Springville Museum Selection Results

I found out on Thursday that I did not make the cut for the juried spiritual and religious art show this year. I submitted my "Hope of Israel" painting with Mary and baby Jesus and I submitted "Vessel of the Lord" painting seen below. This was a little discouraging. But, art is subjective.  What one person loves another person might not like very much.  It's really an interesting, and even perplexing thing. 

In the past, I have been commissioned to do a piece for hundreds of dollars and that same piece has been accepted in a juried show and at another time was not excepted in a different show. Go figure.

Being rejected is not my favorite part of sharing my art.  I have attempted to submit things to this museum four times and was successful getting into a show once.  It is probably the most prestigious art museum in Utah so I should expect it to attract the very best talent and there is lots of competition.  So I guess it's okay if I don't get in every time.

That's my report. I'll have to think about whether not I want to continue making the effort to submit something to a museum that is so far away from my home. It takes an investment of time and energy to do that.

Zions Art Show in SLC

This Thursday I attended the annual art show downtown with some of my art friends.  We really enjoyed the paintings and sculptures and the delicious food!  The live music was amazing; string quartet, jazz band, acoustic guitar, etc.  it was night to remember! 

Sculpture by my mother, Mary Adams

My mom just finished this sculpture of the boy Jesus and is having it sent to me from Texas so it can be cast into a white resin sculpture.  She's going to submit it to the LDS International Art Show. Wish her luck getting accepted into the show!

Christmas Painting-"Vessel of the Lord "

My sister-in-law recently took a photo of herself pregnant with her last baby. It was wonderful! It inspired me to do this painting.

I call it "Vessel of the Lord" because I wanted to focus on Mary's contribution to the mission of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Were it not for her willingness to accept the call to serve in this capacity, the world will be without a Savior.  She was willing to mother him and that included all of the regular challenges of parenthood but it also included watching him suffer as he fulfilled his mission; as he died on the cross.  At times that must've been very painful. But also what a great joy and privilege.  When I look at the painting it causes me to consider if I am willing to be an instrument in God's hands. To make this world a better place in some small way.  What would it be like if we all have that desire? Lots of little efforts would cumulate to be something rather significant and powerful, I believe.

New Painting in Progress

Our family went to a reunion and visited Cascade Springs.  The kids were given butterfly nets and had a ball hunting for them.

I like to begin most paintings with an orange wash (Burnt Sienna).  Then paint an outline of each of the main objects, loosely.  Then I block in the main color of an object and then begin to add details one at a time.  It's like a puzzle to solve.  So fun!

16"x20"x1.5" acrylic on board 

Scout Camp-Kayaking Merit Badge

I was inspired by a photograph taken by Brian Hunsaker at scout camp this summer up at Bear Lake.  I loved the primary colors and the lines of the composition.  I used an impressionistic style with acrylic paints.  The board is an unusual shape, but perfect for this piece; 12"x6"X1.5."  I painted the side edges a yellow ochre color (inspired by Cathy's truck painting). I love how it turned out.

Utah State Fair

This year me and two of my art students entered paintings in the state fair. 

This is Marion's first painting.  She did such a great job.  Plus, she's the life of the party at class!

Cathy Roaemann entered her first painting and won a 2nd place ribbon .  Way to go, Cathy!

This is the painting I did of my little cowgirl, Anne Marie, and her grandpa Richter.  Fun Memory!

If you have a desire to learn to paint, we just started the fall session.  We meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday's of the month with our last class on December 9th.  We go from 10-12:00.  Classes are $35 each.  Call to reserve a spot!  801-201-6030.

2 New Butterfly Paintings

Both are acrylic paintings on wood panels that are 4"x4"X1.5."

Monarchs are a personal favorite.  The white cabbage butterfly is my daughter's favorite, having been the first one she ever caught with her grandpa.

Art Date With My Kids

Today I went to The BDAC (Bountiful Davis Art Museum) to see the annual Statewide Art Competition.  Saw some wonderful things, including paintings by two new friends of mine from Diane Turner's art class; Andrejs (still life) and Brent (two trees).  Lovely. 

I now teach an art class!

In October 2013 I took on my first art student, Marion.  She started with me as a beginner and has done such a great job! She loves Italy and so she chose to paint an Italian window.  So proud if her!!

Since the beginning of 2014 I have started teaching three more students, with more planning to begin in the near future.  It has been such a delight to share what I know and to see them do amazing work!

This is Marion's second painting.

This is Hugo's first painting.  Love how well he captured the perspective of the room full of Rothko paintings.  Good job, Hugo!

Cathy drew the truck first and is blocking in the base colors and shapes on her first painting, and is doing a fantastic job!

Stacy chose to paint two pairs.  I love how she mixed such rich colors in the background.

Miner's Club (Park City, UT)

This painting was an experiment; my first time attempt to do a "plein aire" painting. It was pleasant outside yet, breezy.  It took two hours to get the basic sketch. I finished the painting in studio with a photo reference.  I learned that I have to be a lot quicker to do a painting outside. Diane Turner is a landscape artist. She can complete a painting in one and a half to two hours. I took a landscape oil painting class from her in February and was able to finish this piece of art. Diane was a student of LeConte Stewart; a famous Utah artist in the Impressionist style.

My sweet 10 year old, Anne Marie, just said to me, "This is a very amazing painting and I really like it."  I'm so lucky to have a girl like that.

Things I learned in this painting:

-when painting the mountains, take your finger and smudge the line up into the sky color in places.

-less yellows and oranges the farther objects appear in the painting.  The farther they get, the cooler the colors get and the softer the details are.

-on the road leading back to the club Diane suggested that I add a darker line-dot-dot-dot, etc. just between the grass   and road to give it a nice effect.  I like how it turned out.

-she also suggested I define the trunk in the foreground.  I like how it turned out.

-I learned that I can rent frames from the Appleframe  Gallery at the cost of 10% of retail when I want to take a painting to put in an art show.  

-let the mother color (the color used to paint the initial scetch.  In this case orange) show through at times.  If you check you can see it come through in the clouds even.  Fun.