Thievery!

My latest addition to my Alaska Collection ... "Bear Thievery"! Fly fishing for Coho is an incredible experience! When one comes face to face with the top of the food chain, however, one is smart to yield! I am just glad I had a fish to offer this big guy! Notice my stringer still hanging out of the salmon's mouth! Acrylic on canvas 20"x20".

Alaska Browns

Each time I have had the opportunity to visit Alaska, I have had some interaction with these incredible critters. This painting adds to my Alaska collection ... eagles, bear, salmon, beautiful vistas.

Alaska and Eagles

Each time I have the opportunity to go to Alaska, I marvel at the majesty of the eagles we see. The fierceness of their eyes and their shear size never get old to me. I have had the opportunity to paint many eagles over the years, but this piece was especially meaningful to me. 

To you is the song ...

As our choir has been preparing to sing “Carol of Joy” by Eileen Barry this year, I have been touched by her lyrics. At first, all I of my concentration was on learning the music, so I didn’t catch the beautiful message.

While rehearsing the other day, these words really sunk deep into my heart:

“Oh fearful world, to you is the song--
“Peace with your God, and pardon for wrong!
“Tidings for sinners, burdened and bound--
“A carol of joy!
“A Saviour is found!”

"Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes!
"Thrill to the chorus filling the skies!
"Look up sad hearted--witness God's love!
"Join in the carol swelling above!"

Along with all of the great things about mortality, it also brings some bad news into our lives … we will all die, and we will all struggle with weakness and sin. The good news that the angel brought on that incredible night in Bethlehem so long ago was that, “… unto you (each of us) is born this day in the city of David a Savior (not just a baby) who is Christ the Lord”. And He can fix both parts of the bad news!

In my mind’s eye, I could see the heavens opened with choirs of angels singing praises while the shepherds watched their flocks by night. I had been wondering what our Christmas card would be this year … I didn’t wonder anymore! Hope you enjoy this painting and I hope the message of hope and peace permeates your homes this Christmas season with a “Carol of Joy”!

Winter Getaway

One of my work associates commisioned me to do a painting of their family cabin a few months ago. I had a lot of fun with the composition and late afternoon lighting. There's just something about mountain snow and cozy cabins that appeal to me. Original is acrylic on canvas 30"x20".

Pheasant Tales ...

One of my friends asked if I had ever before painted pheasants ... I hadn't but told him I would give it a try! I had fun researching these beautiful birds and learned a lot learning how to paint them!

Lilly Pads

This little piece was a study I did with Jerry Yarnell ... way out of my normal subject range.

Meet Hannah Harmon ... pure sugar!!

Hannah is grandchild #23 for Maurren and I ... she is just a sweet as she is beautiful! Adam and Aubrey sure have the formula down for beautiful little girls!

Meet Boston Kirt Harmon

Boston was born Sept 24, 2011 to Kyle and Tiffany, their third son. Kaiden and Easton sure are proud of their little brother! He makes grandchild #22 for Maureen and I ... whew, they are really adding up! Another little buddy to take fishing with me someday! My dad has always claimed that the reason grandchildren and grandparents share such a special bond is that they share a common enemy! Enjoy ...

Birds of Summer

This is a four piece set of paintings depicting the beautiful little birds we see in our yard each summer. Because we literally live in the shadows of the Wasatch Mountains we see Mountain Blue Birds in our yard all the time. We also have had a nesting pair of Robins for the past several years that call our yard home. And the little wrens, what can I say ... they are active and have quite the attitude (as evidenced by their tails!). I had a blast learning how to paint these beautiful birds.

After President Uchtdorf's address at the last Women's Conference about "Forget Me Nots" I just had to put some in these scenes since I was painting them concurrently with the conference! Hope you enjoy them ... they are all acrylic on 12"x12" stretched canvas.

Tuscan Steps II

This is a little Tuscan piece that I just completed as a study with Jerry Yarnell. I have enjoyed painting many scenes of the Tuscany area which are all part of my body of work entitled, " Colors of Tuscany". In fact, I recently completed a similar scene of a Villa Stairway in that group of paintings. I will add this one to that collection. I had fun learning some new techniques from Jerry while painting this subject. Hope you enjoy it, too!

More Waterfalls ...

These are the latest additions to my body of work entitled "Waterfalls". Lower Calf Creek Falls is located in southern Utah's slick rock desert, while Mesa Falls is on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River just south of the Island Park area of northeastern Idaho. I believe it is as spectacular as anything in a national park.

Autumn Fly Fishing

I believe that my favorite month of the year is September ... for may reasons, but one of the defining ones for me is the great fly fishing the season affords! This little piece is another one of my fly fishing themed paintings. Ah, aqua therapy!

Irish Pride

I started this piece a couple of years ago when Maureen and I visited Ireland on a family history research trip. I was so impressed the the vast shades of green along the country side. After completing the under painting, I tucked it away and kinda forgot about it! As I was sorting through my studio the other day, I ran onto it and decided to finally finish it.

New Classes for Beginning Painters @ Michael's

Michael's Arts and Crafts in Layton and Bountiful are now offering classes for beginning painters in their Layton and Bountiful stores, and have asked me to be their instructor. We have enjoyed several sessions now and have had a lot of fun so far! Here are the paintings we have done in our first four class sessions. The first is a simple landscape; the second is a scene of wild flowers; the third is a seasonal still life of pumpkins; and the last one is a little seascape with a lighthouse. I invite all to who think they might like to learn how to paint to come and join the fun!

Tuscan Steps

This is the latest addition to my "Colors of Tuscany" body of work. I saw a photograph of a some quaint little villas sometime ago. This composition is of the stair portion of one of the villas. I actually created some texture on the canvas with some heavy gesso and a bristle brush prior to applying any paint. I was hoping to be able to better depict the texture of the hand-applied stucco through this method ... a total experiment to be sure! I was pleasantly surprised, being able to make the stucco actually look like the real thing! I guess an old dog can be taught a new trick from time to time! Enjoy ...

Paulilne Creek Falls

This is another beautiful place in Oregon known as Pauline Creek Falls. As I have added to my body of work on waterfalls during the past few months, I have really enjoyed learning how to paint these incredible icons of nature! Through this experience, I have learned a little more each time how to create the depth and mist associated with moving and falling water ... very fulfilling! Acrylic on canvas 18" x 18"

Paris Rain

I recently had a request to do a black and white painting of Paris or France for one of my collectors. I had never painted in black and white before, so I decided to do a "test run" before attempting her commission.

In fact, I don't even use the color "black" from a tube on my palette at all ... I mix my darker colors in harmony with each painting to achieve a black-like effect. This way, I don't get just a "dead color" from a tube, but "living" color that compliments each painting's color scheme.

So, I mixed up a pile of my "black" and just added white gesso to the edges of this pile as I went along to create the different values needed for the piece. I discovered that extreme monochromatic paintings are more difficult than I first imagined! It was a very fun project, however, and I learned a lot!



Hope you enjoy it as well! Acrylic on canvas 12" x 24"

Lago di Como

Lake Como is widely regarded as being one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, renown for its breath-taking scenery. It has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people for centuries, and is today, a very popular tourist attraction. It is not far from Milano, and someday Maureen and I hope to be able to visit in person, but for now I just know it from photos. This is an impressionistic view of the town of Como from the lake. Hope you enjoy it! Acrylic on canvas 24" x 18" gallery wrapped.

Hog Wallow above the Bridge rapid on the Green River

If you haven't had the opportunity to experience the grandeur and beauty of the Green River gorge just below the Flaming Gorge Dam in northeastern Utah, you need to add it to your bucket list of things to do! It is simply drop-dead gorgeous! When we fish the river from a drift boat, I usually get so concentrated on watching my fly on the water, that I have to continually remind myself to look up and take in all the beauties of creation that abound there. This scene is one of my favorite places to fish and to stop for lunch along the way. The unique turquoise-greenish color of the river water and the contrasting red cliffs above are breath-taking to say the least! Acrylic on canvas (gallery wrapped) (30" x 30")

Tuscan Landscape

I continue to add to my body of work entitled "Colors of Tuscany". This is my latest. It is a simple impressionistic view of a typical landscape one might see there. Acrylic on canvas (30" x 15")

Mustang Ridge

When we go to fly fish the Green River near Dutch John, Utah, we often go by way of Mustang Ridge along the East Flaming Gorge highway. Nearly every trip along this stretch we see the wild mustangs from which this area gets its name. For me, the horse is one of the most difficult animals to paint. However, I still try! I love the freedom and wild spirit that these mustangs symbolize. Acrylic on canvas (24" x 18") 

Jake

Jake is a handsome golden retreiver and our neighbor. His owner, our dear friend, asked if I would paint this scene of Jake on their dock at their family cabin in Island Park as a gift for her husband on Fathers' Day. This was a really fun project for me ... thanks, Stacie, for the opportunity! Jake is such a good looking dog, I hope I captured his likeness and personality! Acylic on gallery wrapped canvas 14"x11".

Tuscan Light

The soft evening light of Tuscany creates beautiful opportunities for fabulous lighting conditions. The softness of the color palette along with the angle of the sun define this little piece. A fairly simple painting, yet it offers depth and detail in an impressionistic approach. Acrylic on canvas 18"x24"

Riding Fence

As a cowboy, my dad learned the value of hard work. One of the grueling chores he had to endure was "riding fence" ... seemingly endless miles of checking and maintaining the perimeter fence line so that live stock would not wander away. This is my tribute to dad's work ethic! Happy Father's Day, Dad! Another view of the Teton Range to add to my collection! Acrylic on canvas 24"x18"

Mountain Meadow Tranquility

The Tetons are perhaps the most recognizable mountains in the lower 48 and have been the subject of much art. I, too, have painted them several times ... each one so different from the others.

Justin's grandpa passed away a couple of weeks ago and his funeral service program had a scene similar to this on the front cover. I wanted to paint something as a tribute for Justin and thought this would be an appropriate composition. I really tried to portray the peace and majesty of this special place. Acrylic on canvas 18" x 24".

Rain on the High Plains

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to paint a scene depicting the Martin's Cove area of Wyoming as a tribute to one of my collegues' mother who was serving a church mission there. I have wanted to do a follow up to that piece and have been studying and practicing how to paint rainy, dreary scenes. In this little piece, I am trying to convey the sacrifice and shear courage and determination it took for these hearty pioneers to risk their lives and exercise their faith to relocate in the west. Acrylic on canvas 18" x18"

Evening on the Links

I'm not much of a golfer, but I do enjoy the occasional outing. I have painted several commissioned golf scenes in the past and really enjoyed the color palette that I was able to use. The deep greens and vivid light make this scene jump right off of the canvas. I tried to keep it in a complementary scheme to accentuate the contrasting light conditions and the peaceful nature of an evening round of golf. Acrylic on canvas (24" x 18") 

Delicate Light

The slick rock sandstone formations of Southern Utah are strangely spectacular, even hard to believe unless you have actually seen them with your own eyes! Delicate Arch has been photographed and painted perhaps more than any other Utah icon. I have always wanted to paint this truly magnificent formation and finally had the courage to try! When I saw it in person, the sun was low on the horizon, the cast shadows were long and the reflected light was intense ... I tried to capture such a feeling in this piece. Acrylic on canvas (36" x 24")

Winter Light

I love the "low" light of winter. Though it brings snow and dreariness to the landscape, the long, cold shadows are very intriguing to me. Winter fly fishing, for me, is peaceful and quiet. I can usually find a place to fish without too much trouble (not too many other anglers out there!), and the fish are usually very willing to play! The deep blue-violet shadows are underwritten by the intensely contrasting evening light in this painting. Acrylic on canvas (30" x 22")

Milford Sound

I think Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful places on our planet! Maureen and I had the opportunity to visit here during our trip to New Zealand last year. The scenery is just spectacular! At first I was a little hesitant to try to paint such a place because I wasn't sure if I could do it justice. I actually tried to paint it soon after we returned home but I did not like how it turned out, so that iteration is now just a layer of paint under one of my other paintings! I learned a bunch from that first try, however, and was finally satisfied with the way this one turned out.

We were able to fly out of this gorge in a helicopter all the way back to Queenstown. It took us 4 hours to get there by bus but only 30 minutes back via helicopter. The wind was blowing, it was raining (even snowing at altitude) which only added to the excitement of the ride. I have to say that was the highlight of our trip for me ... indescribable beauty! Hope you all get to go there someday! Acrylic on canvas (24" x 20")

Upper Provo River Falls

My dad and I spent a lot of time hiking and fishing the lakes and streams of the High Uintah Mountains here in Utah. This waterfall is near the head waters of the Provo River, one of our Blue Ribbon Trout fisheries in the state. This was one of the important way points along our route ... whenever we passed the turn off to this waterfall, I knew we were getting close to our alpine adventure! This piece is part of my Waterfalls Collection. Acrylic on canvas (18" x 24")

Tuscan Gates

This little piece is another installment to my "Colors of Tuscany" body of work. It is a "mini" (only 12" x 12") but was almost as challenging as my larger paintings. I truly love the color palette of that region of the world ... so soft, so inviting. Hope you enjoy it! Acrylic on canvas (12" x 12")

Cornu's Haven

I recently met some new friends and discovered that we were actually in Queenstown, New Zealand last year at the same time, in the same hotel, just a couple of rooms away from each other! Michael and Sarah own a wonderful property along the Upper Weber River here in the Wasatch Back Mountains of Utah and have recently invited me to fish that stretch of river a couple of times. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago, Michael and I ran across some fresh mountain lion tracks in the snow right in this very spot ... made me be a little extra alert that day!

In honor of their kindness and generosity, I painted this little piece for their home. Since I love the fall of the year, I painted it all lit up in autumn colors. I really wanted to convey the softness and peaceful nature of the experience there. Thank you, Michael and Sarah! Acrylic on canvas (gallery wrapped) 24" x 18"

Magpies

When my wife first moved to Utah she Magpies saw for the first time and thought they were such beautiful birds ... that is until she got you know them better! They really are beautiful in their appearance, but their attitudes and behavior really confirm the phrase ... their beauty is only skin (feather) deep!

While fly fishing the Weber River last spring, these two characters were my companions for nearly an hour. They had found an old deer carcass and one of them had scrounged up a tiny morsel for himself. Instead of doing the same, the other guy spent the next hour trying to steal it from the first! It was hilarious to watch them fight over such a tiny morsel of food! I am certain that there was more where that had come from!

The thief (the have not) would land several feet away on the fence wire, then hop toward the feeding bird (the have). When it got too close for comfort, the "have" would squawk and flap its wings, then fly a little ways off to continue feeding. The whole scene would then replay itself over and over until the morsel was finally stolen. The roles would then be reversed, but the script was the same.

I vowed to paint them someday ... someday finally came! They are really beautiful birds to paint ... hope I captured their personality as well! Enjoy ...

Acrylic on canvas (24" x 18")

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls, located in Provo Canyon, is perhaps the most famous of the waterfalls in Utah. It is a very tall waterfall, although from this view it does not appear so. This vantage point is taken from the Provo River ... thought there might be a big Brown Trout lurking in the pool below the falls!

This is the latest in my body of work about waterfalls. It has been a blast learning how to paint these spectacular icons in nature. Hope you enjoy them, too! Acrylic on canvas (20" x 28")

Multnomah Falls

My eldest son and his family love to visit this area in Oregon. This is one of the most recognizable water falls in the west, Multnomah Falls, near Portland and the Columbia River. They sent me several photos of the falls when they returned from their trip. They thought I my like to paint it ... imagine that!

I have been working on a body of work about waterfalls that have special meaning to members of our family. After studying this beautiful falls, I finally settled on this composition. I hope to be able to see it in person someday, but for now, this will have to do! Acrylic on canvas (18" x 24")

Sentinels

My company is building a beautiful custom home in the Red Ledges community in the east Heber Valley. The other day, our marketing director, Jon LeFrandt, took a photo of this majestic bald eagle near our lot. He shared it with our team as the latest visitor to Red Ledges! When I uploaded it to my laptop, I noticed a second eagle across the way atop the tree on the opposite cliffs ... probably the mate of the subject eagle. I just couldn't resist painting this scene! It is a rare site, indeed, to see a pair of bald eagles so up close and personal around here. They truly are majestic birds! Acrylic on canvas (30" x 24")

The Uintah Experience

Growing up in Utah provided me many different types of "nature" opportunities. Within a couple of hours in any direction, we have the gamete of venues ... from high mountain alpine to arid desert; from warm water bass to high mountain trout.

One of my favorite memories from my youth was the many high Uintah experiences my dad and I shared. I have painted several scenes of the Lakes of the High Uintahs over the years ... here is the latest. When I paint scenes like this, I can still smell the trees, and feel the crisp mountain air. I almost can't wait for my fly to "alight" upon the water! Acrylic on canvas (18" x 24")