Manti Temple Step 1

I've gotten put of the habit of doing these step by step photos. So I've decided since this painting is (and most others from now on) going to be done in the newer style. Instead of trying to explain it to you all. I thought I just show you all.

In this photo you can see I've drawn in a rough outline of the basic shape and location of the temple in pencil (the left side of the drawing). Next I've taken a dark brown colored pencil. In the passed I've used a graphite stick that is sepia in color with a stylus that is both troublesome to work with and is only available from Australia. The colored pencil I'm using is from a cheap $5 colored pencil set you may buy for a child. In fact the box cover has a rather cartoon looking monkey, giraffe and lion on it. Now I've started drawing in much finer detail then I usually do, the finished drawing of the temple.

The next step after the drawing is finished in the next few days I will start on the under-painting.

Mount Timpanogos Temple

This painting was commissioned by a friend of mine. He is giving it to his wife for her birthday. It was the temple they were sealed in. The size is the same as the Salt Lake and Provo temple paintings, 18 x 24 oil on canvas.

This painting I painted in just under 6 hours. I painted it and gave it to my Mom as a Mother's day gift. I had some painting technique ideas kicking around in my head for some time so I had some fun doing them for this painting. I guess the hazard of knowing me is getting stuck with paintings I do as experiments. Although not all painting experiments turn out to be finished paintings. Some are really rough looking.

This is my latest Salt Lake Temple Painting. This one is being sent down to the gallery in Scottsdale. It is 40 x 30 inches on canvas. I wanted to show the Temple reflecting in the pool of water but I did not like the straight on view (what makes a good photograph does not necessarily make a good painting). So as you can see I turned it slightly. Also I changed the proportions of the temple, and the lines, thus adding to the drama.

Temples on the Brain

I was recently approached by my Ward to do a couple of paintings to hang in the Young Women room. We settled on the Provo Temple because it is our district temple and the Salt Lake Temple because it is on all of the Young Women literature. I also felt that because the paintings were for the Young Women that they should also include all of the value colors.
As a result from doing these paintings I have had several requests for prints. Which will soon be available in the next day or two, both fine art paper and canvas. I have found a place online that will do prints on demand, framing and ship to anywhere in the world. Also as a result the gallery owner that represents my original paintings, Rive Gauche Gallery, www.rivegauchegalleries.com, now would like me to paint 5 Temple paintings for him. Which I am now working on. The 5 I have chosen to do are the first 5 temples, Kirtland, Nauvoo, St. George, Manti and Salt Lake. Yes another Salt Lake Temple (the 3rd one so far). I'm going to paint the paintings less architecturally accurate and more emotionally and spiritually charged. The first 2 I am currently working on are the Salt Lake Temple (the canvas is 30 inches by 40 inches) and will be titled "Mountain of the Lord" and the Nauvoo Temple (the canvas is 48 inches by 60 inches) and will be titled "The Phoenix".

I was really excited to get the first Ogre painted. My goal for the other two is to make them more ugly and scary looking. I really want to see how far I can push this with out going too far. Even with Ogres there is a careful balance. I want kids (and adults too) to see the Ogres as scary and ugly but not frightening. I don't want anyone having nightmares after viewing one of my paintings. Accept maybe the nightmare of having not purchased it in time before some else has. But alas the paint is getting bumped aside again for a bit while I work on 2 commission paintings. I'm going to be doing paintings of both the Salt Lake and Provo Temples. Quite a different subject then Ogres, should be fun though.

Here are a couple of portraits that I painted of my brother's kids. I painted portraits of my brother's kids as a Christmas gift to him and his wife. I also did a couple of commission paintings over Christmas too (I decided not to take picture of them so that the images wouldn't accidentally get out before the husband could give them for Christmas). So it has been a busy Christmas. But I'm finally back to working on the Ogre painting. I should have a new image out on it tomorrow.