Watchtower

Watchtower

Zions National Park

24" x 36"

Oil on hardwood Panel

I found a reference photo that lead to this painting while doing some research about watchtowers.

I was drawn to the sunset contrasts and the more vivid saturated colors.

This painting is larger than most of my landscapes and it was enjoyable to work in the larger space

After several trials I was finally satisfied that the emphasis was were I wanted it to be

Watchtower at Sunset

Watchtower at Sunset

18" x 24"

Oil on hardwood Panel

I love painting scenes which involve snow.

However this painting came from thinking about the watchtowers of life. There are many and I am grateful for them.

The Savior, His restored Church, the temple, the scriptures and those called as watchmen.

Our precious children, Lori and good neighbors and friends

They are all nearby and we can chose to let them be an important part of our life with a lasting impact

So this is a very prominent watchtower near a modest family home. The setting is beautiful but also vulnerable

It seems an appropriate painting for Father's Day

The palette here is limited with an emphasis on warm and cool variations.

Michael

Michael

2016

24" x 18"

Oil on  hardwood Panel

Poor Michael suffered being the first person in my continuing attempts with oil portraits. He remained good natured about it and very kind.

I shot some more casual photographs of him recently and later realized that I had a couple that could be used to set up a portrait.

The background is greyed from light yellow into violet on the right side.

I tried to feature his long, rather elegant fingers without making them dominant

I also took the liberty of adding a more lively pocket handkerchief to his suit

The dark glasses seemed to work well

It's nice to be related to such a handsome guy.

The picture above was taken after I reworked the hands.

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