Ella

Two summers ago we went to Nauvoo, Illinois to visit and sight see. There was a little kids station where they could dress up like pioneers and everything. I got the most adorable pictures of Ella and have had the intention of painting them ever since. I finally got around to it. I think I had more fun painting this that I have had on just about any other painting.  

Savior, Redeemer of My Soul

For my friend who lost his Mom this past week. 

Springville Spiritual and Religious Exibit

So it looks like my daily posts, that were supposed to turn into weekly posts, have turned into quarterly posts. :( It is my first semester in my new job though. I'm starting to get into a rhythm so who knows. I may post more regularly, but at this point, no promises. Just hopes.

I entered this piece into the Springville, UT museum of art's religious and spiritual show. They do this every year and it's always a very good show. I hope I get in.

This drawing is about the point where you know you need to forgive someone that you feel has wronged you but you are having a hard time letting go of that anger. There is the desire to do what's right, it's just getting out of the way of your pride so you can do it.

Oil Painting Jos Van Riswick

I've watched a bunch of this guys' oil demos. He's awesome.

Miniature Show at Repartee Gallery

These two pieces, plus one other small cityscape I can't find right now in my images are on display at the Repartee Gallery in the University Mall in Orem, Ut. If you think you'll want to get some of my paintings or drawings eventually, you should get them now, because they are cheap! (inexpensive, not cheap) Someday I'll be a world famous artist and you'll have to pay a ton of money to get one of my originals! :) haha. Maybe someday. 

BFA - Madison, WI Farmers Market

My wife went on a trip to Madison Wisconsin during nursing school for a holistic nursing conference. She ended up with some really cool photos which I then turned into paintings. Not the actual photos themselves mind you. Lame joke, I know. I have old man humor.

BFA - Chelsea

This was from the Chelsea district in New York which is where a lot of really cool galleries are located.

Time Square

Another in my BFA series. Now that the show's up I'm not as shy about posting them on the blog. But still go see them because I think they look better in real life. :) Most things are like that.

It is Finally Here!

Intimidating to have all this wall space for myself! I obviously didn't use it all. 

So this is it. My humble BFA collection is up for all to see. It's been a love/hate relationship with this body of work. Sometimes I've wanted to burn the whole set and start over. Or give up. BUT...I decided that wouldn't be a good idea and persisted. I still don't think it's perfect and I wanted to revise several paintings, but I just simply ran out of time. And it was time to move on. My BFA has been in the works for close to three years now. It's gone through two complete changes in direction, and MANY more paintings that you don't see here that didn't make the cut. I'm excited for people to see it finally, but I admit I fear the critique a bit. I know it'll be good for me though. 

The space is on the 3rd floor of the UVU library. As you can see it's kind of amongst desks and computers and such. It's a good space though. Friday the 13th of July is the reception from 6:30-8:30 if you would like to come. (Yes, I picked Friday the 13th on purpose. How could you pass that kind of opportunity up!)

Madison Wisconsin

My wife went to Madison Wisconsin for a nurses conference when she was in college. While they were there they went to the farmers market in the downtown area. It was in the shadow of their capitol building (I think). She ended up with a really great photo that I decided I needed to paint. This is the small color comp. The full sized painting is 3X2 and will be in my BFA show.

Another from my BFA

This is the most recent painting I finished for BFA show. It's a little different than the others. This is my wife's favorite so far. That makes me happy. :) I like the painting more in real life though. I need to learn how to take pro photos. Try clicking on the picture to enlarge it. I think it is done slightly better justice that way.

BFA Official Announcement!

The date and time are set! This has been long in the making, but it's almost here. (That means it's almost over!!!!) I would love it if you came to the opening reception. It will be on Friday the 13th (Yes, that was intentional) of July from 6:30 to 8:30PM on the 3rd floor of the UVU Library. It's summer so parking shouldn't be any problem and it's very easy to find. I have an enormous wall that I can't hope to fill, so come find out how I creatively try and make it look like I can! P.S. A gigantic shout out to my wife. This show literally would not be happening without you! Love you Andrea!

More Mini's and My Process

I don't know what it is but there is something that really draws me to a well executed, very small painting. I get incredibly inspired by them. Having that in mind I developed a somewhat new process for me. When I am starting a new painting what I do is gather reference first. In this case it was a photo I took on a trip to New York. Then I'll do some small sketches to get the composition down. Then when I have that figured out I'll do a small detailed sketch, usually in pen and ink. That's the sketch above. Then I'll do a small painting, usually in acrylic or watercolor. Then, it's off to the races on the full sized painting. Doing this helps me figure out all the design and color challenges on a small scale so I don't have to deal with them on a large scale. I probably should have been doing this for a long time!

Mini Painting

Part of my process for the BFA series was to do many small sketches and paintings. When I say small I really mean itty-bitty. This painting above didn't make it to a full sized painting for the show. I'm sure it will in the future. This was one of my favorite "mini" paintings I did. It's total size is 3 in by 2 1/4 in. It's in a small 3X5 sketchbook I picked up at Hobby Lobby. The pages hold up surprisingly well with acrylic paint. The only down side about this size is it's very hard to photograph well. At least it is for me. :)

BFA Series - The Bus

I spent a lot of my college career riding the bus. So I figured it would be appropriate to make a painting of the glorious scene. I tried to capture the essence of waiting for a bus. :) 10 points if anyone can identify where this bus station is. Hint: It's not in Orem. That limits it down to maybe a thousand bus stops across Utah Valley.

BFA Series - Time Square

This was actually the first in the city scape series that I completed. It's probably still my favorite painting I've done in the set. I like some of the others as well but I tend to be very critical of myself. One the best things about this painting in person is also one of the worse things in a photo. I put a clear coat over it that makes the paint look like it's still wet and really makes it vibrant. However, it makes it murder to photograph. So learn from me. If you're going to put a clear coat on your painting and you're not a great photographer, take the picture BEFORE you put the cover it! :) The show is going to be in July. It'll go up on the 2nd and come down on the 31st. It's going to be on the 3rd floor of the UVU Library. As soon as I nail down the specific date of the opening reception I'll post it.

BFA Show Announced!

This is a painting of a street scene in Poland. Don't ask me where because I don't remember. I yanked the photo from my brother who went on a mission there. This is one of the recent paintings from my BFA collection. What is a BFA Phil? Well, I'll tell you. It's my Bachelor of Fine Arts project that I have been working on for over two years now! Not because it's going to be so amazing, (even though I think it'll be pretty darn cool.) but because I have changed directions so many time. But the date is drawing nigh. I can't push it back or escape it this time. Stay tuned for a specific date for the reception. The show will hang on the 3rd floor of the UVU Library from July 2nd-31st. 

Highland

This painting has been a continual process. I've reworked it a number of times and then put it away only to pull it out again and start painting on it again! I think it's done now. I guess time will tell. The houses that you see in the trees are in Highland, Ut. Up on the foothills of the mountains would be Cedar Hills.

Temporary Replacement

This is a portrait of my wife. I started it when we were unsuccessfully trying to have kids. Andrea was struggling with it pretty badly, but we had a few pets to fill in a bit of the gaping hole she was feeling.

Forgotten

I did this painting last summer and forgot about it. It's a small 6x6 acrylic painting. I painted it from a photo I took up American Fork canyon.