Dad's baptism in the Big Hole on Crow Creek

Eighty-one years ago this summer, Dad was baptized in the Big Hole on Crow Creek in Star Valley, Wyoming. Though it was early June, he recalls that they still had to break a little ice away from the edges of the river before entering … brrrrr!

Last year, we took dad back home and enjoyed hearing his first hand accounts of his Star Valley childhood. Our grandchildren were glued to his every word as we visited cemetaries, homesteads, and the new LDS temple in Afton. Though the site of his baptism doesn't look the same anymore, he was able to describe it enough for me to attempt to put this sacred experience on canvas. I am sure it is not entirely accurate, but it portrays the event and secures its memory.

Release

Next to hooking and fighting a beautiful trout, I love a successful release! This is my version …

Yellowstone Falls

Years ago, we visited Yellowstone National Park with some of our family. This waterfall was made famous by Thomas Moran back in the 1800's. This is my version of it.

Royal Elk

I have wanted to paint this guy ever since I saw him in the wild many years ago. I finally mustered up the courage to try it …

Easton's locker

My grandson, Easton, has a room that is decorated in a sport's theme, His parents asked if I could paint an overlay to put on his closet door that looks like a gym locker. Here is my attempt at the request …

Cuteness in the grass

One of my students brought a photo of this little guy to our class as reference material for a springtime painting lesson. This is my version …

Hammy

We live in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah, and we often have mountain resident visitors in our yard. One little guy, Hammy (as the grandchildren call him), visits us each summer and gives our dog something to chase around.

Northern Lights

I have only seen the northern lights one time while fishing up in Alaska. They were spectacular! I have always wanted to paint them. When one of my students suggested that I teach them how to paint such a scene, I jumped at the chance. Very challenging and fun …

Narrow gauge

My grandson's love trains, so I find myself painting a new version of one every couple of years or so. Here is my latest version of an old steam engine chugging through a beautiful canyon in Autumn.

Tikal tryptech

I have painted several versions of the Majestic Tikal ruins of northern Guatemala. This one is actually on three canvas panels of one scene. This method of display is called a "tryptech", meaning three art panels placed together to depict one scene.

Michigan home

One of our friends commissioned me to paint this scene of his mother's home in Michigan where she grew up. They gave me a reference phot of the place as it is now, so I took some artistic license to create this version.

Mystic Misty Fjords

This is the final piece that I did for a Texas based investment firm. I took this scene from my own experience in the Misty Fjords National Park just outside of Ketchikan, Alaska. This place is just drop dead gorgeous!

Trail to sucess

This is the second of this body of work for this Texas based investment firm. It shows a weary hiker at a crossroads with a decision to make … to take the risky trail into the rocky and dangerous cliffs, or to follow the safer trail into the settlement below.

Portland Head

I had the opportunity to paint three large pieces for an investment firm in Texas. This one is of the famous Portland Head light house. This is a symbolic representation of the mission of this firm ... to guide people into safe harbor with their investments.

Right side of the Barrancoso

The last of my body of work entitled, "Jurassic". This spot is where I caught most of my 30" and bigger rainbow trout … over thirty in all. The largest was a whopping 34" and 24 lbs.!

Jurassic Splash

Another in my body of work called, "Jurassic". Again, dealing with the wind and waves defined our experience but also created the opportunity to get close enough to these giant fish to be able to have a chance to fool one.

Estrobel!

This scene defined our daily experience at the mouth of the Barrancoso River and Lake Estrobel. No words are necessary to describe the experience … this piece is worth 1000 words.

El Punto

There is a bay just north of the Jurassic Lake Lodge they call, "The Bay of Pigs". This scene is of the northerly most point of the bay. It shows the relentless winds and waves that defined our experience. The name of this bay was not an exaggeration … it did not disappoint!

Alan en el Poso

Another of my "Jurassic" paintings … this one of my good friend, Alan, in a section of the river they call, "El Poso" … a large bend in the Barrancoso River that was home to hundreds of giant trout. Here, Alan is hooked up again with another brute!

Jurassic surfing

I recently had the one in a lifetime opportunity to fly fish the legendary waters of Lake Estrobel and the Barrancoso River in southern Patagonia, Argentina. They did not over sell the experience! Though the constant wind and waves were a challenge to fly fish in, they were also what made this fishery so unique. We literally each caught "hundreds" of giant rainbow trout during our stay … 10 to 24 lbs! I couldn't wait to get how to put my experiences on canvas. This scene shows the schools of fish that literally rode the waves into shore to gorge on the scuds that were dislodged into the water column by the pounding waves.

Night lights

My friend, Louise Shaw, is a wonderful photographer who let me use one of her shots as reference for this painting of Salt Lake City's downtown at night. Fun to learn how to paint such a scene!

Jaron's Miracle

I was asked by my lifelong friend, Alan, to paint this scene of Jaron, his brother and dad of a recent fishing trip. Jaron just found out that he has a serious health issue that will threaten his life. Alan provided the opportunity for these three to take a day off and to leave the stress of Jaron's condition behind, and to focus on catching some really big fish. This scene is of the last, and biggest fish of the day. As it turns out, it was miraculous … the hooking, fighting and landing of this magnificent fish. The smiles on their faces is truly a blessing of relief from their trials and afflictions.

Christmas Glow

This is the painting I taught in my painting class as a Christmas scene. I think the students really liked learning how to create these effects.

Zion's Camp March

I was asked by Glenn Rawson, host of the "History of the Saints" TV show, to do a painting depicting the march of Zion's Camp back in the 1830's. Many of the early members of the LDS church were persecuted, driven, raped and murdered during the reign of terror in Governor Bogg's Missouri frontier. Zion's Camp was formed to give relief and protection to the thousand's of refugees seeking shelter, food and safety. I was humbled as I researched to be able to paint this scene by the dedication, sacrifice and mercy displayed by those who formed this little band.

Location, location, location ...

This is a little study I did with a Jerry Yarnell instructional painting book. It was a lesson on monochromatic painting. Very fun to do …

Scout Lake

This was our view looking to the south from the amphitheater at Camp Steiner, a Boy Scout Camp located in the High Uintah wilderness area in northeastern Utah. It is the highest BSA camp in the world at 10,400 feet above sea level. Each morning, I got up early to fish and to paint this scene before the boys rolled out of bed.