Amy's Art

Renoir

2012-02-02T22:08:00.002-07:00

Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-02-02T22:07:00.002-07:00

Lighting Hope on Hanukkah

2012-02-02T22:06:00.002-07:00

Joy and Dixie

2011-11-21T20:55:00.003-07:00

This story is about two women, Joy and Dixie, who were neighbors and friends for 50 years. They helped each other through many hard times, and celebrated good times together. Joy became terminally ill, and was too weak to do much other than stay in bed. Even though Dixie was in poor health as well, and was taking care of a sick husband, Dixie planted a beautiful flower garden for Joy to see out her bedroom window. After Joy died, the neighbors learned that Dixie had let her backyard go in order to keep up the beautiful front flower garden for Dixie.

I have wonderful neighbors named Josephine and Lyla who were generous with their time and let me photograph them for this painting. Thankfully, both are still healthy and able to plant and work in their flower gardens!

Notes During a Concert

2011-11-21T20:54:00.005-07:00

I got to paint my mom in this one! Thank you also to my cousins who also posed on the spur of the moment at their sisters' baby shower. (Yes, two sisters--I punctuated correctly.) I had a very short deadline, and it was divine planning, I'm sure, that placed me at a shower with all my models available that day.

The story is that a grandma of two teenage girls invited them to a choir concert. She wanted them to experience some fine music with her. As she was moved to tears, she looked over at her granddaughters, and was appalled to see that they were writing notes! Later, she learned that they were writing a letter to their brother back home, sharing how moving and wonderful the concert was, and how much they were enjoying it. The message is that we should not judge others too quickly, or jump to a wrong conclusion, but we should think the best of others.

Turtle on a Fence

2011-11-21T20:54:00.004-07:00

Alex Haley, author of the book Roots, had a painting on his wall of a turtle on a fencepost. When people praised him for his accomplishments, he would say, "I am like that turtle. He didn't get where he is without help."

It was a little tricky to paint this one, since my favorite position of Haley was in black and white, so I had to imagine the color. I still need a lot of practice painting dark skin.

Jane Eyre

2011-11-21T20:52:00.003-07:00

I was asked to illustrate the scene from Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre where Helen has just been flogged on the neck, yet she can still teach Jane about the power of forgiveness. I had never read Jane Eyre, so this was another learning opportunity for me.

I wanted this to be an impressive and moving piece, especially since it would have many more viewers than usual--it was shown before the October LDS General Conference. But the scene was a very undramatic one by nature. The girls lived in a boarding school, and everything there was very plain by design--the walls, their clothes, even their hair. I decided the only thing I truly had to work with was the lighting. So I chose to pose Helen in front of the fireplace so she and Jane would be backlit, and play with a bit of chiaroscuro. Unfortunately, watercolor is very hard to darken, so once I did my best with the paint on paper, I had to employ a digital darkening and contrast as well. Therefore, the original painting is not as impressive as this version.

Thank you to sisters Katrina and Rachel for modeling. You've become some of my good friends since you moved in, and I've been hoping for a painting in which I could use both of you, so here it is! Hope you like it!

Ben Franklin's Whistle

2011-11-21T20:51:00.001-07:00

When Benjamin Franklin was a boy, he traded all his money for a wooden whistle. He was excited and pleased with his purchase, until he brought it home and learned from his siblings that it was worth much less than what he had paid. Any time since then, he used the term "paid too much for his whistle" any time someone was spending their time, money, or effort on something that was worthless. Are we paying too much for our whistle?

Thank you Sage and Carson for playing dress-up and posing for my pictures, and for Anya, who always comes through with awesome costumes!

Facing Rough and Rocky Roads

2011-11-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

Lloyd Newell said, "If our own road ever seems to fit this description, we can take inspiration from the spirit of the pioneers. British pioneer Patience Loader described finding such inspiration on a frigid morning after a snowy night, when her mother asked Patience and her sisters to get up and start a fire. They each responded that they couldn’t—that it was too cold and they didn’t feel well."

"Mother said, ‘Come, girls. This will not do. I believe I will have to dance [for] you and try to make you feel better.’ Poor, dear mother, she started to sing and dance [for] us, and she slipped down as the snow was frozen. In a moment we were all up to help [her,] for we were afraid she was hurt. She laughed and said, ‘I thought I could soon make you all jump up if I danced [for] you.’ … She said that she was afraid her girls were going to … get discouraged, and … that would never do.”2

I was excited to paint this, since I had painted Patience Loader before. She was one of the girls helping her father pull the handcart in a Pioneer Day painting I did in 2009. So I asked the same family if I could photograph them again, and they were happy to help. Thank you Heather, Erica and Nikki, and especially Tanya for dressing up and dancing, even though you felt silly!

Audrey's Parade

2011-07-16T15:08:00.001-06:00

For "Loyalty to Liberty" on July 3, 2011

This was for a Fourth of July broadcast. This little girl was asking her father questions about patriotism and their country while waiting for the hometown parade. Unfortunately, as I was painting this, I realized I hadn't planned on painting any other people on the sidewalks--only Audrey and her dad Brian! Whoops! That would have been quite a boring town--and why would a whole parade come for just two people anyway? So I drew and painted all the rest of the neighborhood watchers, then Photoshopped them into the final painting. I hope you can't tell.

Henry David Thoreau

2011-07-16T15:05:00.001-06:00

From "Finding Joy in the Journey" on May 22, 2011

Thank you Scott for posing for me, even after you sold your house and had moved out! And thank you Ruth for allowing me to photograph your new home's previous owner in his old bedroom!

Over Bananas

2011-07-03T09:29:00.002-06:00

There is a Polynesian fable, one which is more violent than is here related. A monkey and a turtle were friends. One day Monkey saw a banana stalk floating down the river. He wanted the bananas but couldn't swim, so he suggested to Turtle that he retrieve it, and they'd split it and plant their parts.

From "The Fruits of Selflessness" on April 17, 2011

Once Turtle brought the banana stalk back, however, treacherous Monkey took the top half of the stalk, with all the bananas, and ran off. But Turtle knew that his part had the roots, so it would grow into more banana stalks over and over, while Monkey's bananas would be the last, and would never grow anymore again.

I like using this children's book, storytelling style of illustration, so it was a fun opportunity. Plus, I got to learn about how bananas grow!

Elder Wirthlin

2011-07-03T09:23:00.001-06:00

Joseph B. Wirthlin said,

"Over the course of my years, I have met thousands of people. I have dined with the prosperous as well as the poverty-stricken. I have conversed with the mighty and with the meek. I have walked with the famous and the feeble. I have run with outstanding athletes and those who are not athletically inclined.

(read from right to left)

One thing I can tell you with certainty is this: You cannot predict happiness by the amount of money, fame, or power a person has. External conditions do not necessarily make a person happy… The fact is that the external things so valued by the world are often the cause of a great deal of misery in the world. Those who live in thanksgiving daily, however, are usually among the world’s happiest people. And they make others happy as well."

(read from left to right)

The Warden

2011-07-03T09:19:00.000-06:00

I was asked to illustrate a story about a warden of San Quentin, a high-security prison in California. The prisoners were not treated well before he arrived, and he made major changes and improved their way of life. They respected him so much for it that he could walk among them, as he is doing here in the yard.

To find my men and yard to paint, I found the old Humphrey Bogart black and white film "San Quentin" on DVD. Not too bad, except Bogart dies in the end doing the right thing. I also found some old war images of soldiers and prisoners to use. So if you recognize anyone in this picture, it's probably coincidence.

We Need Others

2011-07-03T09:11:00.000-06:00

This was an interesting experiment in painting that we'd never tried before. The story is about a man who gets sick, but he wants to keep it to himself, so only his wife knows. But slowly, friends, home teachers, visiting teachers, neighbors, and family learn about it, and help him by bringing food, praying for him, etc.

What happened on the TV screen was, they showed the first painting, then the husband's and wife's expressions changed and people started fading into the scene one at a time, until you ended up with the second painting. It looked like magic!

It was very time consuming on our end, though. I had to paint both paintings, trying to get the backgrounds identical, which is impossible, and then I learned it was also unnecessary, since we painstakingly masked them completely out of their old background anyway. In the end, I learned a lot, it was nifty to watch live, and I'm grateful to Lori, Bill, Alyssa, Brian, Mark, Ann, and Lydia for their help. And thanks for the yummy cookies, Alyssa!

Homesick

2011-05-23T07:45:00.002-06:00

For this image, I needed to show a college student who was homesick and missing her family.

My good friend Caroline suggested I visit her niece Meka at BYU. The dorm was perfect--just what I remembered from dorm life--cinder-block walls! What says dorm room more than that? I had her resting on the top bunk of her roommate's bed. Meka was an excellent model, and I suggested she try a job as a model at BYU. We had a picture of her very large family, which we put on the wall as reference. I chose an image of a home with a forlorn, wistful sky to put next to Meka, trying to boost the mood of homesickness further. I heard that her father would be traveling from California to view the broadcast live! I hope they enjoyed it. Thanks so much, Meka!

"God Believes in Him"

2011-05-23T07:37:00.002-06:00

I was asked to portray Tony Blair as a 10-year-old boy at school. He was worried about his father, who was serving in the war. His teacher suggested praying for him, but young Tony said, "I don't think my father believes in God."

"That's okay," his teacher said, "God believes in him."

I researched Tony Blair and learned that he went to school in a Choral School for Boys. I learned that most of those schools were converted old cathedrals, and the boys would spend a lot of time practicing singing--hence all the boys choirs with the high voices. I decided this would be best portrayed in a school uniform, however, rather than a choir uniform that looked like a high-collared nightgown.

Scott and his son Kaden were so sweet to do this for me! Kaden is a sensitive 10-year-old neighbor, and when I told him that his picture would be on TV, his eyes lit up and his jaw dropped! Getting him to act worried about his father while his father was standing right there was a little hard, though. Scott eventually achieved it by reminding Kaden of all the homework he still had left to do. That produced the sad face! Thanks a ton, Kaden and Scott!

Charles and Elaine

2011-02-13T17:09:00.003-07:00

This is basically a love story about a couple who had been married for almost sixty years and still took care of each other and were devoted to each other. I was happy that John and Marion were willing to pose for me. I didn't make them get in a pool--we got around that by having them wear T-shirts and hide behind a kitchen bar. They were so sweet to rearrange their day, their furniture, dishes, and clothes for me. While I photographed them, they told me about their wedding day nearly seventy years ago! Thank you for the great visit, John and Marion.

Unspoken Prayers

2011-02-13T16:53:00.004-07:00

This piece was a challenge--it was to show three different people who wanted something in life but were denied their wish, only to be rewarded with something better that they didn't expect. The first is a young man who didn't make the high school football team, but grew up to become a successful author. The second is a woman who didn't win the election, only to become a big humanitarian aid worker and helped thousands in need. The third is a man who didn't get the job he wanted, only to become fulfilled and successful in a different career. I decided on charcoal, and the original piece is 48" long! Thanks to Elaine Glenn and Nick, Lacie and Blake Pearson for modeling for me!

Wheelchair

2011-02-13T16:47:00.004-07:00

The story here was about Don ____ who saw a woman crawling across a street like a snake when he visited a third-world country. It bothered him, and he pondered it, wondering why someone couldn't just build cheap wheelchairs for people who couldn't buy them. Eventually he invented them! He made a nonprofit foundation and gives them out to those who can't walk and can't afford a wheelchair. The first one he gave away was to a boy in India, whose mother said, "Thank you for this chariot." My favorite quote is from this episode: "It is not enough to be happy in life. We should be useful."

The Old High School

2011-01-03T06:00:00.003-07:00

Thank you Ruthann and the people at PGHS for helping me out for this one. It's about a woman visiting her old high school, noticing how small everything is, (check out those short lockers!) and wishing she could go back and change some things, and how we should move forward and be better. They used to teach a preschool right down this hall, and my daughter recognized her old preschool just by looking at the row of lockers! I love painting beautiful people, and Ruthann is definitely one, and so sweet to model for me too. Thanks again!

Good Intentions

2010-12-21T06:23:00.003-07:00

The boys I babysit are always sneaking toys in their pockets to play with at my house, despite their mother telling them not to. I'm sure most of them make it to school as well. These are usually Spider Man, Star Wars or Indiana Jones action figures, or legos or green army men. All very "boy." So when I was asked to paint this piece, I immediately thought of these boys.

The story goes that a little girl was sharing with her class at school that her grandmother had just died. She became overcome with emotion and had to sit at her desk, in tears. A little boy in the class got up and sat down by her. He reached into his pocket and gave her the toy he had smuggled into the classroom that day to make her feel better. It doesn't matter that it was a "boy" toy, that she wouldn't have cared about. It was special to him.

The day of the photo shoot, I just asked the boys, "What do you have in your pockets?" The oldest boy reached in and produced a little green army man. Perfect!

Thanks so much to Kira, Aidan, and their Kindergarten teacher for letting us photograph the classroom, and to my daughter for hiding in the background with her cast on.

Christmas Cards from Grandma

2010-12-21T06:20:00.002-07:00

I had the privilege of photographing Elijah, one of my daughter's friends from Kindergarten, for this piece. He is such a happy soul! He was willing to help out, and couldn't stop smiling the entire time. I told him that I'd be painting a picture of him for TV, and he said, "Make sure you paint my skin brown!" I assured him I would. That was actually pretty tricky, since I'm so used to painting pinkish beige tones, and I'm afraid his skin got a little overworked, but I appreciated the challenge to paint brown skin, and hope to be able to do it a lot in the future.

Heimlich

2010-12-21T06:17:00.002-07:00

What an unusual Thanksgiving painting! The story goes that this man stood up choking in an office lunch room, but nobody stepped forward to help him for a while. Then some man he didn't know came up from behind and performed a successful Heimlich maneuver and saved his life, for which he was very grateful. See how thanksgiving comes into play? Thanks so much to Matt and all his friends at Ancestry.com for helping me out! I'm thankful for your help!

Armistice Day

2010-12-21T06:03:00.002-07:00

This is a painting of the end of fighting in WWI in France, on November 11, at 11 a.m., Armistice Day. They say the fighting intensified, then right at 11:00, it was like everything hit a wall, then was silent. A man ran out into no-man's-land to plant an American flag in a shell hole, and a soldier played music on a German trumpet. I had to research to get the helmets and uniforms from the right war.

By Hawking's Chair!

2010-12-21T05:59:00.002-07:00

I felt it an honor and a privilege to paint Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant astronomers and mathematicians of our time. I was disheartened to learn that he was an atheist, but glad to know that he relies heavily on family. This was one of the first paintings I've done where the end product is almost exactly how I imagined it in my head!

Good Sports

2010-10-24T07:45:00.000-06:00

The awesome young women in my ward modeled for this shot. It's about how winners can be rude and isolated, or they can be friendly and encouraging to the losers.

Lewis and Clark

2010-10-24T07:43:00.000-06:00

This illustrates the Corps of Discovery (the Lewis and Clark expedition) in 1805 when Captain Clark carved into a tree in Oregon in December 1805 to prove that they had been there. Thank you to Summer and Bryant for being so willing to model for me on a time crunch, and to Anya and Kent for providing such excellent costumes. I'll need to do a larger painting of Sacagawea some day with some other photos I took, just to do the costume justice!

Let it Go

2010-10-10T18:34:00.001-06:00

This is a story about a man who kept a list of all the people he was angry with. Years later, he realizes and regrets his mistake. I loved the quote, "Holding a grudge is like taking poison and then waiting for the other person to die."

Mike and his father were so wonderful to pose for me--thank you so much! They are in the theater business, so they were great models.

Bragging Rights

2010-10-10T18:31:00.001-06:00

My sister and her friends volunteered to pose for me, and she and I squeezed some of our children into the shot. I needed a scene at a ballpark, and my sis is always attending ball games for her children. She's amazing. Thanks for helping out!

Lincoln on a Train from Springfield

2010-10-10T18:29:00.001-06:00

It was a gloomy day when Abraham Lincoln departed the station in Springfield, Illinois, headed for the nation's capital to become the 16th president. Hundreds were gathered there, as he gave a memorable speech.

Panguitch Quilt Walk

2010-07-26T06:59:00.003-06:00

The first group of pioneers came to Panguitch on March 16, 1864, from Parowan under the leadership of Jens Nielson. They followed the route over the rugged Bear Valley, a part of the Spanish Trail. Crops were planted, but the season was short and they did not mature. The winter of 1864 was extremely cold and the snow was deep. The closest supplies were either in Gunnison, 115 miles to the North, or Parowan, 40 miles to the west over the difficult Bear Valley Road.

Seven men, Alexander Matheson, William Talbot, Thomas Richards, Jesse Lowder, John Butler, Thomas Adair, and John Paul Smith left Panguitch to go to Parowan to get flour and food for the starving colony. They had two yoke of oxen and a light wagon which they had to abandon at the head of Bear Valley because of the deep snow; they then proceeded on foot. The only progress that could be made over this frozen, crusted snow, was to lay a quilt down, walk to the end of it, relay it and walk again. In that way they reached Parowan.

Alexander Matheson recorded in his journal,"We decided that if we had faith as big as a mustard seed, we could make if and bring flour to our starving families. So we began the quilt-laying in prayerful earnestness. The return trip was harder with the weight of the flour, but we finally made it to our wagon and oxen and on home with thankfulness to the Lord of His goodness. The whole settlement welcomed us, because we had been gone longer than expected. There had been prayers, tears, and fears which turned to rejoicing and cheers."

--The Panguitch Quilt Walk Marker

Steel Worker

2010-07-26T06:55:00.002-06:00

Lloyd Newell's father worked in a steel mill for 40 years because he loved his family and wanted to provide for them. They were the thought that kept him going at work.Thank you Bryan for being my model--again--and doing this with such short notice!

No Swimming

2010-07-26T06:49:00.002-06:00

Kenny, a fictional fourth-grader in Christopher Paul Curtis’s book The Watsons Go to Birmingham, learned this lesson well. On a hot summer day in Alabama, Kenny could not resist the temptation to go swimming, despite the No Swimming sign and warnings about a whirlpool. But Kenny could see no danger, so he decided to swim anyway. At first, he was only going to step in the water, but when he caught sight of a turtle, he decided to swim toward it. Before he knew it, he was caught in the vicious whirlpool.

Reflecting on his near-death experience, the boy said: “There’s one good thing about getting in trouble: It seems like you do it in steps. . . . It also seems like the worse the trouble is that you get into, the more steps it takes to get there. Sort of like you’re getting a bunch of little warnings on the way; sort of like if you really wanted to you could turn around.”

Thanks to Trilea's neighbor Mo for letting my son Braeden and I use their backyard pool. And thanks to my husband, who made sure I understood the physics of how a whirlpool really works.

Mother's Day

2010-07-26T06:22:00.003-06:00

Here is an experienced mom comforting a younger mom who is stressed over raising her two little boys. “When children know they are loved, it covers a host of parenting mistakes.”

Thanks to Summer and her mom and kids for helping me on such very short notice!

Musical Sheepherder

2010-07-26T04:22:00.002-06:00

I loved this story. This solitary sheepherder in the mountains of Wyoming had few possessions, including an old, out-of-tune violin, and a battery-controlled radio whose batteries were almost dead. He wrote to the director of the Philharmonic Orchestra, asking him to start his next radio-broadcasted concert by playing an "A" really loud, so he could tune his violin before the batteries ran out.

I mentioned this project to my new neighbor, who seemed to know a lot about modern-day sheepherders. As it turns out, her husband's family have been sheepherders for years! Travas was willing to model for me, so I felt like I got as close as I could come to the genuine article.

Tuesdays With Morrie

2010-07-26T04:19:00.002-06:00

Mitch Albom visited Morrie Schwartz every Tuesday for years. Even though he was old and dying, Morrie always had a great attitude about life.

Magic Paintbrush

2010-07-26T03:55:00.002-06:00

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to illustrate another Chinese fable for the Spoken Word. Chinese designs and colors are fascinating to work with. This time it was "Ma Liang and the Magic Paintbrush." I used my son Jacob as a model, even though he in no way looks Chinese.

Ma Liang was an orphaned boy who loved to draw with anything he could find, including sticks on the beach.

One day, an apparition from the ocean gave him a gift--a magic paintbrush that would paint creatures that came to life! But he was only to use this power for good, or it would turn disastrous. And to Liang's credit, he did use the gift for good, and tried to keep it from evil hands.

Slow Dance

2010-07-26T03:43:00.003-06:00

This was a series of three extra-wide paintings illustrating a poem by David L. Weatherford. We panned across each one slowly, trying to hit each point as they were read in the poem. Thank you to the Emigs for willingly modeling for me, and doing such a great job!

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
Or listened to rain slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,
Or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask “How are you?” do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
’Cause you never had time to call and say hi?
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It’s like an unopened gift thrown away.

Shopping Madness

2010-07-26T03:37:00.002-06:00

I didn't realize I had stopped posting these paintings for the past six months! So sorry! Life got a bit crazy, and we had a new baby girl.

These are a drawing and a painting of the same scene--a mother trying to buy Christmas gifts with screaming children and crying baby, fighting against other shoppers--just picture Black Friday. In the painting I was able to add in the other shoppers fighting over a pony.

Many thanks to Jerusha and her family for modeling for me so willingly. Some didn't even have to act, they were just naturally fussy! Thanks also to Meg and Laura for acting like bitter rivals when they are the best of friends!

Pay it Forward

2009-12-15T22:25:00.004-07:00

My caring and auto-savvy bishop kindly posed as a man whose car breaks down on a country road on the way to an appointment, and he has no idea how to fix it or what to do.
An old pickup truck drove by, and the driver stopped to help the man. I found the model for this by who owned this great old bronze pickup truck.
When the car was fixed, the man offered to pay the mechanic for his services, but the stranger kindly refused. He told him instead to go and help another person, and to pass it on.

Thanks Neal and Bishop for posing. You did great!

A Boy and His Dog

2009-12-15T22:23:00.002-07:00

This story is simply about a dog greeting a boy as he comes home from college, and how pets can be a part of the family. I felt that about my dog Butch as I grew up--sometimes he was the only person I could confide in! I had two days to produce this painting due to a mix-up, but I was glad it turned out okay. Thanks Barbara and Ethan for your quick response!

Metro Music

2009-12-15T22:19:00.002-07:00

A writer for the Washington Post decided to conduct an experiment. He asked Joshua Bell, one of the world's most famous violinists, to play for 45 minutes in a subway station in Washington, D. C. During that time, only seven people stopped to listen. What else are we missing?

Serendipity--A Boy, a Father, and a Treehouse

2009-10-13T21:53:00.002-06:00

The story behind this picture is basically that the boy having an opportunity to plan and build a project with his dad was more meaningful than the end product. I absolutely had to use my son for this one, since he's been begging me for a treehouse, even though we don't even have a tree!

Joshua 4--Eben-Ezer

2009-10-13T21:50:00.001-06:00

When Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land after 40 years of traveling in the wilderness, he asked them to gather together 12 stones to build a monument. That way, their children could look at it and be reminded of the miracles God had given them, or it would prompt a discussion with their parents, asking why it was there. To me, this is why I blog--so that my children can know the great miracles that God performed in behalf of my family.

My models were so sweet--Mark and Ann and their boys--one of whom played an old woman! And Rolf and Sally and Steve. Thanks for all getting together in Bible garb and hauling stones for me!

Alice and the Caterpillar

2009-09-17T11:20:00.002-06:00

I was so excited to have the opportunity to paint Alice! The week I moved to this house, I met a girl named Aiden, who was so cute I knew I'd have to find an opportunity to paint her sometime. She reminded me of Alice in Wonderland any time she wore a headband in her hair. So five years later, I finally got to use her as Alice. She was perfect! My children and husband were all excited about this illustration too. So much, in fact, that I was afraid it wouldn't live up to everyone's expectations. I was nervous to paint it for fear of ruining it. Hopefully I was able to rise to the challenge. I am pleased with the end result.

The Boomerang Principle

2009-08-24T21:41:00.002-06:00

I got to illustrate an Aesop's Fable! This is the Ant and the Dove. An ant falls in a fountain and is drowning, when a dove sees his plight and drops a leaf down for the ant to climb on and save himself. The ant then saves the dove by biting a hunter who is about to catch the dove, causing him to drop his net.
I was delighted to illustrate this one. I wanted to try it from a fun perspective--from up high, instead of eye level. I was able to design the leaves and branches, with the sweeping curve of the fountain and the branches encircling the ant on the single leaf in the middle. I was also happy to be able to use the children's book style with thick ink lines surrounding realistic shading and coloring, similar to what I used on the Emperor's New Clothes paintings.Many thanks to Emmanuel for posing as the hunter for this shot!

Michelangelo's Masterpiece

2009-08-24T21:37:00.002-06:00

I was not aware of this, but apparently Michelangelo's "David" was sculpted when Michelangelo was 26 out of a piece of scrap marble that someone had already tried to carve.
I used the same model for Michelangelo that I did last summer when I sketched him painting the Sistine Chapel.
Now my kids see the "David" statue on TV or in a magazine and say, "Look, Mommy, I saw your painting!"

The Good in Goodbye

2009-08-24T21:30:00.002-06:00

This was a very sensitive topic to illustrate--the West Virginia coal mine collapse in 2006. Martin Toler (in the yellow) wrote a comforting goodbye note to his family on the back of an insurance form before he died. Thank you to all those who were able to make it to the photo shoot for this! I was only able to find four models, one of them being my husband, so I repeated one model twice--see if you can tell which one he is!

This was a challenge to paint in watercolor, since my color scheme is usually light and colorful, and this was dark (coal mines are usually black) and gloomy. I was pleased I was able to pull it off and still preserve some color.

All Is Well

2009-08-24T21:27:00.002-06:00

I painted this to accompany a story of a pioneer who never made it to Zion, but helped his family on the way so that they would make it there without him. Thanks tons to Eric, Heather and Erica for modeling, and to Gordon and Linda for letting us photograph your authentic handcart!

Kim in Maine

2009-07-14T23:16:00.004-06:00

This is an illustration of a woman who chose to spend a summer on her own on an island off the coast of Maine, in a rustic old cabin, collecting rainwater for drinking and using propane for heat. I used my friend and neighbor Kim as a model, because, besides being lovely, she also strives to be self-sufficient in all she does. Thank you, Kim!

Turning Points

2009-06-14T15:34:00.002-06:00

I was so grateful to the King family for allowing me to photograph them for this painting. The Spoken Word message talked about a man who had been diagnosed with a grave illness, but it became a turning point in his life for the good, and how he learned to cope by relying on his faith, his friends, and his family. Matt King was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer a few months ago, and has a very poor prognosis. Yet, his family has grown closer, and I felt such a spirit of peace and acceptance when I entered their home. They all know their father probably won't be with them much longer, but they know where he's going, and that he'll be waiting for them to return and be with him. And I believe they also feel that they'll be okay without him for a while, as they stay here on earth. My yoga teacher told me the other day that her brother was best friends with Matt King before he died in a car crash five years ago. When she learned of Matt's terminal illness, she cried and asked him how he was doing. "I'm doing fine, really. I'm looking forward to hanging out with your brother again!"

I was grateful I had the opportunity to paint the family all together, while there was still an opportunity in this mortal life.

The Bridge Builder

2009-06-07T17:42:00.002-06:00

This is a portrait of Will Allen Dromgoole. Yes, she is a woman. She wrote a poem called "The Bridge Builder" which reminds us of our responsibilities to younger generations.

Poppies!

2009-06-01T08:15:00.003-06:00

This piece always reminds me of the Wizard of Oz--"Poppies! Millions of poppies!" Thanks to the Lott family for finding time in their schedule to model while climbing the Reher's front yard hill. It wasn't covered with poppies, but that's why I'm a painter, not a photographer. Can you see the tiny butterfly Lacie is pointing at?

Our Nation's Heroes

2009-06-01T08:12:00.002-06:00

This painting was featured on the Memorial Day broadcast. This WWI flying ace is David Endecott Putnam, a youth who became one of the most successful plane fighters of the war. He has been remembered in letters he sent home to his mother, which were always upbeat and encouraging. He stated that if he were to die, he'd be called home happily when it was his time. His time came before the end of the war, when he was in the process of rescuing another American fighter plane. I was glad I was able to find a picture of him smiling.

"I Know My Father Lives"

2009-06-01T08:07:00.002-06:00

Reid Nibley struggled as he wrote the song, "I Know My Father Lives." He kept trying to complicate and embellish the piece. I had similar trouble with this piece. I drew it from several different views of Bro. Nibley, with varying backgrounds, and I just kept getting more and more frustrated, until I literally screamed! It just wasn't working! It was only when I erased it all and went to the simplest way--taking a picture of my husband sitting at the piano, then varying the facial features slightly to resemble Reid Nibley--that it worked out at all. I kept the background so simple that it was unnecessary to include in this print. Ironically, that's the same thing that happened with the song. Once Reid erased all the extra notes, it came out in its true form, which was the simple way we sing it today.

A True Pioneer Mother

2009-05-24T13:50:00.002-06:00

Jane James, a pioneer woman, lost her husband one frigid, awful day as she and her family were crossing the plains. After they buried him, her daughter recorded in her journal how, despite her heart being broken, she loaded up the children and kept moving towards Zion. It is always painful to hear stories such as these, or like the one President Monson related during conference. I'm glad I have not been called upon to endure such horrible sacrifices in mortality, but I see people all around me whose loved ones have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses, or who die in accidents, and must continue on and be an example to their children. Yet I know we all receive blessings of rest in the next life, and that families can be together forever.

Thanks to my dear friends Christine (and Scott who posed but was eventually cut due to budget), Jessica (who jumped in at the last minute to be a pioneer girl), Kaiden and McKinley!

My Grandma

2009-05-03T22:54:00.002-06:00

I was so glad to have the opportunity to paint my sweet grandma for this week's Spoken Word! It was about interviewing the ancestors who are still living as part of your family history research. I have felt strongly about this with my grandmother, and I spent a lot of time with her a few years ago, while she was still so talkative that we sometimes wished we could get her to stop. She repeated the same stories over and over, so you could recite them word for word while you listened. I'm glad she pounded them in our heads then, because now she doesn't speak. She doesn't know who we are or where she is. I am so grateful that I know the stories of her life that are the most important to her, and need to write them down so that others will know them as well.

For this painting, although the room, the chair, and my niece Megan were all photographed on location, I had to find older photos of my grandma actually interacting, smiling, raising a hand, etc. Nowadays she just sits.

I love and miss my grandma. I hope she's happy inside her mind.

Our Spirits Must Catch Up With Our Bodies

2009-05-03T22:50:00.002-06:00

This was a painting for the Easter message of Music and the Spoken Word this year. I thought it sort of odd subject matter at first. A man was on tour of the Amazon jungle with some natives as guides. They traveled well for two days, but on the morning of the third day, he found them all sitting or squatting, holding still with solemn expressions. The chief explained that they were waiting for their spirits to catch up with their bodies. If you think carefully about Christ's crucifixion, and what happened with him on the morning of the third day, you'll make a connection, even though it was never mentioned in the Spoken Word.

Prodigal Son, or Coming Home Again

2009-04-02T13:14:00.002-06:00

I was delighted to be asked to paint an illustration for the Spoken Word right before Conference! This was a neat opportunity. Thanks so much to Anya for once again coming through with great costumes, and to Lamar and Martin for posing in the "Bible clothes" and "Jesus shoes" and standing barefoot on gravel while staring into the sun. I enjoyed working on folds of cloth, and on stonework in the background. I worked more on composing the whole shot on this one than I have on many in the past. I wanted to give the composition more of a dynamic feel, both with the positive and negative space.

Car Crash in the Snow

2009-04-02T11:41:00.002-06:00

I know this cop in my neighborhood, and his family was available to pose impromptu as well for this picture. Thanks a lot to the Winds, and to Randi for bringing her Hummer and acting the part of the irresponsible driver. She's really actually very responsible, and would never crash her Hummer into a car head on.

It snowed the day before I took the picture, and it snowed several times after I took the picture. When we got together for the photo shoot, though, all the snow was melted, and the sun was blinding. It made it a little harder to paint the feel of blizzard and chill. I think it worked out okay though. What do you think?

"Myself" in the mirror

2009-04-02T11:37:00.003-06:00

Thank you to Stophiann for posing for me! It's hard to find black models, and she's one of the most beautiful models I could get of any race. I was very excited to paint darker skin. I love how browner skin has blue and purple undertones. Paler skin has more greenish undertones. No wonder black is beautiful!

Henry J. Kaiser

2009-03-08T18:56:00.003-06:00

Although I don't usually enjoy painting cars, ships, or buildings, I thought these cars, the Henry J. and the Kaiser, looked pretty cool, and I'm glad they don't look terrible in my rendering. I also got to learn a bit about Kaiser. I wish sometimes that I had his confidence. He made quite a success of himself, despite a lot of challenges.

Living Within Our Means

2009-03-01T13:57:00.002-07:00

Thanks so much to Matt and Val for volunteering so quickly for this painting. I sent out an email to a few couples, and they responded enthusiastically within 1/2 hour! They're great models, and even let me paint their beautiful family room. Their daughter has modeled for Kit Kittredge, painted by Walter Rane, so this is small potatoes compared to that, but I still really appreciate it!

Angry Brothers

2009-02-22T13:38:00.003-07:00

Thank you to the two brothers, Mike and Matt, who worked around their very busy schedules to meet with me and let me take their picture. This is an illustration of two brothers who lived in a one-room cabin and had an argument. One drew a chalk line on the floor, and they agreed to stay on their separate sides of the house. They never spoke to each other again after that, until the death of one brother 62 years later! Can you imagine being so idiotic? I'm sure glad Mike and Matt have a great sense of humor to allow me to paint them so angry at each other. They are actually great friends.

The Lincolns Relax at the Theater

2009-02-15T12:50:00.002-07:00

Although this is Ford's Theater, I did not paint the president and his wife on a date with disaster--this is just a date, an evening when they could unwind, enjoy the performance, and rest from their cares of being head of state in a country in turmoil. I ache for the president, both then and now, for having to try to solve all the country's, and sometimes the world's, problems, and I think they deserve a break every once in a while.

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

2009-02-15T12:41:00.002-07:00

I was hoping that, despite my limitations, this painting would still convey the hope, the bonding, the strength, and the support these men gained from singing spirituals about their Lord together, despite the desperate and demeaning situation they lived in.

I don't know enough black men to have painted this one by setting up live models. I really don't even know one. So, I had to compile this painting using a campfire and a few people sitting around it from the internet. I checked out books about black people from the internet and connected them to the bodies I had, and added a few more around the campfire, then changed their clothing and lighting to match the scene. It had to be a looser style to accommodate all the changes and imprecise scrap, plus, I wanted to have it a little looser to show the energy of the men singing the spirituals. I didn't feel it was my best work, yet I've received compliments on this piece, some saying that this is a "notch above" my other paintings. Wow, thanks! I was hoping that, despite my limitations, it would still convey the hope, the bonding, the strength, and the support these men gained from singing spirituals about their Lord together, despite the desparate and demeaning situation they lived in.

A Good Dose of Humor

2009-02-05T22:08:00.002-07:00

I needed a couple who had been married for years and who shared a lot of jokes together for this painting. I instantly thought of my aunt and uncle. Although they haven't spent their whole lives together, having only found each other about eight years ago, they are the perfect couple, and they are always cheerful, despite all the crazy stuff life throws at them. Plus, they are my biggest fan club. Whenever my paintings come on TV, they cheer and clap! I was very happy to paint them.

Uganda

2009-01-25T10:39:00.004-07:00

I was asked to paint a story that happened in Uganda. I have some old friends who are serving a mission right now in Uganda, currently in the Congolese area. They took picture after picture of the people they served, and I was astounded how beautiful they are. I don't think I did them justice--I will have to keep trying.

In this story, some American businessmen build a children's facility for the Ugandan people. They have to run to the store for some handsaws. In Uganda, the foreigners are called "Mazungu," and it was common practice to overcharge them at the shops because they didn't know any better. This shopkeeper, however, told the men, “I see with my eyes a mazungu, but in my heart, that’s not what I see,” and she charged them a fair price.

Silas Marner's Second Chance

2009-01-12T13:47:00.006-07:00

These two paintings are about Silas Marner, the main character of a novel by that name by George Eliot, who was actually a woman writer, if you weren't aware, which I'm sure you were.

Anyway, it is about his second chance at life. The first is a painting depicting his love of gold, because it was his only friend after feeling abandoned and alone from humanity. After it is stolen, he goes into a deep depression.

The second painting is when little Eppie comes into his life, with her golden hair reminding him of his gold coins that he loved. He eventually turns around and loves another person again.

I was so grateful to my friend Trilea for letting me use her daughter for Eppie--isn't she beautiful? And her grandpa got to be Silas. He actually played Johannes Brahms over a year ago for my charcoal drawings--did you recognize him?

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2008-12-24T08:35:00.004-07:00

I was so excited to have the opportunity to paint these! The first piece is about Clement Clarke Moore, going out on his sleigh on Christmas Eve to bring home one more turkey for his wife, who was cooking up turkey dinners for those in need. As he rode, the jingle bells on his horses inspired him to write a fun little poem for his children, called "A Visit from St. Nicholas."

I found a great photo with backlighting to use for these beautiful horses, and I combined the background with different elements. I think these are the best horses, trees, and snow that I've painted, and I am really pleased with the atomspheric perspective with the faint house and trees in the background.

It's interesting, when I receive these commissions to paint historical events, that I learn much more about it through the research. I learned that they had six children at the time he read this to them. His five-year-old girl (whom I have portrayed in red in his lap) asked him to read it again after he was done. Sadly, she died when she was twelve.

I needed to find a family who fit the profile the best so I could take their picture for this painting. Moore was 42, his wife was 29, and his six children were between the ages of nine and zero. My friend Amy Brown's family fit this almost perfectly, but there were only five children, so I used Brooke as a twin for Mandy. (Mandy's in yellow, Brooke's in pinkish-purple.) They were so sweet to model for me! I joked with their son that he'd have to be in ringlets, since that was the style in the 1820s. I decided to be nice and only give him longish hair.

Noel Regney

2008-12-07T17:46:00.004-07:00

This first painting is of Noel Regney. He was a French soldier during World War II who was forced to join the German army. He was able to join the French underground, but the horrors of the war haunted him for years to come.
After the war, he moved to the United States where he met Gloria Shayne playing the piano in a hotel lobby in Manhattan. Although they hardly even spoken the same language, they were married a month later! They later wrote the words and music to "Do You Hear What I Hear" together. Aren't Noel and Gloria perfect names for a couple of Christmas carol writers?
This was especially meaningful because it aired on Music and the Spoken Word on December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day.

Straw in the Manger

2008-11-30T12:58:00.003-07:00

My wonderful neighbors and friends, the Hernandez family, posed for me, despite their busy schedule. They are a beautiful family from Mexico who are teaching their children well and bringing them up with blessings the parents never had as children. I am so impressed with them and all they do, and so grateful they could take time out of their busy schedule to model for me.

Being Grateful

2008-11-22T22:53:00.003-07:00

My dear friend Kellie sent me a cheerful shot of her and her daughter the day I was asked to illustrate a story about how being grateful for our blessings makes us happy. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to use her in the painting, so I asked her to take a second picture of herself writing her blessings in her journal. She got me the photos that same day! Kellie is such a sweetheart, and her daughter is adorable! Hopefully I did them justice in these paintings.

Ray Charles and Ma Beck

2008-11-20T15:05:00.003-07:00

This is my first real attempt at painting the beautiful skin and facial features of black people. I don't think I have perfected it yet, but I think I made a fair attempt. (Sorry, no pun intended.)
Incidentally, living in Utah, I don't have many culturally diverse neighbors and friends--almost everyone I know is caucasian. If you are or if you know anyone who would like to model for me, especially those of non-caucasian descent, please leave a comment!

Warren Buffett

2008-10-30T14:19:00.002-06:00

Handmade Gifts

2008-10-30T14:18:00.001-06:00

My friend Brooke was sweet enough to pose for me on this. Isn't she beautiful? The context of this painting was a young newlywed woman who receives a beautiful, handmade, crocheted blanket from an elderly friend as a wedding gift. It goes on to extoll the virtues of handmade gifts, with which I wholeheartedly agree.

The neat thing about it was how I got to go visit two elderly ladies in my ward in order to find a model. The first had just lost her husband, and even though she didn't want her hands photographed, I did get to talk to her for about an hour about her husband and things past and sacred. The second woman is she whose hands I painted--Josephine. She crocheted a beautiful dress for Brooke before she was born.

The blanket I used was actually given to me by an elderly friend, Daisy Peters, when I was married. She has since died, so I wasn't able to use her as a model, but Josephine was kind enough to repair some loose yarn pieces where the blanket was coming undone. So, I not only got to visit several sweet sisters, and paint a nice painting, but I also have my blanket fixed, so I can use it again and remember my friend Daisy.

Lucy Maud Montgomery

2008-09-19T11:31:00.007-06:00

Maud lived in the beautiful Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. I loved the crocheted sweater vest I found her in from an old photo. I want one just like it!
Although her Anne of Green Gables books, and other books about young women, are famous the world over, at the time she wrote them, she had to face rejection. She is proof positive that persistence pays off.

And So We Endure

2008-09-19T11:31:00.003-06:00

These are a little different than most of my paintings, because, well, they're not paintings at all. I was asked to do three sketches this time, and they overlapped them onto color photographs. Michelangelo here (as modeled by our good friend Kent, but with much more hair) was set in front of the spacious ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
This is Samuel Whittemore. He joined the Revolutionary War when he was 80 years old and fought against the invading British army, and he lived through it and became a captain! He was the oldest revolutionary soldier. Brian's dad, who just turned 81, was the perfect choice for my model, especially since I saw him one Sunday at his granddaughter's mission farewell to take his picture. The next week his image was on TV, and we were at his grandson's mission farewell and the whole family got to see him as a revolutionary soldier!
Although I didn't use any of my friends or family as a model for Marie Curie, she was still exciting to draw. Her husband died suddenly in a chemistry experiment gone bad, but she stuck with the research they had done together and was awarded the Nobel Prize.

The Emperor's New Clothes

2008-08-22T18:03:00.004-06:00

Thanks especially to the Allreds and their extended family for posing as all the onlooker townspeople, and to the actors at Valley Center Playhouse for posing as the emperor, the pole-bearers, and the tailors. You're awesome!The first painting, The Tailors, is a throwback to my first real "style" I came up with in college. I really admired Mercer Mayer and Maurice Sendak's illustrations, so I practiced drawing like them for a while, and it sort of evolved into my own style.The second painting, The Parade, sort of merges my old style with my newer, softer style.
Somehow I managed to paint these while sick with a 24-hour flu bug.

Did You Hear The Bird Sing?

2008-08-14T20:09:00.003-06:00

Our good friend Sylvia helped me out with these pictures. When I received this assignment, my husband immediately thought of her to pose for it.
Her cute son Adam was a great actor as well!

I was delighted to find a prolific photo documentary of these Chicago monk parrots on the internet.

My Father's World

2008-07-31T16:08:00.002-06:00

Maltbie Babcock, a talented priest in New York in the 1890s, would often take breaks from his job during the day to walk, hike, or run through the wilderness. He felt he could be closest to God when he was surrounded by his beautiful creations. I often feel that way too. Babcock wrote the hymn, "This is My Father's World."

Keep Going

2008-07-19T21:35:00.004-06:00

This could be a painting of Agnes Caldwell, a nine-year-old pioneer girl who trekked across hundreds of miles to reach Zion. Or, it could be a portrait of anyone who has wanted to give up, but has kept going, and met their challenges head on and won.

The Song of the Land

2008-07-19T21:14:00.002-06:00

I just picked this up today from the American Fork Steel Days art show, where it received 1st place in the professional drawing division. Hooray!

Walt Whitman wrote "Leaves of Grass" over a century ago, yet he really had a grasp of the unity that we'd need to feel as a people today. He praised the laboring people of the land using the metaphor of music. He wrote of the sweeping strains and pulsating rhythms of a mighty nation at work and at play. “I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,” Whitman proclaimed. He acknowledged mechanics, carpenters, masons, shoemakers, woodcutters, mothers, “each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, . . . singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.”

--"I Hear America Singing" from Leaves of Grass.

The Star Spangled Banner

2008-07-03T05:11:00.002-06:00

The Dawn's Early Light

If you're a fan of Francis Scott Key (as I am), I hope you like this one. I enjoyed trying to create the colors of the morning, but still having remnants of the battle at Fort McHenry that happened that night.

Try Again Tomorrow

2008-06-19T18:29:00.004-06:00

Did They Pay You, Father?
Amos Bronson Alcott, father of Louisa May Alcott, came home one winter night from a job. The family really needed the money to carry them through. They greeted their tired father, then May finally asked if they had paid him.

I Call That Doing Very Well
Bronson pulled out a single dollar bill and apologized, saying he'd do better next time. His wife threw her arms around him and said, "I call that doing very well."

I was excited to do this series, having seen "Little Women," which is based so closely upon Louisa's life. I have always wanted to paint a warm interior with a cold exterior, something I am still working at perfecting.

Willingness to Wait

2008-05-30T13:22:00.001-06:00

Betsy's Flower Patch

My beautiful neighbor Betsy posed for this one. It's about a girl who wants to plant a grand and wonderful flower patch, but plants the seedlings too densely, so they all die. She realizes she needed to be willing to wait for the good things in life, and not try to force them all at once.

Amazing Grace

2008-05-30T13:21:00.001-06:00

Amazing Grace

A progression of the life of John Newton, from slave ship captain, to priest, to abolitionist.

Music of the Heart

2008-05-30T13:20:00.001-06:00

Good Ol' Folk Music

This is an old-time portrait of my husband and his old buddies as field hands, taking a break from haying to have a good time singing and making up folk tunes.

The Queen Mum

2008-05-30T13:19:00.003-06:00

Portrait of a Queen
I learned a lot about Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother during this piece. Here she is before her Buckingham Palace in about 1940. A few years later, her palace was bombed during the war, but she refused to leave for Canada, choosing instead to help those suffering in her country. She was an amazing woman.

The Queen Mum Visits the Red Cross

This is what the Queen Mother spent a lot of her time during the war, visiting bombed out cities and wounded soldiers.

A Lifetime of Learning

2008-05-30T13:17:00.009-06:00

A Lifetime of Learning

I am grateful to Tom, an old friend of my parents, and the father of one of my husband's best friends, for posing for this picture of continued love learning throughout your life. This was my first attempt at painting cabinetry in watercolor. I almost felt like a carpenter, building the drawers and shelves with water and pigment. It was quite fun.

The Joys of Creation

2008-05-30T13:17:00.008-06:00

Not Very Talented (The Classroom)

This story is about an eight-year-old girl who is told by her teacher in art class, "You're not very talented, are you?" These words embarrassed her and severely damaged her confidence.

The Studio

It took the girl over five decades to finally realize that artists don't paint to be praised of the world; they create because they love it, because they want it to exist.

Open Our Hearts

2008-05-30T13:17:00.005-06:00

The Plumber

This is a story about a learned professor who sort of thinks he knows everything. And yet, after a long day at work, he comes home to a problem with his pipes. He watches the plumber and realizes that, despite all his knowledge, he doesn't know anything about plumbing. A reminder to open our hearts and not let petty competition and pride get in the way of relationships.

Chain of Goodwill

2008-05-30T13:16:00.012-06:00

Rear View

The story goes that a young man waited at a fast food drive thru for his order, and the man behind him became impatient and started throwing a fit. My neighbor Scott, a very nice person, played angry for me, while my friend's brother Braden got to be the guy being yelled at. Painting cars was quite a challenge for me. I do better at organic things, that don't have straight lines or machined parts.

Drive Thru

Instead of retaliating, Braden ends up paying for Scott's meal. My neighbor Chad let us pose in front of his Taco Time drive thru, and his employee Francine was her friendly self in this picture.

Chain of Goodwill

When Scott learns what Braden did, his whole attitude changes, and he pays for the next vehicle, who pays for the one behind them, and the chain goes on all day. Thanks to my friend Chevy for taking some extra photos for this picture.

New Life and New Hope

2008-05-30T13:16:00.010-06:00

C. S. Lewis said: “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box.

But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it? . . . Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.” Although this was a stretch for an Easter theme, I tried to incorporate Easter colors in the backgrounds, which are my favorite parts of the paintings.

The Pilgrims' Voyage

2008-05-30T13:15:00.006-06:00

Mayflower Crossing

I was very pleased with how this turned out, since, unlike most paintings, it ended up as good as I imagined it. My husband helped make sure I made the sky dramatic enough, yet I left some sun shining through the clouds as an offering of hope. You may notice the tiny person I have being seasick over the side of the ship. I put him in for my sister.

Pilgrims' Landing

I often see paintings of these heroic pilgrims walking onto Plymouth Rock after their 100-day voyage of storms, sickness and death. I wanted to show that they were very grateful, but also very tired. I wanted to tell some stories with these people, like the sick and pregnant wife, and how Miles Standish, the first one on the beach, was so excited to reach land that he dropped his oar.

John Bushman's Dam

2008-05-30T13:15:00.003-06:00

The Stream Dam

John Bushman and several other pioneers tried to settle in the Arizona desert, so they needed to build a dam to divert the stream water to their crops. Unfortunately, the dam constantly broke, and they had to keep fixing it. Thanks to my husband Brian, Todd R., and Mike R., who is in this painting twice. Thanks also to Anya A., who always lends me the best costumes.

The Joshua Tree

Bushman taught a lesson in patience and faith, however. He wrote in his journal, "The dam broke again today. We are not discouraged." Thanks Mike for being a great model.

The Chinese Pear Thief

2008-05-30T13:14:00.005-06:00

Prison

This was my first series commissioned by Music and the Spoken Word. It is a Chinese folk tale about a man who stole a pear and was thrown into prison, where he finished eating it and saved a seed. I wanted to be really true to the Chinese style of painting as much as I could, so I checked out several Chinese children's books and art history books and gazed at them for hours to "feel" like a Chinese artist. I hope it worked.

Pear Tree (or He Who is Without Sin)At his trial, the thief offered the pear seed to the emperor, saying that it would grow into a magical golden pear tree if it were planted by someone who had never cheated, stolen, or lied. I was especially impressed when watching the beginning of "Mulan" while I researched this piece, and wanted to give the landscape that feel. This is one of my favorite paintings.

The Emperor's Court

In the story, the thief offered the seed to everyone in the court, but each looked into his heart and had to turn it down, and eventually they decided to let him go.

Johannes Brahms' Requiem

2008-05-30T13:14:00.004-06:00

Concert Hall

This is a charcoal drawing of Johannes Brahms directing his "German Requiem," a piece that was loved the world over. I used a new technique with this than I've ever done--after drawing it in charcoal, I scanned it and added color digitally.

Blessed are They that Mourn

The lesser-known story of "German Requiem" is that Brahms composed it while mourning the death of his mother, and his friend and fellow composer Schumann. This may have lent the added depth of feeling about death to the symphony, which he later said he wished he had named the "Human Requiem" for its universal nature.

Murals

2008-05-30T12:35:00.002-06:00

This will be updated shortly. Thanks for your patience.