|
|
|
Summer 2004
|
|
• A Place Apart will be on display as part of the Deseret Morning News Landscape Art Exhibition at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., July 19-24, 2004. The painting is available for purchase at the exhibit.
|
|
• Finally! Some site updates. I have added new images to the Paintings and Illustration galleries, as well as the Portraits, Digital Art, and Graphic Design galleries.
|
|
• I went to St. Augustine , Florida with Heidi and our kids during June, and then spent a few days down in Moab, Utah with the Varsity and Venture Scouts. We floated the Colorado River on rafts the first day, then hiked to Delicate Arch, sketched pictures of it, and went swimming at a pool in Moab the second day. At night we camped near Warner Lake high in the Manti-La Salle mountains. It was a gorgeous camp site in a rich, green grove of aspens,10-15 degrees cooler than Moab on the valley floor. Hopefully I can find time to make a good painting from the reference I collected on the trip. We're planning a Grand Tetons three-day camp and hike with the scouts in Wyoming, and then I'll be wave-running at Bear Lake with my family in August.
|
|
• I am not currently scheduled to teach any classes at BYU during Fall semester 2004.
|
|
|
|
Spring 2004
|
|
• I submitted three designs to the U.S. Mint for the 2005 Lewis and Clark commemorative nickel, two reverse designs and one obverse. None of my submissions were accepted by the committees, but I thoroghly enjoyed the work and received payment according to the program specifications.
|
|
• I did a couple of new portraits (short oil sketches) and some figure drawings that I plan to post online soon. I'm also trying to find time to create a new gallery of my figure drawings.
|
|
• I've been doing some concept and pre-visualization artwork (digital paintings) for Michael Lee Design, some for a planned theme park in a tropical location and some for a Native American cultural center. The work is all confidential, so I can't post any of it on the site in the near future.
|
|
|
|
Winter 2004
|
|
• I was selected to be part of the United States Mint's "Artistic Infusion Program" to design new coins and medals. What a great honor--one I certainly don't feel I have earned. All the artists selected were brought to Philadelphia for a tour of the Mint and a two-day orientation to the program. It was an amazing moment for me and a lot of fun to meet the diversely talented artists in the program, from college students to seasoned professionals--even a few retirees. The Mint has never done anything quite like this before, and there is a great feeling among the group that we are part of something historic. I expect to see some exciting new coin designs in the next few years.
|
|
• I finished two illustrations in oil that will be published in the August and September 2004 issues of the New Era and Liahona magazines. The first is for an article about a young man from Brazil who was called to serve a mission in Texas. The second piece accompanies an article by Dallin H. Oaks, an Apostle in the Church and former Justice of the Utah State Supreme Court. He relates a spiritual experience his grandmother had which saved her life and two small children who were in her care. My daughter, Audrey, and my nephew, Jordan, posed as models for the children in the piece.
|
|
• I finished what is quite likely the largest painting I have ever done. Called "Tree of Life," it is a 36 x 54" landscape in oils, depicting a large, wild pear tree in a field with a couple enjoying the shade. It was a private commission that covered the good part of a year from concept to completion. Prints are available for order through the web site, and if there is sufficient interest, I will consider making limited editions or giclee reproductions available. Please contact me for more information.
|
|
• I was not asked to teach the Life Drawing class at BYU this winter, which has, thankfully, allowed more time to complete the projects that have come my way recently. I can tell that the economy is starting to pick up, because my phone started ringing almost as soon as the New Year's decorations were cleaned up. So much for taking some time to relax!
|
|
|
|
|
