My mother shared her artistic interest with me and even as a child, I was singled out because of my drawing skills and became accustomed to being identified as an artist. I graduated with a BFA (painting & drawing emphasis)from the University of Utah & was especially influenced by Paul Davis, Dave Dornan, Doug Snow and George Dibble. While attending the university I acquired several pieces from professors by trading student work. I also was selected on scholarship to attend Ed Maryon's Monterey Bay watercolor workshop.
Although I enjoy painting in oils, I have focused on watercolors for the last few years. The transparency of watercolors produces a freshness & purity of color unequaled in other mediums. I have found good technique to be more important in watercolor - "honest" process is key. I'm a bit of a watercolor traditionalist & strive to save the white of the paper instead of using opaque whites or gouaches which are sometimes used to cover "mistakes". I prefer to be less focused on agenda so that I'm able to recognize & utilize those "happy accidents"! This requires some humility on my part & a recognition that there's another creative force in play.
Having said that, I must admit to a bit of stubbornness in also shaping my desire to paint with watercolor. I have known many fine artists who have switched to oils in order to make a living. For whatever reason, oils have more credibility in the art market. I am committed to being a student of watercolor. This challenging, rich medium will continue to surprise, delight (& frustrate) me for a very long time!
My first watercolor floral series was an exploration of negative space. I planned my compositions around the white (left paper) floral shapes. Although, I encouraged the paint to flow & mix freely within designated areas, I maintained strict control on the main value shapes. I learned so much about the individual color character traits and how well they played with others!
Recently, my personal challenge has been to incorporate the human figure into the landscape. I appreciate the Chinese tradition of including the figure in the landscape, humanity often dwarfed by the immensity & power of nature. I've been more focused, however, on the relationship between the figure and landscape. Instead of separating & defining, I try to find those places where the two merge.
I have included many oil paintings on my website. Interestingly, I believe they have "loosened me up" & prepared me for painting in watercolor! I have spent an incredible amount of time in the studio drawing from the live model & most of the landscapes were done "en plein air". Some of my recent watercolors appear to be a culmination of this work.
EXHIBITS & AWARDS
- 2009 UWS Fall Exhibition - "Book Club Cabin Weekend 2009" & "One Dog, Two Dog, Red Dogs, Blue Dog" (AWARD OF EXCELLENCE)
- 20009 AVA (Alliance for the Varied Arts) Member Show - "Lady in Yellow", "Red Rock Reverie" & "Go With the Flow" (BEST OF SHOW for "Go With the Flow")
- Summerfest 2009 Plein Air Competition - "Logan Canyon From 400 North" & "Dry Canyon
From 400 North" (AWARD OF MERIT)
- Wasatch Plein Air Paradise 2009 - AWARD OF MERIT for "4th & Main" (Midway Paint
Out) & "Rockport" (Studio piece)
- Utah Watercolor Society -2009 Spring Open Exhibition (“Lady in Yellow” & “Go With The Flow”) Bountiful, UT (May8 - June 19) AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for “Go With The Flow”
- National Watercolor Society – 2009 All Member Exhibit (“Red Rock Reverie”) San Pedro, CA (May 17 – June 27)
- 34th Annual Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition (“Worship”) San Diego, CA (May 1 – 31) AWARD OF MERIT
- Utah Watercolor Society – 2009 Mini Show (“Dog Park”, “Joel & Jake/Sandy #2”, & “Summer Solstice Plein Air Group”) SLC, UT – AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for “Summer Solstice…”
- Cache Valley Chapter/ Utah Watercolor Society – Dec. 2008 (“Joel”, “Mantua”, “Christmas 2008”) Logan, UT - BEST OF SHOW for “Joel” HONORABLE MENTION for “Mantua”
- Utah Watercolor Society Signature/Two Star Show 2008 (“Far From the Gambling Crowd”) Springville, UT - AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
- “Garden Gifts” (Botanical Watercolors- one person show) Red Butte Garden, SLC, UT (July 26 - Aug. 17, 2008)
- Cache Valley Chapter/Utah Watercolor Society – July 2008 (“North Logan Pastoral”, “4th of July Hike to Lake Mary”, “Jon & a Gaggle”) Logan, UT – BEST OF SHOW for “North Logan Pastoral” & AWARD OF MERIT for “4th of July…”
- 2008 Summerfest Plein Air Competition (Logan, UT) SECOND PLACE for “Little Mountain From King Nature Park Trail”
- Utah Watercolor Society – 2008 Spring Open Exhibition (“Rhubarb” & “Float”) SLC, UT – AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for “Rhubarb”
- 33rd Annual Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition (“Green Fracture”) Tubac, AZ ( March 2008)
- Plein Air Oils (one person show) Caffe Ibis, Logan, UT (Dec. 2007)
- Utah Watercolor Society – 2007 Fall Member Show (“Walking Jessie”) SLC, UT – JACK RICHESON TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR AWARD
- 2007 Wasatch Plein Air Paradise – AWARD OF MERIT (professional category) for “Wasatch Paradise 2007 #2” – Midway, UT
