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.

When will the tulips bloom?

There are many factors that contribute to when tulips bloom, like the weather, how much sun they get, how deep they are planted and what type of tulips they are.

There are actually thousands of different types of tulips, and they are broken down into 15 specific classifications. I am focusing on 3 basic variations for this post: early, middle, and late.

Early tulips generally bloom in late March to early April. They tend to be about 8 to 15 inches in height. Early tulips begin blooming while daffodils and crocus are still in bloom.

Middle tulips bloom 5 to 10 days after the early tulips and tend to be a little taller than the early ones, and a little hardier and more suited to cutting and bringing inside to enjoy.

Late tulips are truly elegant, they tend to have long sturdy stems and large blooms and include the parrot varieties. Many tulip festival patrons miss out on these beauties because they bloom so much later- 5 to 10 days more after the middle tulips, often blooming well into June and the crowds at the gardens tend to dramatically taper after the advertised days of the Tulip Festival have passed. The tulips are still there, just not the venders live music and such.

I hope this information is helpful in getting the most enjoyment out of tulip season this year, I still think a membership to the gardens is a great way to go and then go a few times so you get to see more varieties of tulips.

how to know when to go to the tulip festival

I am frequently asked when is the best time to go to the tulip festival.

I think the best thing to do is go as many days as you can, but I realize that I may be a bit more fanatic about tulips than the average person, so here are some more practical tips:

First of all, I think you should plant some tulips in your own yard, then you will see them growing and have an idea of what to expect (and if you don't have any tulips in your yard, check out the tulips in your neighborhood and around town, and that will give you some idea) This photo is of tulips in our yard tonight. Things are looking good- lots of green, some tulips are in bloom, but the majority are not there yet.

Another great way to know what to expect at the gardens is to use this link and go to the live web cam at The Thanksgiving Point Gardens. Look at each of the individual gardens, and you will begin to see more and more color. This is also a great way to check the weather before you go.

By the way, I will be on the KUTV channel 2 news on Monday morning (April 18th) around 6:30 a.m. for a live broadcast at The Tulip Festival.

a bitter sweet realization

Yesterday, my 3 year old wanted this little paint set as a reward for some good behavior. She was so excited about it... until she tried to use it.

She is accustomed to higher quality paint.

We all come with the ability to draw

Frequently when I meet people and they learn that I am an artist, they tell me they can't draw, or they only draw "stick people". It's probably the same way I look at nurses and I tell them I can't imagine doing what they do.

Think about it though, think of yourself when you were 3 or 4 or 5, or any kid you know at that age, if you ask them to draw themselves or their families or really anything, they will. They quickly begin, without hesitation or any regard for how anyone else will perceive what they draw. Little children are not inhibited, and not only do they come with the ability to visually express themselves, but the desire, and they enjoy it.

So, what happens?

My 3 year old was asked to draw something that begins with the letter B, so she drew her cousin Berkley. (and a tulip beside her, she is my daughter after all). She is 100% confident that this is an accurate rendering of her cousin, she had fun drawing it and is proud of her results. I love it, I think it is wonderful and I want to nurture that confidence, it is so valuable to her and her success, not only as an artist, but in life in general.

Most children want to please their parents and teachers, so when these adults either do not show any confidence or regard for art, children will mirror them. By the time many children are 7 or 8, they have quit drawing their own cute people, and they start drawing the bathroom sign style stick people that the adults around them draw. It breaks my heart to see their people gone replaced by generic "stick people." Ask the same group of people that eagerly drew at age 4 to draw the same thing as an adult, and many will draw "stick people", decline or say they can't draw altogether.

My advice:

If you are a parent or teacher, don't draw stick people. You may be thinking "that's all I can draw." I say you can do better! A great solution is to draw the people your children draw, copy them, they are much better to copy than to have them copy you. Keep your drawing fresh, don't draw the same thing the same way every time- so that your child doesn't think there is only one way to draw one thing- a symbol, instead look at something real and observe it together.

Try to be like a child instead of the child trying to be like you. You'll both start producing better art.

(These are my daughter's drawings before, during and post pregnancy)

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.

What is better than tulips?

This beautiful little girl is.

She was supposed to wait until the tulips were in full bloom, but she decided to come first.

All of a sudden, I need a usb hub

Ever since I saw this, I can't quit thinking that it would such a useful thing to have... it's not that I don't have enough space to keep everything plugged in... it is just that these are tulips, red tulips.

Invest in better quality art supplies

I think one of the most important things you can do to encourage your artist is to invest in better quality for their art supplies. I don't think you need to spend a lot, but at least get them supplies that can encourage better results.

These are my tips for getting your artist set up properly with watercolors. (the photo is of my 3 year old daughter's set up)

Honestly, I think anyone would be frustrated and loose interest if the color they dip their brush into a color that is only capable of giving an anemic version of what it looks like. I think that you should spend about $10 on a watercolor set (or get one of those 40% off coupons and get an even nicer one). Brand doesn't necessarily matter as much as when you start spending that much, you will be getting more pigment in the paint, hence better results, and the set is going to last a lot longer. I also think it is important to get a variety of brushes so that your artist has choices. There are typically variety packs of synthetic brushes available at most art and craft stores for 5 or 6 dollars. And finally, paper- if you give your artist printer paper to paint on, it warps and tears- it is not made to accept water. I recommend buying a ream of card stock (stores like xpedex have great prices and selection) You can get something with a little texture, or if you want smooth- I suggest "bristol" card stock.

Better quality supplies=better art. Your artists deserves it!

Only one month away from this!

This is what I love.

I love getting to be surrounded by tulips, painting tulips. I love getting to meet and talk to so many people who have come to see the tulips. Most encounters are brief, we talk about tulips (I know a thing or two about tulips), we talk about the gardens at Thanksgiving Point (I can point out things you won't want to miss- for example: I can tell you where the owl nest is-- and by the way-the owl is back in her nest again-, or where the most tulips are currently in bloom, or I can tell you about the benefits of having a membership), and then we almost always talk about art.

People ask what kind of paint I am using, how long did it take to paint (this depends on how much I talk while I paint- but I love getting to talk to people while I paint), how did I learn to paint, where did I study, and then they often tell me about a family member or friend that is also artistic and ask for any advice for nurturing their artist. I have lots of ideas and suggestions about that, so I am going to start a series here on my blog that will include my advice, so check back. (I will also label these posts so you will be able to access all these posts at once on the sidebar.)

My niece's art made it on the cover of the Friend!

I was so happy when I opened our March 2011 Friend Magazine to see my niece's art on the front cover. Hers is the beautiful Temple painting in the upper left corner with the turquoise sky and flag pole. Good job Avery!

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.

painting at the Deseret Book Flagship Store

I had a great time painting at the Deseret Book Flagship Store downtown. It was so fun to get to visit with friends who came to see me, and to meet new friends too. I loved how happy people were to think that spring is on it's way, the weather doesn't feel like it, but my paintings seemed to get people excited to think about it.

I'll be painting there again on Friday, March 11th.

By the way, do you see that big stack of books behind me? President Monson signed each and every one, each signature is unique, and they are only available at the Flagship location.