Savior and Friend

Savior and Friend

Oil on hardwood Panel

20" x 16"

Some paintings and the designs that inspired them are fairly straightforward.

However this painting started with a photograph taken by Katie. The photograph of Liam suggested reverence or inspiration.

I liked it a good deal and started thinking about other views that might be inspiring or reverent for Liam

That lead to this attempt to portray him meeting the Savior.

Serenity

Serenity

18" x 24"

Oil on hardwood Panel

The Logan Temple has been an important, even hallowed, site in our lives. 

Mom and Dad were sealed there.

They have served for many years as temple workers and patrons

It was the first temple that I entered; it was where I did the first baptisms for the dead. Years later Lori and I with Dad officiating as the sealer, we were sealed there with our three girls [Jeff was born a few months later]

Next Tuesday will be the 25th anniversary of that sealing.

When one enters Cache Valley at night coming down Wellsville Canyon it is a very recognizable site across the valley.

I have designed this with the temple as being viewed from the east with those mountains in the background across the valley floor.

This is the first blue light/night painting that I have done - perhaps the last as it was very difficult to get even an approximate photograph.

Officer Powers

Officer Powers

24" x 18"

Oil on hardwood Panel

I finally took the opportunity to paint a portrait of my favorite CHP officer.

I wasn't very excited about doing the motorcycle but when I started working on it, there were interesting challenges and choices

The reference photos were taken in an urban setting but it was way to cluttered therefore to simplify the focus I eliminated much of that. It did however make the background confusing at times while working on it.

Lots of rolling hills in the Sonoma area

We love and appreciate this man

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Below is another attempt which didn't work as well as I wanted. The motorcycle is not the same machine as the first one

This is the same size work, pictured on the California coast

Aspen

Aspen

12" x 16"

Oil on hardwood Panel

Growing up near Quaking Aspen in the mountain country, I have always loved them. They are a unique and interesting tree.

We now know that they are often inter-connected with large numbers of their neighboring trees in very old organisms.

In spring and summer the distinctive leaves are beautiful

In winter the contrasts between their structure, the bark and branching sites are also interesting

This painting is all about design

Lemons

Lemons

12" x 16"

Oil on hardwood Panel

It's been a long break since I did a still life. I enjoy them but usually find another portrait or landscape that I would rather be working on

This painting was suggested by a GCA entry about light, molding and shadow.

Sometimes achieving the simplest effect can be the most difficult. The panel is flat and creating the illusion of three dimension objects in a believable fashion is the goal

As is usually the case no pure black was used