Amy's Art

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Viktor Frankl's Search for Meaning

Before Viktor Frankl became a renowned psychologist; before he survived a Nazi concentration camp; and before he wrote Man’s Search for Meaning, a bestselling book about his experiences; he was a high school student who thought deeply about life—more deeply than perhaps most teenagers do. One day his science teacher declared to the class, “Life is nothing more than a combustion process, a process of oxidation.” Young Viktor leaped from his chair and countered, “Sir, if this is so, then what can be the meaning of life?”

^{At the last minute, one of my models couldn't make it, and our location also fell through, so I was able to use my husband as the professor instead, and shot this in our kitchen. He's a great model, but I've used him a lot--you can look through the old paintings and see if you recognize him. Thanks to him, and to Brock for spending a few hours following me around while I tried working out new plans.}

John Akhwari: Finish the Race

I was asked with just 24 turnaround time to sketch John Akhwari in the 1968 olympics. He was pushed and fell while running the marathon, injuring his shoulder and dislocating his knee, and had to use part of his shirt to bandage up his knee. He finished the race slowly, limping, and well over an hour after the winner. Most of the spectators had left. However, those who remained stood and applauded his finish in the dark.

When asked why he didn't just quit, he said, "My country did not send me 10,000 miles just to start the race. They sent me to finish the race."

I love the research these paintings require me to do. For this one, I had to watch old recordings of Akhwari and the news report. His story is so amazing and inspiring. It helps me to try harder to go on in tough situations.

The Grasshopper and the Ant

I'm sure you've heard the fable about the grasshopper and the ant. The ant is industrious all summer, storing up food for the winter, while the grasshopper spends his time playing, relaxing, and playing music. However, when the winter comes, the grasshopper is cold and starving, and asks for the mercy of the ant colony to feed and shelter him.

I absolutely loved painting this. It was great fun to use bright colors and forced perspective, as well as having the opportunity to use my cartoon-style pen and watercolor. I even broke out the Dr. Martin dyes to boost the colors. I have this hanging on my bedroom wall right now.

Colemans in the 1970s

I painted this based on a story about the announcer, Lloyd Newell, from the 1970s. I took the opportunity to paint my own family. I was born in 1977, so this would have been about 1978. I am the baby sitting in my mom's lap. All the furnishings, wall coverings, and decorations are based on my home at that time, and I found pictures of each of my siblings and parents from then as well, then fit them together into this picture. My dad painted the two-paneled picture and made the pot. Apparently the father from the story had a bunch of scriptures and quotes written on a big piece of cardboard, and they would read them together for family nights. While that is not what we did, we had regular family home evening, and I'm sure there was a time when my dad would bring out a poster or a drawing, since he was an art teacher.

Unfortunately, this painting never aired--we never learned why.

Dancing Pioneers

For the 2015 Pioneer Day message, I had the privilege of painting this illustration. Margaret Judd, who was 17 when she trekked across the plains as a pioneer in the 1800s, said, "Our journey was like all such journeys--it had its pleasant side, and its unpleasant side. When the sun was shining and the roads were good, we trotted along feeling that we would soon be at our destination, but when the rain poured down and the roads were so bad that we could not travel--then that was the other side." However, they found ways to lift their spirits. Catherine Adams, who turned 12 during her pioneer trek, described it this way: "It was terribly tiring and tedious in the hot and rainy weather. . . We had many good times, though. In the evenings after the horses were tethered the men would light a big bonfire, clear off a level piece of ground, dampen it down to pack it a bit, and have a dance. There were some fine musicians along who played the fiddle, [harmonica], and accordion, and we used to e enjoy sitting around the fire listening to them or having a sing-song."

I used several pictures of modern-day teenagers on trek for this one. It was a trick to get the lighting right, with several pictures with different lighting to start, but I think it turned out OK in the end. I really wanted a dramatic bonfire, and some nice glowing contrast to the pioneers. I enjoyed painting the flickering lights along the water-soaked ground.

World War I Nurse

This happened to be a Mother's Day painting I did for the tabernacle choir broadcast. Right after World War I ended, a soldier who made it through the entire war without injury, but died of pneumonia. The American Red Cross nurse at the hospital sent a letter to the soldier's mother, wanting to share more about her son than just a cold record of his death.

"He was brave and cheerful, and made a good fight with the disease," until he was too weak to go on. Now he "sleeps under a simple white wooden cross among his comrades who, like him, have died for their country. I enclose a few leaves from the grass that grows near in a pretty meadow."

My high school friend Heather was so willing and excited to pose for me and be the nurse, even putting on the costume including the Krispy Kreme hat after teaching zumba one day. I was glad the two paintings came together.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Milestones

When Ben Franklin worked for the Boston Post Office, he had to invent an odometer to measure the mileage of the roads. I was happy to be able to use our awesome neighbor and friend Tim, who made a great Ben Franklin. This painting doesn't do his great modeling justice--I will have to paint a close-up sometime. Also, my son was willing to pose as Franklin's assistant.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Sarah Ferguson McDonald

This is Sarah Ferguson McDonald, a pioneer in the 1850s crossing the plains at the Platte River. Her husband James McDonald had contracted cholera the day before, helping another sick pioneer the cross the river. It was a fast-acting disease, and he was dead that morning. Sarah was left to bury him alongside the river after putting her children to bed. As she stood in the rushing water to wash the off the dirt and mud from the grave, she pondered for a moment how easy it would be to let the water take her away to her husband. She was brought back to her surroundings by her small child calling to her from the wagon. The next morning she packed up and continued to travel to Zion with her children.

I chose April as my model, because she has always struck me as a woman of beauty and strength. She travels on in her life, despite hardships and downfalls, including losing her baby daughter. She and her sweet spitfire daughter Oakley, also pictured, would have made great pioneers.

I have enjoyed speaking with several of Sarah's ancestors after painting this. I know that her decision to endure to the end despite the death of her husband and the hardships of pioneer life was invaluable to her young family and all those who followed.

John Trebonius and Martin Luther

The story here is that John Trebonius was an instructor in the 1500s, where men usually kept their hats on indoors. However, he always removed his hat when he came into the classroom, as a sign of respect towards the boys he was teaching. He said that he never knew if he was in the presence of future greatness. As it turned out, a young Martin Luther was in his classroom, (depicted here in a green and tan tunic on the front row.)

I was given a very short deadline on this painting, and had to round up several boys and a man quickly. There was no time to find outfits. Thanks to my sister, four boys and an actor practicing "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Valentine Theater in American Fork, I was able to take pictures immediately. I then doubled the boys in different positions, changed everyone's features, and added period clothing. (Thank you Anya Allred for again coming through with fantastic costume references!)