Santa Clara Historic Mural Dedicated

The new Santa Clara historic mural dedication was well-attended as community members and descendents of the early pioneer settlers gathered to see the grand unveiling. My close friend and fellow artist Julie Rogers spent many months working on the project from research to completion. The whole city of Santa Clara witnessed the creation of the mural as Julie did all the painting on site, using actual descendents as live models.

The mural idea was conceived by Kathleen Nielson who shared her thoughts on the event, and afterward Julie explained the processes used and told about the choice experiences she had and the bonds created while painting the mural. I feel a closeness as well as I was part of the selection committee and knew Julie's talent and spirit would be perfect for this project.

New Visions Art Show Gets Underway

A number of Gallery artists were on hand for the opening of the New Visions of Art show at the Santa Clara Town Hall this morning. The show continues tomorrow 10am to 8pm.


My art display was in the middle of the hall adjacent to the sculpture display of well-known artist L'Deane Trueblood. In addition to my original paintings I also displayed the new art books I'm featured in, and showed my travel sketchbooks.



Jane Juber (left) owner of The Mission Gallery with sculptor Annette Everett.



Annette Everett demonstrates sculpting a bust in clay to Santa Clara school children.



Artist Kieth Bond talks to art collectors in front of his oil paintings.

2nd Annual New Visions Group Art Show at Santa Clara Town Hall

Jane Juber and the Mission Gallery will host a special two-day art exhibit Friday and Saturday at the Santa Clara Town Hall. I will have about 12 paintings on display. A number of other gallery artists will be present for the show, which will feature over 100 pieces on exhibit. The show is scheduled to coincide with the dedication of the new Town Hall mural completed by Julie Rogers. Her painting depicts the history of Santa Clara and its founding pioneer families. We were out there today as Julie put the finishing touches on the mural in preparation for the dedication ceremony Friday at 11am.



Above: Artist Julie Rogers puts the finishing touches on her historic mural at the Santa Clara Town Hall.

New Art Book Now in Stock "Painters of Utah's Canyons and Deserts"

I picked up a couple of cases of the new book from Gibbs Smith, "Painters of Utah's Canyons and Deserts" at Donna Poulton's book signing last week in Springdale.

This is one big hefty art book, packed with tons of information and literally hundreds of high quality images. If you want to purchase a book, I have them in the gallery at 20% off the regular price of $75.00.

Dr. Poulton, assistant Curator of Utah and Western Art at the University of Utah Museum of Fine Arts and Vern Swanson, director of the Springville Museum of Art teamed up to author this magnificent book which traces the history of landscape painting in the Utah area from the 1800's to the present.

I am fortunate to be listed on page 214 among the best known landscape artists of the area, and my painting "Wild and Free" from the Springville Museum of Art permanent collection is featured on page 228.

Book Review: "Painters of Utah's Canyons and Deserts" Top Art Book Pick of 2009
Order now "Painters of Utah's Canyons and Deserts"

Sketchbook Drawings of Zion from the Thomas Moran Paint Out

Tonight at our Watercolor Society meeting I showed my sketchbook from the "Footsteps of Thomas Moran" paint-out. It reminded me that I had not posted many of the drawings on the blog. So here goes:

This was a pencil study of an old snag in East Zion. I decided to throw in a few watercolor washes in the style of Thomas Moran.

I was really looking for a place to duck into the shade one afternoon when I sketched this image of the Pulpit and the Altar along the river near Sinawava.

Thomas Moran had sketched from this vantage point where the Zion Visitor's Center now stands. However I chose to sketch the West Wall showing the back of The Streaked Wall, the Beehives, and part of the Sentinel.

I did this study of a tree along the Virgin River near Big Bend. I was using the technique of drawing negative shapes to create the branches and foliage.

The Temple of Sinawava rises abruptly on the East wall behind the entrance to the Zion Narrows Trail. You have to look practically straight up just to sketch it. In the photo below I am holding my sketchbook high to check my drawing.

Thomas Moran Plein Air Show Ends with Sales

I was pleased to sell my paintings at all four venues in connection with the "In The Footsteps of Thomas Moran" plein air paint out. As the week-long event drew to a close I feel blessed that some wonderful collectors selected my paintings to add to their collections.

Left: My feature painting "Virgin Beauty in Zion" was purchased by Ann Williams.


Ann Williams purchased my big studio painting "Virgin Beauty in Zion" at the Bingham Gallery show. Ann and her husband Bob were struck by the painting which had premier billing at the exhibit, but left without buying it. According to Ann, she just couldn't live without it so they quickly returned to the gallery and took it home with them.



Zion National Park Superintendent Jock Whitworth bought my plein air painting of Angel's Landing at the Z-Arts Wet Paint auction held at the Zion Lodge on Saturday evening. I am happy to call Jock a personal friend and am so pleased he chose to purchase one of my original paintings.



My painting "Watchman in Autumn" on display with Thomas Moran's sketchbook at the Zion Human History Museum gallery was purchased by The Polanzke's, park visitors and art collectors from Pennsylvania.



Lloyd and Nina Laycook from Kanab chose my painting "Emerald Falls" from the wet-paint sale and exhibit Friday night at the Maynard Dixon studio show. This event featured all the paintings created by the plein air invitational artists and was hosted by Paul and Susan Bingham and the Thunderbird Foundation.The exhibit and sale continues through May 26, 2009.

Zion Canyon Open Studio Tour

Running concurrently with the "Footsteps of Moran" show was the Z-Arts Zion Canyon Open Studio and Gallery Tour. During the day Saturday we had a chance to visit many of the locations and see the artists at work.

We started with a visit to the Worthington Gallery where art scholar and author Donna Poulton (below) was signing copies of her new book "painters of Utah's Canyons and Deserts" which was co-authored with Vern Swanson. I am fortunate to be included in the book, and she was gracious to sign my copy. My painting "Wild and Free" from the permanent collection of the Springville Museum of Art is in the book.



While there we bought a couple of Greg's pots (left) and watched Kate Starling (below) at work on a Zion painting.


We enjoyed visiting several artist homes and studios. The view from many of the studios was breathtaking in itself. What a fantastic place for artists to live and work.




Royden Card's studio in Virgin has an incredible view of the desert mesas. He showed us around and we bought a woodcut print of Zion we had our eye on for awhile.

Marilyn Alltucker's home and studio sits high on a rocky ridge with Zion views to die for.

Anne Weiler-Brown was part of the plein air paint out and helped organize the events.

Barbara Ellard does unique collage and paper designs.

Nellie tries her hand at weaving on the loom of Aleen McGuire. We bought Aleen's weaving at the art auction.

In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran - Day 5 Plein Air Art Exhibit at Maynard Dixon Studio

Tonight was the first time we got to see all the plein air paintings in one place. It was so exciting to see all the artwork framed and hanging in the log studio on Maynard Dixon's former property at Mount Carmel. Each artist could hang up to five pieces, so the show was a terrific body of work from the week-long event.


I was pleased that one of my paintings, "Emerald Falls" was purchased by collectors Nina and Lloyd Laycook of Kanab.


Artist Charles Muench hanging one of his plein air paintings in the exhibit. His suite of paintings was fantastic.

At the Bingham Gallery my big painting "Virgin Beauty in Zion" was hung on the main wall with the show title "In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran" above it. I was very honored to have received that recognition. The work in that exhibit is outstanding.


The former Maynard Dixon home, studio, and grounds is operated by the non-profit Thunderbird Foundation, which is run by Paul and Susan Bingham. Many art classes and events are conducted here including special camps for handicapped youth.

In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran - Day 5

We took the morning off to frame up our five paintings for the Bingham Gallery Show tonight at the Maynard Dixon Studio. I feel really good about the plein air paintings - especially after Nellie's craftmanship in framing them. Here's a photo of me with the five pieces.



I photographed some of the sketchbook studies I did this week. Here's a few of them:



Above: The Sentinel and Beehives drawing. Left: The Spearhead and Cathedral Mountain.

In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran - Day 4

This was the final day of painting. Each artist is to have 5 paintings ready for the Bingham Gallery show tomorrow and one for the Zion Lodge Auction on Saturday. I've completed seven paintings, but threw one out, so I'm in good shape. Nellie started framing this morning so we'll be ready to go.

I had Nellie drop me of halfway between Court of the Patriarchs and the Lodge, and I set up along the Virgin River where a great view of Angel's Landing appeared before me framed by an old gnarly Cottonwood tree. I worked there for a couple of hours and came up with a pretty good painting.

After meeting up with Nellie for lunch I set out again on a sketching trip. I wanted to at least sketch at all of the locations in Moran's sketchbook, if not paint there. I worked at Big Bend where the wind was howling down canyon. I sketched The Great White Throne followed by the other end of Big Bend looking West. Then I took the shuttle to the Patriarchs and sketched The Spearhead and Cathedral Mountain. Maybe tomorrow I'll have time shoot and post some of the sketches I've been working on.

My buddy Donal Jolley at work on a painting of Angels Landing from the Zion Lodge. He drew a crowd as he worked on his watercolor. Donal was actually born in Zion, as his dad was the first head ranger here.

We refreshed ourselves with an ice cream cone from the deli in Springdale and visited the Worthington Gallery where Kate Starling exhibits her work. Then we joined the other artists for a reception and light dinner at the Switchback Restaurant. I had the brilliant idea to get all of the participating artists to sign a page in my sketchbook which they all did.