Sunset Ash: Volcano Arenal, Costa Rica, tropical landscape art

One morning in July of 1968, La Fortuna, Costa Rica’s large cone mass exploded, spewing fire and lava that destroyed nearby villages over the process of a few days. This large Volcano is Costa Rica’s Volcan Arenal and is one of Costa Rica’s most famous semi-active volcanoes. According to Arenal Observatory Lounge and Spa, “For 42 years, Arenal Volcano was Costa Rica’s most active volcano with flowing lava and pyroclastic surges that blasted huge rocks and cauliflower-shaped ash clouds into the air. Explosions were often accompanied by loud rumblings, which would wake tourists up at night. The last big explosions occurred on August 25, 2001, March 2007, September 18, 2008, March 2, 2009, and May 24, 2010. None, however, compared to that of 1968” (2019).

This volcano symbolizes the endearment that Caro Rose’s father has taken to Costa Rica. He frequents on mission trips where he talks to the natives about the gospel of Jesus Christ; his death and his resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Rose's father is native to Puerto Rico but heard God’s calling to go to talk to people about Jesus in Costa Rica. A lot of the church members in Costa Rica have grown dear to his heart. They have opened up their home to him and his family and shared their food and culture with them.  Some of the things that Rose’s father does while visiting Costa Rica is feed the homeless, helps pay for the poor’s household bills, and also prays with them.

Rose’s childhood memories in Costa Rica include almost every summer and Christmas time spending time with the youth in Costa Rica. The churchgoers enjoy after church activities like original plays and musicals for the audience. Potluck gatherings are also common at church where natives bring authentic food for the church to share together. Some delicious dishes include rice with chicken, tamales, and tortillas. Also, the church likes to take their youth on field trips to places like la Fortuna where the volcano is located. Tourists can go ziplining, rappelling, and horseback riding, for example. Furthermore, some fun memories of visiting La Fortuna is going to the hot springs where the church community can go to relax in the volcano’s bubbly hot spring waters. Following these field trips gave Rose and her family a small sense of Costa Rica's Tico lifestyle: Pura Vida.

Upon request, Tefa Jimenez, local of San Carlos Costa Rica offered a photo of this tourist view of the Volano Arenal. The most challenging part of this tropical landscape art was recapturing the wide perspective of the original photographer's vision for the sunset on the volcano. The wind and bend of the streets were a challenge. Nonetheless, recapturing the elements that lead the viewers' eyes into the distance was the most fun part of framing the volcano.

 This is the artist's first rendition of Sunset Ash: Volcano Arenal, painted in Marion County, Florida. The photograph was originally requested by Teja Jimenez, local of San Carlos, Costa Rica. The materials Rose used are Master’s touch acrylic paints and white, the Fine Touch Brush Set, acid-free, acrylic gesso primed canvas. The print materials will be announced. All will be packaged with love and care, including a handwritten thank you note and detail. 

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