a family of Hitch hiker thumbs! (Elsa, Grandma and Aunt Jami)
Grandma Darla loving Elsa
Uncle Rob and Elsa watching the wee
family fun Christmas 2009
a family of Hitch hiker thumbs! (Elsa, Grandma and Aunt Jami)
Grandma Darla loving Elsa
Uncle Rob and Elsa watching the wee
More Christmas 2009
Brandi, Jami, Darla and Elsa
Uncle Rob and Elsa in her new hat and mittens
Aunt Jami helping Elsa try on her new slippers from Aunt Debbie
Jami Joy Christmas morning.
Merry Christmas 2009
Christmas Eve dinner
This is how Rob was feeling on Christmas Eve (I don't know who was yellling at him to clean).
Coming down the stairs on Christmas morning!
Jami and Travis 2009
Jer and Michelle Christmas morning
Jami, Darla and Elsa ReeseThe Gambler
18 x 24 Oil on Linen. NFS.
This lady is a total hoot. She posed for me and this painting was completed from life in 8 hours. She wants to buy it, along with her sister and niece, but they'll all have to wait because its going into my portfolio. Her name is Shanna, and one of my favorite people to play cards with. She taught me Pinochle and I have to say I'm quite an expert now, that and English Rummy. Before she sat for the portrait she insisted on drawing a straight flush to hold, she couldn't stand to look at cards that weren't winning ones, and after we finished she said, "you little sh!#, you can't make me hold these cards all day and then not play with me." So we played pinochle with Jennifer and her sister Manon and I got 1000 aces and shot the moon. :) at which point she had more explatives since I wasn't on her team. :) All in all, I love portraiture as much for the experiences it provides as the challenge of the subject matter. (When painted from life of course).
Hahaha, A lot of controversy
Wow, its fun to get a lot of comments :) a word of explanation:
I think some of you misread the proposed question in my last post thinking that I wanted your commentary on the practice of academic figure drawing instead of what I intended. I wondered "would you be offended to have the option to view God's creation in a non-sexual, but beautiful way, expressed artistically through another of God's creations?"
Not to offend, but to clear the air, I don't care about your opinions on the practice of creating the art, merely the viewing of said art. I do understand your aversion to the human body, being raised in a very strict Utah society, and appreciate knowing that you would not like to view certain subject matter in art. I understand, and in respect to those opinions would like to forewarn you to not check my art blog, because I will be posting academic studies as they come.
And also, I would like to point out that it would be helpful for some to become educated on certain issues BEFORE reading too much into things. Brigham Young sent three missionaries to the Jullian academy to expressly study the human figure in the nude form, in order to hone artistic proficiency so that they could use that knowledge later in life to benefit the church in temple murals, etc. These missionaries would even send home nude figure drawings to be framed and preserved. SUU now has some of these drawings in their personal collection. One of which is a full nude, seated figure, and I have to say, it is an impeccable drawing, and a large reason I decided to pursue academic figuration.
Likewise if someone argues that artists shouldn't study the nude human figure because of some underlying sexual evil, they are in effect, also suggesting that neither should doctors including gynecologists, urologists, or obstetricians. (So I guess in your logic, that exploits Brigham Young and some of our current general authorities as double standard holding frauds. Forgive me, but I in no way share your logic.)
And for those of you who don't know, there's a great site called lds.org :) you can follow this link to read more about the Mormon "nudie" missionaries.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=bb16d7630a27b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
P.S. by definition, Pornography is depicting or describing the human body or sexual conduct in a way that arouses sexual feelings. In essence, sexually titillating. If you are getting kicks out of academic art, I am concerned about you.
I think some of you misread the proposed question in my last post thinking that I wanted your commentary on the practice of academic figure drawing instead of what I intended. I wondered "would you be offended to have the option to view God's creation in a non-sexual, but beautiful way, expressed artistically through another of God's creations?"
Not to offend, but to clear the air, I don't care about your opinions on the practice of creating the art, merely the viewing of said art. I do understand your aversion to the human body, being raised in a very strict Utah society, and appreciate knowing that you would not like to view certain subject matter in art. I understand, and in respect to those opinions would like to forewarn you to not check my art blog, because I will be posting academic studies as they come.
And also, I would like to point out that it would be helpful for some to become educated on certain issues BEFORE reading too much into things. Brigham Young sent three missionaries to the Jullian academy to expressly study the human figure in the nude form, in order to hone artistic proficiency so that they could use that knowledge later in life to benefit the church in temple murals, etc. These missionaries would even send home nude figure drawings to be framed and preserved. SUU now has some of these drawings in their personal collection. One of which is a full nude, seated figure, and I have to say, it is an impeccable drawing, and a large reason I decided to pursue academic figuration.
Likewise if someone argues that artists shouldn't study the nude human figure because of some underlying sexual evil, they are in effect, also suggesting that neither should doctors including gynecologists, urologists, or obstetricians. (So I guess in your logic, that exploits Brigham Young and some of our current general authorities as double standard holding frauds. Forgive me, but I in no way share your logic.)
And for those of you who don't know, there's a great site called lds.org :) you can follow this link to read more about the Mormon "nudie" missionaries.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=bb16d7630a27b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
P.S. by definition, Pornography is depicting or describing the human body or sexual conduct in a way that arouses sexual feelings. In essence, sexually titillating. If you are getting kicks out of academic art, I am concerned about you.
Sisters, Sisters, Never were there such devoted sisters.
Outside the Temple
At lunch with Aunt Madge
Cute Girls
In the elevator!
Pajama party with pedicures!
In the Hotel.Self Portrait
16 X 20 Oil on Linen. This is a portfolio piece I did last semester but haven't been able to get it home until today. They had it displayed in the art department all summer. Awkward. I've been getting "Hey! You're that guy in the window!" Yeah... like a puppy.
Escalante Festival 09!
I am sunburned and peeling, barely caught up from lack of sleep, heat exhaustion, dehydration, maddening bugs and a painting high that makes it all worth it. Yes, I'm talking about plein aire painting. Specifically the Escalante arts festival 2009. We left on Tuesday morning, stamped our canvases in Tropic and onto "Scalant". We left way early but got there after sunrise around 9 or 10ish. We then drove around looking for a spot and a cut hay field called out to me.
That afternoon we hooked up with Jared Barnes and I painted an 11X14 that is too crummy to show. it actually is a good block in, but I didn't get it to the state of completion that I wanted. I got reference though so I can finish it here at home if I want... though I'm not really wanting to.
9 X 12 oil on panel, "The Matriarchs"
Then that afternoon Jennifer and I ditched the group and went to Boulder. The most beautiful and picturesque countryside. I got this painting out of it.
9X12 oil on panel. "Old farm".
11 X 14 oil on panel.
9 X 12 Oil on panel. "Fall Hay Harvest".
The reproduction is pretty bad on this one, its overall not that dark but photoshop couldn't really help much. and sorry for the glare on all of them.That afternoon we hooked up with Jared Barnes and I painted an 11X14 that is too crummy to show. it actually is a good block in, but I didn't get it to the state of completion that I wanted. I got reference though so I can finish it here at home if I want... though I'm not really wanting to.
The next morning we went out with Arlene and the SUU plein aire society to paint devil's garden. That is the one I ended up entering. Sorry for the small photo.
9 X 12 oil on panel, "The Matriarchs"
Then that afternoon Jennifer and I ditched the group and went to Boulder. The most beautiful and picturesque countryside. I got this painting out of it.
9X12 oil on panel. "Old farm". The cows were not at all cooperative. They left just as I was starting and then with a spot of good luck they came back again just as I needed them, but the idiot bovine sauntered over the hill. I literally got these postures of them in only four minutes or so. BUT NO PHOTOGRAPHY HERE!!! :)
The next morning was Thursday and we knew we would only have time for one painting before we had to get our work framed and to the show. We went out and I saw this. What a magnificent sight. I love hay fields. They are so organic and inorganic at the same time. A complete merging of humanity and nature. The hay bales are so evenly spaced and I love the repetition and the color. I think like Monet, we'll be seeing many more hay fields from this artist.
11 X 14 oil on panel.then the next day we got up before dawn and though we knew this piece would not be in the show, wanted to keep painting. So we went to a spot I fell in love with last year and did a morning sketch. This is looking from the Kia Koffeehouse into the mountains. I loved the hot glow morning gave in contrast with the cool predawn light. 
Then we went back to the show and tried at a booth for a few hours before I got so antsy we decided to come home. I made it in time for a Chinese birthday dinner with my family and overall, it was a great week.
I'm planning on painting a plein aire piece daily, at least when I'm not painting from a model, so check back. I've got the painting bug! :)
8 X 10 oil on panel. "The glow of morning".
Then we went back to the show and tried at a booth for a few hours before I got so antsy we decided to come home. I made it in time for a Chinese birthday dinner with my family and overall, it was a great week.
I'm planning on painting a plein aire piece daily, at least when I'm not painting from a model, so check back. I've got the painting bug! :)
The Iron County Fair! :)
So, what could be more fun than hot jam packed people, pushy vendors, flies swarming around over-sized produce, pasty senior citizens, and the thick smell of melted candles? It sounds terrible, right? Then why do we love it so much? The answer is... TRADITION!!!!
The Oh so traditional Bull.
This year, there was actually far more attendance then in years past. It was packed.
A genuinely freaky doll that one the sweepstakes.
We saw siblings hanging around the art exhibits.
Cute Momma standing in front of one of her favorite parts. :)
Haha. I thought this sign was hilarious and sad. 
... only at the county fair.
This one was actually really cool.
And adorable children!So I know it's not much, but I hope you all so far away could feel like you were part of it. Love you so much, and wish you were here. :)
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