Restoration Morning

My friend, Jay Ritchie, told me about his experience visiting the Sacred Grove with his wife, Paula a couple of years ago. Since then, I have longed to be able to visit there as well ... someday perhaps!

As I have studied the Book of Mormon this year, I have had the desire to paint this sacred event, even starting the painting a couple of different times. Each time, though, I was not satisfied with my interpretation. I finally had this scene come into my mind a few weeks ago. I have a strong testimony of its reality and invite all to gain the same feelings of hope and peace. Acrylic on canvas (30"x 22") Nov 2008

He is Risen

I originally painted this piece several years ago early one Easter morning. I discovered that the power of darkness is simply just the absence of light. My feelings toward the Savior were sweetened and enhanced during this experience.

Several years later, our friends Alan and Sherrie Russell lost their 17 year old son in a tragic car accident. I was impressed to give them the painting, hoping that it might help them in their healing process. Both of us were again touched by the sweetness of the gospel and the hope that the Savior's atonement brings to all of us.

I have painted this scene several other times through the years for other family members. This one hangs in our home now. Acrylic on canvas (30"x 22") (Original completed in April 2000 ... I did this version in Nov. 2008)

Santorini

Paul and Nadine Craig invited us to go on a Greek Isle Cruise with them in November sponsored by Midwest Floor Coverings. I took my painting stuff along and painted several thumbnails ... 2 of the Savior, one of Veneice (which I gave to Paul and Nadine), and this one of Santorini. Adam had seen pictures of Santorini and thought it looked alot like his mission area on the southern Spanish coast.

Adam and Aubrey were "house sitters" for us while we were away, so I gave this one to them as thanks for helping out. Acrylic on canvas board (12"x 16")

Stormy Seas

In the current "economic storm" we find ourselves, doom and gloom abound. This scene depicts how I felt one particular day ... being tossed to and fro by the economic winds of the storm, yet confident enough to feel steady at the helm! In many life situations, there are many things we can learn from storms that we simply cannot learn from calm seas.

I used an impressionistic approach, limiting my pallet, brushes and time (I even set the timer to make sure I didn't get caught up in too many details!) It was a very insightful experience for me and helped me "loosen up" a bit. Acrylic on canvas (20"x 10")

"Rooster"

Cindy Cima, who frames most of my paintings, commissioned me to paint their family dog "Rooster" for her husband's Christmas present. This was a really fun project for me! Acrylic on canvas (30"x 22")

The Ultimate Getaway

We had the opportunity to build a recreational "get-away" for the Jake Harouny family up in Heber, Utah. I really enjoyed helping them with this project. I painted this scene as a house warming gift for them ... I wanted to protray a peaceful and enduring feeling. (Acrylic on canvass 36"x 24")

Aliza Bree Harmon

Aliza Bree was born November 25, 2008 to Adam and Aubrey Harmon ... she is sweet, beautiful and perfect! Faith is sure a proud big sister!

The Hankster ...

I first met my good friend, Hank Boehm, in 1988 as our guide on the Green River. Gary Wright had arranged for a guided float trip for us through Angler's Inn. By the luck of the draw, Hank was our guide. It was so fun, that I continued to book successive trips with Hank through the years.

We have become great friends and even work together now @ Ivory Homes. I painted this scene of him on the upper Provo River for his birthday. Tight lines, Hank!

The Glow of Christmas ...

We recently had the opportunity to stay with the Hrncirik "bugs" while Rachelle and Cory attended his sister's wedding reception in Houston. I was in "Grandpa heaven"! While we were there, I had the kids pose for this "impressionistic" Christmas tree scene.

"To be lifted once more in a glorious light,
The Spirit of Christmas you embody tonight,
Decked out in splendor your time has now come,
To herald the birth of God's loving Son".

This is one of my "mini" paintings ... Acrylic on canvas (11" x 14")

Manti Magic ...

The Manti Temple holds a special place in my heart ... My parents were married there, and I received a powerful confirmation of the reality of the Book of Mormon while attending the Manti Pagent during my junior year of high school. I gave this temple scene to Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary in July of 2003. I had earlier painted a similar scene for Carl and Margaret Truman as well. Acrylic on canvas (24" x 18")

Little Hole on the Green River

My friend, Vaughn Burbidge, has a special spot on the Green. This is my vision of that "sacred" spot! Vaughn is the fisherman (lefty) Acrylic on canvas (18" x 24")

Trail to Bethlehem

Acrylic on canvas (18" x 24")

Grandkids + Painting = FUN!!!

The grandkids and I have had so much fun painting together ... here are a few pictures of our painting sessions!

The St. George temple ...

As we entered the St. George housing market a couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time there and to experience the beauty of the St. George temple. I painted this scene in late November 2006 and gave the painting to Clark Ivory. It hangs in his Villa in St. George today. (Acrylic on canvass 24"x18")

And he did walk in the ways of his father ...

I have a special relationship with my dad and my children, each made up of many memories of time spent together. Fathers everywhere have such a great opportunity to influence for good those over whom they have stewardship. This painting is tribute to all those fathers who are really trying to make a difference! My son and grandson (Kyle & Kaiden) are the subjects in this scene ... Kyle's signature white NC ball cap, of course, had to be in the painting! (Acrylic on canvass 24"x 24")

From the Land Bountiful ...

We get to see similar sunsets nearly every day here in Bountiful. Having a temple so close to home is truly a great blessing in our lives. This painting hangs above our fireplace in our family room and reminds us daily that our hearts are bound to those who came before and will influence those who come after. (Acrylic on hardboard 48" x 44")

Do you like apples ...?

When the grandkids are over, we often paint together. London, then about 5, helped me underpaint this apple scene. He soon tired of painting and began inspecting my fly tying station. He was intrigued with the many different "bugs" and was impressed that I knew each of their names!

The next thing I knew, he was playing in the room and tripped ... landing with both hands on the nearly finished painting! The painting flew off the easil and on to my palette of paints. He screamed ... I screamed ... and paint "stuff" flew everywhere! He ran out of the room crying, "I wooined da painting, I wooined da painting". It took awhile to clean things up and to console poor London. I tried to convince him that we could fix the painting, but he wasn't buying any of that.

Soon, however, we made our way downstairs to my studio and we began tranforming his little hand prints into seed pods, and the long, dark line through the painting (my brush mark when the board flew off the easil) into long grass blades. One of the center apples was also smeared a bit, so we repainted it to be "different" and "unique" from the other apples ... I told him that it would represent him! Needless-to-say, he was relieved and impressed that we truly could "fix" the mess.

I explained to him that because of the Savior, every circumstance in our lives can be set straight. As Isaiah explains, "He can make light out of darkness; He can make straight crooked paths". Not every brush stroke will be perfect, some may even be mistakes, but in the end our life's painting can be beautiful with the Savior's help.

London signed one corner of the painting and I signed the other ... our first work of art together! He now has the original ... I repainted this one for my own use to remind me of this wonderful and sacred experience. (Acrylic on hardboard 36"x 12") (August 2006)

Bountiful Temple

Both Adam and Aubrey were endowed in the Bountiful temple. This painting hangs in their home. (Acrylic on canvass 16" x 20")

Christmas Lights on Temple Square

I painted this scene for Kyle and Tiffany as a wedding present. They were married in December just before Christmas in this, the Salt Lake Temple. (Acrylic on canvass 18" x24")

Sometimes we can learn more from "stormy seas" than from "calm waters" ...

My first mission companion, Rick Koplin, wrote a wonderful poem about sailing off into life's journey and being guided by the spirit ... he asked me to paint my interpretation of it! This was a fun and touching experience for me ... Thanks, Rick, for the opportunity! (Acrylic on canvass 36"x 24")

Small stream USA ...

I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days with one of my favorite painters, Jerry Yarnell. This was my first official art lesson! I loved every minute of it! This scene was the subject of our lesson ... of course, I personalized it by adding a fly fisherman! (Acrylic on canvass 24"x 18")

High Uintah Therapy

Dad and I spent a lot of time together in the Uintah Mountains of Utah when I was young. On one occasion, we were hiking into Pinto Lake to join the scout troop during there summer camp. We received poor directions and soon found ourselves lost in the wilderness. Needless-to-say, as an 8 year old I was getting concerned, but Dad assured me that all would be well. He pointed out a landmark, Bald Mountain in the distance, and told me that our truck was at the base of that mountain. All we had to do was to keep the mountain in sight and it would lead us back to safety. Sure enough, it did. The next morning, we got better directions and made our way easily to Pinto Lake.

I have never forgotten that experience. The principle applies to our spiritual lives as well. If we know to Whom to look for guidance, we are never really lost, even though we may be a bit off course. This painting is my memory of that "Bald Mountain" experience.

Alaska

The indian name for this bear is "Snuckuponus"! He surprised us as we were fishing for Coho Salmon on the Kuskatan River. (Acrylic on canvass 24"x 18")
The Alaskan Moose are so majestic and interesting ... just had to paint this guy! (Acrylic on canvass 24"x 18")

This old troller was moored in Port Alexander where we stayed for a week of fishing with Brent, BJ and Robbie Hogge. We never saw it leave port, but we walked by it everyday. These old vessels are so unique and intriguing! (Acrylic on canvass 24"x 18")

Dinos for London and Kasen

Stephanie has been "Dino" decorating the boys' room and asked me to personalize their favorite dinosaurs with a painting for each ... London loves Raptors and is fascinated by anything "Spiderman", hence the Spiderosaurus ... Kasen loves the T-Rex and is never seen without his faithful doggy companion "Baby Vinny", hence the Kasenosaurus Rex! I am now a "dinosauw expote" (Acrylic on canvass 12"x12")

Winter Camp

I have really had fun creating some "mini" paintings like this one. This scene is from my Native American and Old West collection. (Acrylic on canvass 8" x 10")

New heights ...

I painted this scene for Adam when he received his Eagle Scout award a few years ago. (20"x 16"Acrylic on canvass )

My young friend, Craig Hansen, just earned his Eagle Scout award as well. His parents commissioned me to paint this for him to be presented in his Eagle Court of Honor. Craig and I have been getting together to paint now for several months. He is becoming a fine artist in his own rite. (24"x 24" Acrylic on canvass)

Silence is golden ...

There is something about the solitude of fly fishing that is therapudic for me. I tried an impressionistic approach to this painting to convey the peace and quiet of such aloneness! Though loneliness is all it is cracked up to be, sometimes there is nothing wrong with "quiet"...

(Acrylic on canvass 36" x 18")

Grandpa, what's the name of this bug ...

Instead of tidying up my fly tying station, I decided to paint it! The grandkids love to feel the feathers and play with the "bugs" when they come over. They are always impressed to discover that I do know the names of all of the "bugs"! This is a "mini" size painting (Acrylic on canvass 8" x 10")

"... never forget what they did here ...

While visiting Kyle, Tiffany and Kaiden in March 2008, they took me to Gettysberg, PA. to visit this famous battlefield and memorial. I was overwhelmed with reverence for this place. We also visited the Linclon Memorial in Washington D.C. and read his Gettyberg address. His words, "... never forget what they did here ..." prompted this painting. I am grateful today for those who protect us and stand up for those who cannot. (Acrylic on canvass 24" x 18")

Czesky Krumlov

I had the opportunity to visit this quaint little town a couple of times with my daughter while visiting their family in the Czech Republic. It really is "fairytale-like" in its atmosphere and quaintness. (Acrylic on canvass 18" x 24")

"Why don't he write...?"

Only just a few years ago we waited anxiously for the mail to arrive in hopes that a letter from our missionary was there ... now we watch our email accounts! I painted this while Kyle was serving his mission as a reminder of those "good old days" of the anticipation of snail mail!

This was a fun study on how to create a look of old sheet metal and weathered wood. (Acrylic on canvass 18"x 24")

Free spirit ...

I love horses, but painting them is a real challenge. Here, I tried to capture the excitement and determination of the horse in a free gallop! This is part of my collection of paintings of the Old West and of Native America. (Acrylic on canvass 24" x 12")

Days gone by ...

Old buildings just get artistically better and better with age ... I wish that were true with some other things! (Acylic on hardboard 30" x 22")

I beheld a tree whose fruit was desirable to make one happy ...

This painting provided a wonderful lesson for me about how precious our families are to us. In Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life, he states that when he had tasted of the sweetness of the gospel covenant, he immediately began "searching", "beckoning" and "shouting with a loud voice" for his family to share it with him. I'm sure that each of us have similar tender feelings as we deal with our families and close friends.

I also had a meaningful experience pertaining to the image of the "strait and narrow path". It was very different from what I had previously envisioned. In the scriptures, the word "strait" is spelled like this, rather than "straight". The subtle difference was profound to me ... rather than a linear "straightness" as I had always before imagined, the words that describe this type of "strait" are more like these: strict, limited, close fitting, narrow, not easily manuvered, etc. So, this layout of the Tree of Life vision came into my mind as I pondered this passage of scripture. I truly enjoyed this painting experience ... hope you do, too! (Acrylic on canvass 36"x 24")

The Charm of Fishing ...

"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of something elusive yet obtainable ... a perpetual series of occasions for hope." (Acylic on canvass 24"x18")

Trout truly don't live in ugly places! (Acylic on canvass 36"x48")

My love of fly fishing and painting have collided many times through the years. These "therapy" scenes are of some of my "special" places where "a river runs through it"! (Acrylic on canvass 24"x18")

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon

One can see forever, it seems, in Color Country! I love to paint these types of scenes! (Acylic on hardboard 36"x 12")

Meet Ava Marie Harmon ... the latest addition to our Grandchild bouquet!

Ava Marie was born on March 1, 2008 to Nathan and Holly Harmon ... what a sweetheart she is! I told Nathan to get limbered up and be prepared to be wrapped around her little finger!

Vinny

Vinny is our little beagle dog. He came to us early from his mother (about 5 weeks old) who had turned on the litter and had torn him up pretty good ... one ear was nearly gone, the tip of his tail had been bitten off, etc. He was also the runt of the bunch. We named him after Vincent Van Gogh (the missing ear thing). The ear has grown out a bit and looks fairly normal now, but the name stuck!

He was about two years old when I painted him here. He just loves to climb on top of everything. He is sure a fun little guy, always willing to play and impart his affection ... he thinks that he is everybody's friend! Vinny has become a wonderful companion and friend to us and our grandchildren ... they all love Vinny. He just turned 7 years old in February. (Acrylic on canvass 18" x 24")

Some of my oldies, but goodies ...

This was a fun study in a monochromatic style painting. It hangs in our basement family room and emits a feeling of peace and solitude. (Acrylic on cavass 36"x 18")

This little snow scene was finalist in the 2002 Olympic Fine Arts Competition ... note the shadows in the snow on the roof. (Acrylic on canvass 20"x 16")


This snow scene represents our Pioneer Heritage and Olympic Spirit (the wagon wheels lay in the shape of the olympic rings) ... this piece was shown in the State-wide Olympic Fine Arts Competition. Acrylic on canvas (16"x 20").






I painted this scene of the Mormon row barn at the request of my close friend, Alan Russell. (Acrylic on canvass 36"x24")








Maureen and I visited her cousin in British Columbia and while there, walked along this misty forest trail ... just had to paint it! (Acrylic on canvass 18'x 24")



















I can actually smell the quakies when I look at this painting. I passed through a spot like this on my way to do some fly fishing one morning and just had to come home and paint it! (Acrylic on canvass 12"x 24")