Rampart of Stone

I learned this morning that I received a second place award for my pastel painting Rampart of Stone in a local art show. I completed this painting for a show at the St. George Art Museum called Visions of Zion. The show was judged by a local well known artist and it always makes an artist feel good to have their work judged to be worthy of an award by another artist. The painting depicts the Great White Throne, which is possibly the best known land mark in Zion National Park. Zion and is one of my favorite places to paint, draw and take photographs. We live only 45 minutes from the park entrance so it makes it easy to access the park at all times of the year. If you visit us Zion will most likely be the place we want to show you. Thanks for viewing my artist blog and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. 9 x 12 pastel

Canvas A-LA-Carte at Blue Raven Studio

The owners of Blue Raven Studio and Gallery in Kayenta are starting a new and fun program for anyone who wants to paint whether or not they have ever held a paint brush in their hands. They have ask me to create a couple of easy paintings that anyone could enjoy and have a positive experience creating their own art. This is what I came up with. Either painting can be completed in under two hours and hopefully will be a fun time for all who participate. Hope to see you in the studio to paint along with me as we recreate these and other fun art canvases. 16" x 20" acrylic.

Old Work Horse

What is it about old vehicles that make artists want to paint them? I always have a great time when I paint old trucks, cars and now this tractor. I’m not too sure what vintage this “oldie but goodie” is but I’m sure it goes back a ways. I photographed this tractor while heading for a hike near Zion National Park called the Eagles Crag. It’s a beautiful place to hike if you are looking for great vistas of Zion’s temples. To get there cross the Virgin River at Rockville and head toward Grafton but stay to the left and head up a very steep hill. High clearance vehicles are advised and don’t attempt the road if it has recently rained. I’m sure this "Old Work Horse" hasn’t moved in years and is waiting for you to take a photo of your own.

Canvas and Cocktails

I’m back from my trip to Denver and boy did I have a great time. The first couple of days I spent with my sister and brother. My sister, Sally and I attended a canvas and cocktail class and had so much fun I’m hoping I’ll have time to do the class again the next time I’m in Denver. This is not serious art but is for anyone who wants to explore their inner creativity. The instructor was very up beat and helpful with anyone who desired additional instruction. This was a step by step procedure that lasted two hours and I’m posting our results on the blog. The rest of my stay was to have a reunion with sorority sisters I hadn’t seen since graduation from college. What a great bonding experience that turned out to be. All in all it was a great trip to Denver. I’m going to the Zion art show this evening and hopefully will get a chance to meet some of the really great Southwest artists who have been painting Zion Canyon this past week.

"Pumpkin Time"

Fall is in full force in Southern Utah so I decided to paint something seasonal. This little oil (5" x7) was a lot of fun to paint and reminded me of all the years we carved pumpkins with our children and how much fun they always had at Halloween. I hope my children are continuing the tradition with my granddaughters. I am heading to Denver for a few days to see family and some old college friends. Should be a great time and I believe the weather will be perfect. My sister and I will do a canvas and cocktail class....should be interesting. I’ll post our paintings when I return to St. George.

"Sun Going Down"

It’s been a few weeks since I last painted and I feel a bit rusty. Between moving back to Utah and having company my time has been limited to family which I believe should always be first. I just completed my first painting since returning to Kayenta in Utah. In this painting I have tried to capture the moodiness of the late evening just before sunset, as the sun moves down the red cliffs and casts the desert in shadows leaving the tops of the cliffs as if they were the embers of a dying fire. I call this painting “Sun Going Down”. We attended the auction for Xetava Gardens Café the other evening and I am pleased to say my pastel painting “Passing Storm” sold for over $500.00. “Cheyenne Man” is still for sale in the cafe.

"Passing Storm" and "Cheyenne Man"

I'm finally settled again in Utah and back to blogging. I has taken a while to get back to doing art and I must admit the paintings I am posting today were done last year. I am donating them to Xetava Gardens Cafe here in Kayenta. They are doing a fund raiser auction to improve their kitchen and although this isn’t a non profit we are friends with the owner and want to see his restaurant succeed. The first painting is done in pastel and is called “Passing Storm” the second painting is an oil painted from an historic photo of a Cheyenne Indian man. I have joined the emerging artist studio in Kayenta called the Blue Raven you can connect to them at this link http://www.blueravenartstudio.com/ You can connect to Xetava Gardens Cafe at http://www.xetavagardenscafe.com/ It’s good to be back on the desert and in our home in Kayenta.