THE BLOG
Artist on a Mission – Sisters
So there’s the sister I shared a room with, and an iron-barred double bed. I would tap to the middle bar, then bring my arm down like a hatchet to make sure she was not on my side of the bed. A bedroom can be tight quarters for two sisters, and there is much to learn from sharing a room. We fought until the day we became dear friends.
There are the Senior Sister Missionaries here that come and go. They touch your life for a brief moment. They help lighten your load and you stand amazed at their talents and kindness. They teach you to decorate your table with seasonal cutouts like a kindergarten teacher. They bring their talents to share with others.
There are the young sister missionaries that serve at the visitor center and are so full of good, righteous, youthful energy. They greet you daily as they run up and down the stairs by our apartment. They wonder if we know how to get into a coconut. We do not.
So here’s two sisters who have the world ahead of them. They shared some moments at the Luau Show. I tried to capture their energy and connection to each other in this watercolor.
Artist on a Mission – The Newest Arrival
This is as close as I can get to squeezing those cute little cheeks. I’ll have to settle for a pencil and paper to try and hold him close and a prayer for his safe keeping and blessings upon his parents.
We have a new year ahead of us. Full of endless possibilities. An entire year, but we live it day by day. The things we choose to do with each day will make up our year. The little hours will make up our lives. I find great joy in creating art. I’m going to find time each day to create a little art, to see the blessings around me and try to capture them on paper and share them with you. Happy New Year.
Artist on a Mission – The Reindeer Keeper
I’m speaking to a lot of Mongolian students who are learning and practicing their English. They are the inspiration for this years Christmas card.
May you all have a beautiful Christmas and a happy New Year. I’m thinking about the birth of Jesus Christ in that stable in Bethlehem so long ago and the joy and hope he brought and brings to us all. Spread a little light and kindness to those around you.
Here is a great video about the birth of Christ.
Artist on a Mission – A Temple Centennial
There are places in this world, beautiful places that help us remember God and his many blessings. A holy place for Hawaiians is the mountain Mauna Kea. Tall mountains draw men closer to God. There are people in this world, beautiful people that are good and kind. They remind us of the goodness in mankind and make us want to treat others tenderly. I just saw the movie “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.” about Mr. Rogers. After the movie you felt like hugging a stranger and praying for people by name.
One of the beautiful places in this world is the Laie Hawaii Temple. The palm-lined view from the Kamehameha Highway draws you up toward that Light on the hill. It is nearing the 100-year anniversary of its dedication, November 27, 2019. It is a place that has drawn people to God and inspired them to treat others with kindness. One hundred years ago, as part of the dedication ceremonies, the young children were invited to go into the temple‘s Celestial Room with the prophet Heber J. Grant. They sang “Whose on the Lords Side Who” and promised to be on the Lord’s side, which means treating others in a kind, loving way, in a way that you would like to be treated.
Sunday the primary children gathered again at the temple grounds. Over 600 children and their loved ones came to find out more about this Holy Place and to get a ring pop. They looked at the amazing statues by J. Leo and Avard Fairbanks. They searched for the central figure in the middle of three of the friezes. It was Jesus Christ. They looked at the statue of Lehi blessing his son Joseph. They watched the video of Papi who traveled every day to the temple, starting by bus and then finishing the trip by biking up the hill. Dave and I stood by the friezes and pointed out the different people portrayed there. It was good to be a part of this celebration.
Artist on a Mission – Showing some art in Hawaii and St George, Utah
I love this watercolor of a lone hiker in the middle of Capitol Reef National Park. I love the color palette and the texture of the sand. I love the solid free dark shape of the desert junipers. This watercolor is part of the permanent collection of the St. George Art Museum and will be displayed there, starting now until March 7, 2020. The opening reception will be November 15th, 6-8 p.m. If you’re in the St. George area go see the show and take a look at one of my favorite paintings.
This painting of the Hawaiian Laie Temple was painted to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Temple dedication. The Temple was dedicated November 27th, 1919. This painting will be displayed in connection with the Mormon Pacific Historical Society’s Annual Conference Art Exhibit, Saturday November 16, 2019 at Brigham Young University-Hawaii.
Laie Temple 100 . org
St. George Art Museum
Artist on a Mission – And a Cloud Shall Rest Upon it
This watercolor painting shows the Laie Temple nestled in the heart of Laie, surrounded by the student married housing. It is there, calling to the students and the community to come closer to God, to come unto Christ. The clouds are amazing here on the North shore. They reach high towards the heavens. Back in Utah, I saw a picture that N. C. Wyeth painted of clouds along the seashore in his pilgrim book. I thought he had used artistic license to exaggerate them, but here in Hawaii are the same amazing clouds. One afternoon while walking home from the University, I saw one of those clouds reaching down from the sky and resting on the temple.
Elder Jefferey R. Holland came and spoke at Brigham Young University Hawaii. He talked about the privilege of being in a Holy place where there was a place of learning through education and a place of learning by faith.
You need both types of learning in life. As an artist we educate ourselves about the principles and elements of art. We learn to draw the human figure and practice making bold marks with brush and paint. But we also have to nurture that pure gratitude for the beauty around us. We have to have the quiet time that sees beyond what others see and get it down on paper or canvas. Whether it is a beautiful landscape or a mouse becoming friends with a cat in a picture book, we capture a bit of the beauty of this world for others to see.
…and a cloud shall rest upon it, which cloud shall be even the glory of the Lord, which shall fill the house. D&C 84:5
Jefferey R. Holland’s talk on “A House of Learning, A House of Faith”