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...

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.

Lucy's Birthday Gift to Primary Children's Medical Center

When Lucy turned one, she didn't celebrate like most one year olds do, she has a g tube.  I suppose I could have pureed a cupcake and put it in her tummy.  One of the things we did to celebrate was donate some of my art to Primary Children's Hospital on Lucy's behalf.  I loved that Lucy got excited about exploring it before we delivered it.

This is a  giclee print on canvas of my painting called "Not Arrayed Like One Of These".  The original is an oil painting on panel and it is about 4 feet by 8 feet.  This giclee is about half the size of the original.  

My kids love to wear the sick masks at the hospital every time they go (whether they need to or not).  We had such a fun time delivering it.  The girls couldn't believe we got to go to the hospital just for fun and not for any appointments.

I signed it:  Lucy's Mom (Sarah)

Here it is in it's final spot- the Dental Clinic (3rd floor, south end).  I was initially hoping it could go somewhere where we actually spend time in the hospital, and this wasn't one of the clinics that Lucy visited.  Ironically, she has now visited them a few times, and it looks like we will spend plenty of time here in the future.  It looks great here and everyone who works in the office loves it.  I am so glad we could do this for Lucy.

lunch and learn at Deseret Book

Last Friday I was the featured artist at The Deseret Book Flagship Store at City Creek.  Richard Paul Evans was there as the featured writer.  He was signing copies of his new book, "The Road to Grace".  He was very nice.  

The City Creek shopping area is open now, and the weather was so nice, so there was a good amount of traffic in the store.  I always love getting to get out and talk to people about my art.  It is always a great opportunity to be invited to Deseret Book.

I am also excited about the new products Deseret Book is working on for me.  They are trying to get a couple of different options of my Noah's Ark painting into some frames that will work great for children's rooms.  I had a couple good title options for that at one time and I am trying to remember what they were, something about hope that referenced the tulips and rainbow... I should have written them down in a better spot.

Purple Tulips unveiled

I unveiled this painting yesterday at the BYU Women's Conference.

It has been a fun couple of days, mingling with artists, seeing old friends, making new friends and signing prints.  My 4 year old daughter visited and she went up to a group of ladies and handed them each bookmarks and said, " You should go buy some of my mom's art."  She did it all on her own, and they did come buy some.  I am glad she is so proud of me.  I am so proud of her.

BYU Women's Conference Art Unveiling

My daughters love to come join me in my studio- they have their own paintings, but they especially love to get to paint a little on what I am working on.  Sometimes it creates a little extra problem solving for me, and sometimes it gives me precious little bits of paint that end up being some of my favorite spots in the end.  My daughter helped me out a little on this one, and so did my baby.  

You can come see how all our efforts turned out tomorrow when I unveil the finished painting at the BYU Women's Conference

at noon tomorrow, Thursday the 26th at noon.

I will have many different prints to purchase (and for me to sign for you) including prints of this new painting.  I will also have many other images  available as giclees, framed giclees, loose prints and even bookmarks.

Come visit me at The BYU Bookstore.

I will be there both on Thursday and Friday from 10 -2 and 3-6.  I will be in the basement, just down the stairs by the infamous candy counter.

And I promise my daughter will get a cut when I sell this original.

"Untitled" at The Rio Grande Gallery

"Untitled" Exhibition from April 6- May 3, 2012
(click for details)

I think it is kind of entertaining that every time I have a painting in a show, my daughter likes to touch it a little while it is hanging there, she knows we shouldn't- but she knows that it is mine, so it is a little privilege she can't resist indulging in.  It cracks me up every time.

This is a great exhibit at the Rio Grande Gallery right now, it is a fun concept- the public is invited to come and "title" the "untitled".  They have cards and pencils on there for you to write your suggestions, and a little hook beside each painting to hang your suggestions on.  Naming paintings is a difficult task, so this should be fun to collect some great titles.  Usually that is one of the hardest parts of the whole process for me.  Occasionally I will have a title all ready even before I start the painting, other than that, I go with pretty obvious descriptions (although I am really running out of those when it comes to red tulips)  sometimes my brother will work on names for me- and he does a great job.

At the opening of this show, my oldest daughter wrote : "Sarah Lily of the Tulip Painter" as her suggestion, it makes me smile.  She was asking me to help her spell each word, and I was eager to hear what each next word would be.  It was suspenseful because it was a slow process, (lollipops in one hand, pencil in the other) but I love what she came up with.

City Creek

City Creek, oil on panel, 12 X 17
(downtown Salt Lake City)

I just finished this painting,  it was really fun to paint.  I am really grateful for the opportunity I had to paint it.  I would like to paint more city scenes now.  

The list is so long, and it is always getting longer.  

I love to paint.

Little Red Tulips, oil on panel, 5X7

I just found this little painting in my studio, and I have decided to paint that I am going to paint a series of little tulip paintings like this.  I am excited.

The only part I am not excited about is coming up with titles, I have painted so many tulip paintings, I am running out of ideas for names.

Red and Gold Tulips

This is a painting I recently finished, it was a commission, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to paint it. I still haven't come up with a title that I like.

There is a place I go in my sub-conscience when I paint tulips that is so peaceful. I am glad I got to go there, I needed it. Having a commission made it happen now. My client asked me to duplicate another painting that I had painted years ago, "The Jewels of Skagit Valley" which has been a favorite of mine (you can see it on the sidebar here), he asked if it would be the just the same, I said I hoped it would be much better, and I feel like it is. It is good to know that I can improve on something that already seemed so right.

I wish you could see the original, while this is a great representation, you can't see the way the leaves are made of shiny gold and the iridescent and metallic and even glittery colors in the tulips. I love it. It makes me happy to look at and to think about the process I experienced as I created it.

40 X 21, oil on panel

tulips for natalme

I love it when I get to trade my art, a little while ago, my good friend took some beautiful photos of my daughters and I traded this painting for it. She just wrote a nice post about it on her blog natalme which is a very amazing blog, in fact, if you are a pinner, you have probably pinned something off her blog, seriously.

*update*  natalme was featured on The Nate Berkus Show, go here to find her link, you will some of my artwork on her walls in the video

Roses for Ruby

"Roses for Ruby"

15 X 15, oil on panel

This is a painting commission I just finished. I loved getting to paint it. The story of this painting actually started a long time ago, when I was a little girl.

Our next door neighbor was Ruby, and she had the most beautiful rose garden. All I have to do is think of her to remember the fragrant smell of her garden. I remember watching her tend her roses, she would invite me to smell each different rose and compare their scent, oftentimes, she would cut a rose for me to take home. She would trim the thorns so I wouldn't get hurt. I would carefully take it home and put it in a vase, or cup or jar and smell it over and over and touch the velvety petals and sing, "whenever I touch a velvet rose". When I think of roses, I think of Ruby.

I feel honored that more than 30 years later, for Ruby's birthday, her daughters commissioned me to paint roses for her. I have been so excited and happy today, on her birthday, wondering if she got the painting yet, and I imagine in my mind, her face, surprised and happy. I hope they remind her of that garden. I hope she knows that her kindness to a little girl was and still is so meaningful. I hope she knows that she taught me to see beauty and to appreciate the nuances of shape and color and smell. She helped my to really examine and enjoy flowers, and I am so grateful for that. Some of my greatest joy that I experience is because I learned to see like that. That is a big reason why I paint.

Thank you Ruby, and Happy Birthday.

Here is a photo of the painting in it's frame made by Rick Shorten. I think it is the perfect frame for this painting. I actually used a lot of gold paint in this painting- the sky has gold coming through the blue and there is also gold in the foliage. So, the photos look good, but seeing the original is even better.

Be nice to little kids. Let them see you love, and teach them to love.

The rewards only multiply.

clothesline

Last Thursday, Zion's Bank hosted an Art Reception, it was really fun, there were at least 30 different artists and about 4,500 people came to check it out. Many people told me they really liked this painting, I really like it too, so I thought I would post it here on my blog.

I painted this last September at The Spring City Plein Air Festival. Sanpete County is so beautiful, and there are so many places I wanted to paint, but I just had to paint this clothesline. I started out with a little acrylic, then drew on my panel with vine charcoal, then quickly moved into oil paint.

On this painting, I left a fair amount of the charcoal still exposed. I really enjoyed getting to be in Spring City and paint and for all the good company I had while I painted.

Here I am finishing it up with a palette knife.

2011 Tulip Festival Poster

This is the poster for The 2011 Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. (available in the garden gift shop)

I painted it last year in the children's garden.

I brought it back into my studio recently and made a couple of changes. I added the rainbow.

I think I'm calling it "Symbols of Promise" or " Symbols of Hope"

For the past several I have spent my spring days in the gardens at Thanksgiving Point enveloped in the beauty of the tulip festival painting and talking with the others who have also come to enjoy the beauty. Thousands upon thousands are drawn to the gardens to see the tulips.

Just as the rainbow is a symbol of promise, a symbol of hope, so are the tulips. People come because the hope and happiness that the tulips symbolize. The tulips awaken and bloom and beckon the rest of nature to dawn her colors. They symbolize hope and rebirth, an end of cold and beginning of warmth, an invitation to grow.

Conference weekend special

This weekend Deseret Book has a great price on some of my artwork- each of these are $25.00 (framed- in a small size- other sizes are also available)

What a great deal!

They also have a whole wall filled with my paintings at the downtown Salt Lake store.

Be Still

Be Still

White and Pure

Humbly Reaching Upward to Heaven

Seeking God to Please

Patiently Growing

Nurtured by His Love

Firmly planted

This is a painting that I started a while ago, I liked it, but it did not feel quite finished. I had some difficult times in my pregnancy, and I kept thinking about this painting, I really wanted to get it all resolved. My health got even worse, and I wasn't able to paint, so I had the painting hung by my bed. In my mind. I finished the painting over and over and when I was finally able- I finished it. I call it "Be Still" because that was all I could do. My little one came a little early and spent some time in the NICU and once again, all I could do was "be still".

I made it into a bookmark and gave it to everyone who helped and served us in the hospital. I feel so grateful. This painting has been a great source of peace and comfort to me.

red tulips

I love tulips.

I especially love red tulips.

I've even had a show where every single painting was a painting of red tulips.

(this painting was part of that show,"red tulips", oil on panel, 24" X24")

I never get tired of them.

I can't wait for them to bloom again this year.

Getting excited for spring

I am getting so excited for the spring, for the tulips to bloom, for the tulip festival, for the new life and hope the spring brings.

I got this painting out that I had been painting last spring in the Children's Garden... I think I want to put a rainbow in on the left side.

This year, The Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival is April 15-30th. I really believe the best way to enjoy the Tulip Festival is to get a membership and come a few times. Many people do not realize there are early, middle and late tulips, so the gardens are constantly changing. Many people also do not realize that they can come before and after the Tulip Festival and still enjoy the tulips. The gardens open on March 26th, and there are always many of the late tulips that do not get seen by many visitors and they are so beautiful- many of the late tulips grow so tall- up to your waist and the colors are really quite elegant. The late ones also have some sophisticated colors. The very earliest ones are so pretty too, they are typically very bright orange-red and yellow. And the darling crocus make early visits so pleasant.

Mother Nature is definitely in charge, there will be rainy days, probably even some snow, but if you have a membership you can bundle up and enjoy these beautifully serene days as well. The colors seem more intense, and it is so quiet, you can almost hear the tulips growing.

Anyway, I am excited.

I haven't blogged for a long time...

... because I have been focusing on this little one.

I have gotten a few paintings done during my pregnancy, including the painting below entitled, "Eve, Mother of All Living". It is currently hanging in the Springville Museum of Art 25th annual religious show.

I'm excited to go back and post some of the other things I have been working on, so please check back!