Art Show at Oteo

One of my most favorite places to eat is at Oteo, and so I am very pleased to get to have some of my artwork hanging up in their restaurant right now, and through the end of the month. And my dress is from Flor De Luz.

 I have about 30 paintings there on display, these 4 large ones and over 20 in the private dining room in the back.  Oteo restaurant hours are: Monday 11-3, Tuesday - Friday 11 am - 9 pm and Saturdays brunch at 10am. Closed daily from 3-5 pm.  Here is the menu.  Here are reviews and photos and a map.

On June 27th, from 6-9 pm, we will have a big party to celebrate.  You are all welcome to come.  I will be there, I'll have art for sale (originals, prints, cards... and my daughters will have some of their work there too!)  The menu will be special for the event.  It will be $15 and it will include your choice of the following:

2 chicken empanadas  (the owner's favorite) or

1 hanging steak & 1 avocado taco or

2 salmon tacos or

2 avocado tacos  (the salmon and avocado are my favorites)

plus a cronut

and a fountain drink of your choice, or one of my favorite drinks- jamaica

or you can come check things out and not eat, or you can come any of the other days.

Tulip Painter Party Featuring "The Farley Family Reunion" by James Arrington

I am tickled to get to invite you all to come enjoy the wonderfully hilarious play:

The Farley Family Reunion

by James Arrington

James Arrington as "Aunt Pearl"  with one of my paintings

Plan on bringing blankets and lawn chairs and start preparing yourself for a delightful evening on

August 16th

at 519 West 880 South in Orem

this event is free, and you are welcome to bring friends and family of all ages with you.

I will also have some fabulous photo opportunities,  photo booths that will amaze you and dress ups so you can reenact your favorite characters from the show or come up with your own ideas to impress your social media fans.

Use the hashtags: #TulipPainter  #TulipPainterPhotoBooth #TulipPainterFarleyFamilyParty

so we can all check out the great photos.

I will also have a lot of my art on display, including original artwork and prints and cards for sale.  I am also working on cleaning out my studio and I will be having a studio clearance sale.

This will be a fun evening, we'll get started at

4 p.m. 

for mingling, checking out my artwork and photo booth opportunities.

"The Farley Family Reunion"

will start at 7 p.m.

This hilarious one-man comedy, written and performed by the versatile and talented James Arrington, introduces you to all the famous and funny "cousins" who come to a mythical family reunion.  You won't want to miss this performance because it is so funny, and it is actually a rare opportunity- because this show has been retired.  You can read an article about the farewell performance here.  And it's free!

Here is a great "Farley Family Reunion" You Tube video from last summer.

And here is another You Tube clip about another show James does, "Farley Family Christmas"

this clip shows how interactive and fun this play is.

During the play, awards are passed out to the audience and I am donating some of my artwork for some of the prizes.  I think an award is usually given for who ever has traveled the furthest and things like that.  So, if you live far away, let that be your incentive as well...

It is going to be so fun, I am very excited and I hope you can come!

**an opportunity to serve**

Primary Children's Hospital is in need of the following items:
~Underwear, girls and boys, in all sizes, including adult sizes
~Xbox and PlayStation games (the older Playstation ones)
~Pajama pants in all sizes
~t-shirts in all sizes
~stickers
~hair bows and head bands
I'll have a box to gather items in and a table set up with supplies to make bows, your are also welcome to contribute supplies.
Thank you!

40 New Paintings For My 40th Birthday

This year, in fact this very week, I am turning 40!

Last year at this time,  I was working hard getting ready for a solo show I had in The Springville Museum of Art.  It was a great experience, and as that show ended, I started to think what I could do next, then I decided turning 40 was the perfect excuse to have another show.  I decided I'd paint 40 new paintings.  I have tried not to limit or constrain myself, to just paint for the pure pleasure of it.  It has been great, and I've actually just enjoyed myself and painted at least 70 in the process, but I'll bring my 40 favorite, I'm also sharing another 40 favorites from the past 40 years, the paintings that have been pivotal and important in my life.  I'm even including artwork I created when I was a little girl, I'm excited to share my journey as an artist.

I am really excited about being able to hang my art up in The Startup Building, it is an awesome venue,

it is located at 560 South 100 West in Provo,

right in between University Avenue and Freedom Boulevard at the end of the FrontRunner train line, in fact, if you are coming from anywhere north of Provo- it would be a fun and convenient excuse to ride the train!  If you are driving, be aware that it will be pretty busy with The Food Truck Roundup going on, so you might even take advantage of the UTA parking lot at the train station and just walk across the street, there is also parking all around the block.   Here is the link to The Startup Building Facebook page.  The Startup Building is a really cool building, it is on the historic registry.  I found a history of the building and business you can read here.  The Startup Candy is still there, and you can even go buy candy there Monday-Thursday between 12 and 2 p.m.   Upstairs is a large, industrial space that is used for receptions, meetings and such.  I go every month to a great gathering held there that is called Creative Collaborative.  I think it will be the perfect place for my show and party,  and  it has big walls,  I'll even be able to bring the big 6 ft by 18 ft painting to the party.

The show is only one night, so plan on being there!

June 26, 2014 6-9 p.m.

I am very excited that my party and The Provo Food Truck Roundup happen to be at the same time and place.  It will make for such a great night!  If you are not familiar with The Food Truck Roundup, here is an article to help you get familiar.  We are always super excited to see the Waffle Love truck, my daughter Lucy is always especially happy to spot that one!  You can also check out their page on Facebook to keep up with all the details.  They typically will publish a list of trucks participating each week.  There are big wooden spools outside you can stand at and eat.  The Food Trucks are there from 5- 9 p.m.

My party starts at 6 pm and it is going to be awesome!
I'll have birthday cake and lemonade and plenty of art to enjoy and many of the paintings are available for purchase.  I will also have a variety of prints and cards and such for sale.

It is a kid friendly party, so bring them along!  I'll have an area with art supplies where everyone is welcome to make their own art.  My oldest daughter is a great artist and she will be showing some of her artwork.  She also has an idea of having an art show where all the artwork is on paper plates and will have paper plates there is you are interested in participating in her paper plate show.   You can check that out on Instagram and add your own #thepaperplateshow

There is also a giant chalk board wall and plenty of chalk to decorate it with.


 Photography is welcome in my exhibit, and for those who are using social media, use the hashtags #tulippainter and/or #tulippainterturns40

photo credit: Justin Hackworth

And finally, you better come say hi to me while you are there!

*you can also follow me on Instagram and Pinterest as "tulippainter"
and on Facebook as "Sarah Richards Samuelson"

Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship 2014

I am honored once again to be a part of The Deseret Book Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship.  Here is my piece in the auction and here is a link to bid on it (bidding ends this Saturday).  It was a great success last year, and I think it is a great opportunity all around, a chance to collect great original artwork and to support the arts and if you are an art student or know one, it is a great scholarship to apply for!

Here is a link with all the information you need to purchase or apply.

Here is a list of all the artist who are participating this year :

Amy Tolk Richards

Anne Marie Oborn

Annie Henrie

Ben Behunin

Ben Hammond

Brian Kershisnik

Cassandra Barney

Cortney C. Lunt

Cristall Harper

Dave Merrill

David Lindsley

Del Parson

Glenda Gleave

Howard Lyon

J. Kirk Richards

James Christensen

Jenny Elizabeth

Julie Rogers

Justin Kunz

Ken Harris

Linda Curley Christensen

Liz Lemon Swindle

Robert T Barrett

Rose Datoc Dall

Sandra Rast

Sarah Richards Samuelson

Scott Sumner

Shirley McKay Britsch

Simon Winegar

Steve McGinty

Good luck!  I hope that this reminder helps people I know get some great art and scholarships!

"And God Remembered Rachel"

“And God remembered Rachel….”  (Gen 30:22)

As Joseph’s ten older brothers were born, his mother Rachel yearned to have a baby.  I have contemplated the idea that Rachel may have started weaving and embroidering a blanket with the hope that one day she would have a baby.  As other children were born, perhaps Rachel made her blanket more elaborate.

As Joseph grew older and his mother died, his father could have had the blanket made into a coat for him as an outward symbol of the love of his parents.

I added the white poppies to the composition because a friend of mine, who grew up in Israel told me that the phrase "consider the lilies of the field"  conjures images of poppies for her.  I like to add that meaning to this image.  "Considering the lilies" can sometimes be a difficult task, especially when wanting and waiting is prolonged.

This painting is currently on display as part of the Annual Spiritual & Religious Art of Utah Exhibit in The Springville Museum of Art up until January 15th.  Museum hours are:  closed Mondays, 10-5 Tuesday through Saturday with extended hours until 9 on Wednesday evenings and Sundays 3-6.  Admission is free.

How long did it take you to paint that?

So often when others view my art they ask, "How long did that take you?"  I know they are referring to the amount of time I had a brush in my hand, but for me, it’s not just the time at the easel, but rather the living, the experience, the textures, the hopes, the vistas, the valleys that all culminate in that moment.  The painting I worked on yesterday may have been on my easel for a week, but it took me decades, a culmination of everything else I have ever created, of every flower I have stopped to admire, of every conversation, every sunrise I have witnessed, every sunset that has bathed me in its glow.  That painting combines every experience, all the decisions I have made, my doubts, my successes.

Me and my sweet baby getting this painting started.

But the thing that is so important and so unique to the times that I express myself in paint is that here, in my paintings, I am holding the brush.  I choose the paint, I choose the process, I choose the surface.  I choose what to share, what to obscure, what to leave vulnerable and what to polish.  I take my experiences and put them there to share in the way that feels very appropriate for me, and that brings me fulfillment and challenge and true happiness and that is why I paint.  It is in my paint that I feel myself emerging, reflecting who I really am, and who I am striving to become, in all aspects of my life.

I painted this painting in my garage during the warmest months of the year.  The evenings brought cooler temperatures and friendly visits from neighbors and new friends stopping by to check on the progress.

Painting feeds me and brings me balance.  The experience of painting is an exhilarating process for me.  It is a process of doubting, questioning, crying, joy, triumph, discovery, elation, and finally peace with it all.  For me that process alone is worth it all, but how much sweeter the reward becomes when I can share it, when someone sees my work and time stops, even if only for a second, and they say, "I like it; it makes me feel happy".  Then my joy is full, and I feel blessed to able to be the giver of that gift.

Here is the finished painting hanging in my exhibit in The Springville Museum of Art.

a rose from my great aunt

After her husband passed away, my great aunt kept the last roses he had given her. Though wilted and most of the petals had fallen off, she kept then because they were his last gift. She selected a withered rose with the most petals and offered it to me. Two more petals fell off. I declined because I realized the sentimentality it represented. Again, she insisted. At home I gently set the withered rose on my drawing table. I wasn't sure what to do. Then I understood- I must paint it because it represented the love of her husband. Flowers give peace, comfort, and love. I named my daughter after my aunt because of her treasured influence. (This painting is part of my exhibit currently on display in The Springville Museum of Art)

Eyes Wide Open Exhibit at The Springville Museum of Art

I have been so busy getting ready for this show that many other things have been neglected- including my blog.   My exhibit at the Springville Museum of art opened last night.  It was wonderful except that I feel like I didn't get to visit with so many of the people who came, I am so grateful for all of the love and support and excitement that I have been bathed in through out this process. 

I am grateful for this opportunity to share my artwork.  My sweet Uncle actually counted my paintings that are on display at the museum right now and there are 137!  I hope you can go see them!

My show will hang until November 11th.  Here are my tips for planning your visit:

Here is a link to the museum's page for planning your visit, it includes directions and also indicates that admission to the museum is FREE.  

The museum hours are: closed on Mondays, open 10-5 Tuesday through Saturday with extended hours on Wednesday night (open until 9 pm) and then on Sunday from 3-6 pm (a great time to miss traffic and have an inspiring and peaceful visit)

This show is called Eyes Wide Open and it features 4 different exhibits within the same show.

Brian Kershisnik's exhibit is awesome.  I am so excited to get to be in the same show with him.  Here is a link to his website.  There is also an exhibit from the Utah Inspirational Association and Denny Thurston a Utah Photographer.  There is also a great exhibit in the basement called Exploring Play that is a fun interactive exhibit for families and that children will especially love.  Upstairs, you will find the artwork of Walter Rane and also an exhibit that features the people and places and ideas in Utah.

If you'd like to eat while you are in Springville, my favorite local spot is the Art City Trolley  It is a great restaurant, the food is delicious the setting is fun (ask to be seated in the trolley for a unique dinning experience) and the service is always great. Here is a link to their menu.  I love the salads there, and my dad says the ribs are especially good (I'm not a big meat eater, but he is, so his opinion is valuable. Also they have very decadent desserts, so if you don't have time for a whole meal, or just want to indulge, go for dessert- the portions are big enough to be shared.  I love the carrot cake.

I have been surprised as I have been telling people about my show when they reveal where they think Springville is, many people seem to think it is very far away in central Utah, it isn't, it is just barely south of Provo.  It's really not a bad drive or inconvenient to visit- you could get there in an hour from Salt  Lake and if you go on Sunday when there is less traffic, it will be a pleasant drive worth taking.

Oh, and one more thing- the freeway signs for Springville don't say "Springville" on them! they say 1400 N and 400 S, which happens to be the road the museum is on.  They do have those brown historic signs that say Springville Museum of Art. 

I hope this information is helpful!  When you go, feel free to take photos, I love to get to see my work through your perspective!  Leave me a note here or in my book and if you post photos on facebook, make sure to tag me and if you put them on instagram, use the hash tag #SarahSMOFA  (that stands for Springville Museum of Art)  and any other hash tags you see fit.

The official Sotos Syndrome Support Association video is now available on youtube

Last July was a whirlwind of events for us.  Lucy was officially diagnosed with Sotos Syndrome and two weeks later she and I traveled to our first Sotos Syndrome Conference.  It was overwhelming and informative and such a wonderful opportunity to get to connect with so many people with similar experiences.  There is a broad range of differences, but always something in common with each person there.  

A couple of years ago, this video was made at a conference, and it has been a great resource to be able to share with with friends, family, medical professionals, teachers and therapists.  Sotos is so rare that the majority of people that we interact with are not familiar with the syndrome.  I am so grateful for the  families who shared their lives on this video, it has helped us.  I am also grateful to be able to share our journey with Sotos, here, on my blog.  I am so grateful for the people who find my blog searching for information about Sotos.  I am so grateful to be able to provide any support or answers to those who are searching.  I am pleased to be able to get to share this video, it is a great way to become familiar with Sotos Syndrome.  For those searching for answers or recently diagnosed, I hope you can find peace, belonging and support here. 

Merry Christmas

This is a little painting I did for Kids on the Move to use for their Christmas card this year.

I think tulips are appropriate for everything, but especially their Christmas card.

Last month I was honored to be part of a wonderful event, the annual appreciation breakfast hosted by Kids on the Move.  My paintings were used on the invitations, the name badges, the place settings and I was able to present a giclee to Kids on the Move that now hangs in their building.

I like the idea of tulips for Christmas, I added the berries to make it more festive. I think a wreath is a great symbol or greeting, or welcoming. I think it goes so well with the "Welcome to Holland" story that I love.

Welcome To Holland

copyright 1987, by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.  After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and  says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy!  I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.  The important  thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease.  It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.  It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less   flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you  begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful  time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go.   That's  what I had planned."  And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream  is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very  special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Springville Museum of Art Religious Show 2012

I have a painting in the

27th Annual Spiritual and Religious Art of Utah Exhibition

November 17, 2012 - January 18, 2013

at The Springville Museum Of Art

Each of my daughters has a middle name from the Old Testament, and I have done paintings for each of the women they were named after, they have actually turned into series of paintings and drawings.  This is a painting of Sarah and Abraham and Issac.

I call this painting : "As Numerous as the Stars"

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

And Sarah said, God hath made me to (rejoice), so that all that hear will (rejoice) with me....

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven...

And said...

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore...

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Genesis 22 / Genesis 26

I put a lot of damar varnish on this painting- it is quite shiny, so excuse all the glare... and I am a mom, so I think it is cute that every photo I took has little girls running around.  It makes me so happy to see them interact and be proud of my paintings.

Rett Ashby made the frame and I love it.

You should go to the museum and check it out.

The Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10am to 5pm, Wednesdays 10am to 9pm, and Sundays 3pm to 6pm. Closed Mondays and Holidays, except the first Monday monthly from 6pm to 8pm for Community & Family Night. Community & Family Night is not held on, or in close proximity to holidays.  Admission is Free.

(I think the Sundays 3-6 is a great Sabbath Activity)

Make sure to look for the tulips in this painting... I couldn't help myself...

fresh tulips in November

Recently I had a wonderful opportunity to share some of my art at an appreciation breakfast for Kids On The Move.  It was beautiful.  I will share all the details in another post.  For now, I just want to share this little painting.  They had fresh tulips on all the tables, and I asked if I could take some home to paint, my request was granted and this is what I have so far.  

I am so grateful for the whole opportunity.

While I was there, I met our Mayor, Jim Evans.  He mentioned me in his blog post about it.  I am so honored and grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sotos Syndrome Fundraiser at all California Pizza Kitchen locations in Utah

If you have seen us the past couple of weeks you probably already know that

Lucy loves to hand out fliers

for the Sotos Fundraiser we are having at all three locations of the California Pizza Kitchen in Utah.

And if you haven't seen us, 

just consider yourself personally invited by Lucy herself.

You don't have to have a flier to support the cause, you can just go and say you are  there for the fundraiser, read the post below for all the details.

Thank you for your support!

Sotos Syndrome FUNdraiser at California Pizza Kitchen

We have felt the love, support and prayers of so many as we have been through these past couple of years.  Many of you have asked if there was anything you could do, and here is something you can do:

Please enjoy some food at any California Pizza Kitchen in Utah on November 7th and 8th 2012 and mention that you are there to support Sotos Syndrome.  20% of the proceeds will go to the Sotos Syndrome Support Association.

Sotos is very rare affecting an estimated 1 in every 15,000 -20,000 births, so the chances of interacting with others with Sotos are very slim.  This also means that most of Lucy's doctors have never even heard of Sotos, let alone ever dealt with a patient who has Sotos.

When Lucy was diagnosed, her geneticists told me about the Sotos Syndrome Support Association, and as luck would have it, their annual conference was just two short weeks later... in Vancouver Canada.  It was a whirlwind getting all the arrangements made to get there.   I am so incredibly grateful that we got everything together and made the trip.  There are so many things you can learn from doctors, nurses and hospital staff and there are so many things you can learn from the internet, but being able to learn from other individuals with Sotos and their families and the doctors who have dedicated themselves to studying Sotos is something else.  

When I walked into the conference, all of a sudden, we belonged, the other kids even looked like Lucy.  Many of the other moms would stop and gasp and then want to hold her, it was like we had turned back time and they were looking at their own baby.  They have shared their baby photos and it is fascinating how much they look alike.  

As I attended the classes and met with the doctors and socialized with the other families, so many things started to fall into place and make more sense, the whole picture became more clear.

Needless to say, I love being part of this network.

I feel so much more prepared and supported.  By supporting the SSSA they will be able to continue to provide these services.  

Deseret Book Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship Program

Last Spring I was featured at a "Lunch and Learn"  at the Deseret Book Flagship Store at City Creek.  My daughter sent one of her paintings with me and everyone loved it so much that they asked both of us to paint blocks for the Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship Program auction. 

We had so much fun working on these in my studio together.  I love how simple and sweet Grace's turned out.  I kept looking at hers and it made me keep working and working on mine because I wanted it to feel more like hers!  I love how they both turned out, you really ought to go see them in person.

There are many wonderful little paintings that will be auctioned off from many great artists.  I feel honored to be among them.

Participating Scholarship Bock Artists:

Annie Henrie Cristall Harper

James Christensen Brian kershisnik

Ben Behunin Howard Lyon

Amy Tolk Richards J. Kirk Richards

Sarah Samuelson Grace Samuelson

Linda Curly Christensen Robert A. Boyd

Scott Sumner Robert T. Barrett

Jenny Elizabeth Shirley McKay Britsch

Justin Kunz Julie Rogers

Christopher Young Mary Summerhays

Sandra Rast Cassandra Barney

Elandra Garbett Glenda Gleave

Rose Datoc Dall           Jennifer Thompson

Liz Lemon Swindle

I told my daughter that it is amazing for her to be included in such a list as a five year old, to which she replied, "I was a four year old when I painted it"  She makes me smile.  I am glad we got to do this.

The auction runs from October 26th through December 10th.  100% of the proceeds will go to the 2012 Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship program.

To bid contact Linda Howard: 801-328-8191

lindarubyhoward@gmail.com.