beautiful tribute to a town full of mystery.