We’re Paige and Mason. The Bend Banner is our way of keeping tabs on this wild, beautiful place we call home. To the mornings that start with coffee and mountain air, the trails that somehow always lead to a brewery, and the kind of small-town stories that remind you why you chose to live here in the first place.

Why Are Their Trucks Green?

My son and I were grabbing a slice at Whole Foods a few days ago when a Redding hotshot crew came through, still in their gear, grabbing whatever they could off the hot bar before heading back out.

I've noticed it every fire season. Hotshot crews always seem to end up at Whole Foods. So I asked one of the guys about it while he was checking out. He laughed and said it's the best hot food bar and ready-made stuff. Fast, hot, and you don't have to think about it. Makes sense.

Then my son asked the question that actually puzzled me. Why are their trucks green? Not red, like every fire truck he'd ever drawn in a coloring book.

Turns out there's a real answer. Fire trucks in most towns are red because that's the tradition, and because red stands out against traffic. But federal wildland crews, the US Forest Service specifically, run green. It's not an accident, and it's not a style choice. It's a way to tell agencies apart at a glance. Most municipal departments run red. So when a green rig rolls in, everyone on the ground already knows it's a wildland crew before anyone says a word.

Next time you see a green engine idling outside a grocery store, or a crew of hotshots debating what to grab off the hot bar like they're on a lunch break instead of a deployment, you'll know both halves of it. Why they're eating what they're eating, and why their truck doesn't match the ones in the coloring books.

It's a strange thing about living here. Crews from several states can roll into your regular grocery store on a random Tuesday, and it barely registers. That's just August in Bend. Fire season means road closures and smoky skies, but it also means guys who fight wildfires for a living standing two feet from you in the checkout line, and your kid is the only one paying close enough attention to ask why.

Artist Interview: Lindsay Gilmore

How'd you get into this business?

I've loved making art since I was a kid, but never thought I could turn it into a business. I majored in Marketing and Advertising, thinking that it'd be a more sensible way to be creative. My first job was at a creative agency doing graphic design, and I started drawing spot illustrations for some of our magazines. My co-workers began asking me to draw their pets and babies, and that's where my art journey started. After a few years of doing this on the side of my graphic design job, I got completely burnt out on the portraits. I didn't have any emotional connection to the work, I was essentially just bringing other peoples' visions to life.

After my first daughter was born in 2017, I decided to completely flip my business on its head. I wanted to make art that I was proud of — paintings that I would actually want to hang in my own home. I've always felt the most at peace when spending time in nature, so I began painting abstracted versions of some of my favorite places. I created a collection of 12 paintings on paper and shared a lot about the process on social media along the way. I eventually launched the collection, and told myself I'd be happy if I sold one or two. To my total surprise, the collection sold out in a day.

I realized I was onto something, and continued to make and sell collections of paintings. In 2020 I started making prints and products, and that's when the business really took off. I dropped the graphic design job a few years back, and I feel so fortunate to get to do this work full-time. It's a dream come true.

Where do customers actually come from today?

Originally, my customers were just my friends and family. Social media began to grow that audience a bit further. These days, I'd say that wholesale brings in the most revenue. I'm fortunate to sell my work in a ton of different stores around the Pacific Northwest. Not only does the actual wholesale part bring in revenue, but many of my customers discover my work at these stores and come back to order from me directly.

What's the one thing that's worked better than expected?

A few years ago, a friend who works at The Old Mill offered me a studio space. I initially turned it down, working from home was going well and I didn't see why I should start paying for space. I decided to take the leap, and it's made all the difference. I started taking myself seriously, and I noticed that others did too. It also helps to have a public-facing place where people can see and purchase my work in person.

What's a real business number you're comfortable sharing?

I'm grateful to say that work can be found in over 30 retail shops, a hospital, hotel, apartment building, numerous medical offices, businesses, vacation rentals, restaurants, and more.

What would you tell someone starting a business in Central Oregon?

I believe word-of-mouth is the most effective form of marketing. My motto is to "do good work, and be nice to people". Do those things well, and people are bound to recommend you to others.

This Week’s Conditions
☀️ Sunrise: 5:58 am
🌅 Sunset: 8:25 pm
High Temp: 97°F OOF
AQI: 150+

🐾Bend’s Best Good Boys & Good Girls 🐾

🐶 Angel – 4 years, Mix
She's blind from a congenital eye issue and may not hear well either, but she gets around by nose and has already picked up more than anyone expected. She needs a calm house where the couch stays put, and the routine doesn't change much.

🐱 Rocket – 3 Years - Hound Mix
He's smart and full of energy, so he does best with real daily exercise, a job to do, and maybe some scent work to burn off that hound brain. He's lived with kids, dogs, and cats.

🐱 King – 1 year - Bulldog Mix
King showed up as a stray and loves to be pet and loved on. A one-story house is better, as he struggles to do stairs.