We've driven from Utah to Phoenix many times to visit my sister. If you take the mountain route, you eventually reach the 'Saguaro zone.' Those cacti are so iconic they make me feel like I’m in a Looney Tunes short! I’ve heard the Arizona desert is gorgeous in the spring, and it’s certainly more vibrant than the barren flats you see heading south through Utah. I’m still waiting to spot my first coyote, though! This is a painting of the cacti on my last visit to Taliesin West, the Frank Lloyd Wright winter home, Scottsdale, 2025.
At 9-10 years old, hiking to the 'H' Rock was the ultimate unsupervised adventure. My friend Ludeen and I set out from 21th South and 23rd East at 9:00 AM, armed only with a canteen and an old leather flask. I’d never let my kids do this today, but back then, it was pure magic.
After a grueling uphill trek and a terrifying encounter with a massive, hand-sized black bug, we finally made it to the base of the rock. We were too tired to climb to the top, but the downhill walk home felt like a victory lap. Looking back, it was our first real taste of independence.
The Living Stone Garden in the Sego Lilly Water Conservation is an experience of light and sound, alive with a palpable sense of musicality. Though its beauty inspires freedom, this is a formal space; one cannot wander through the woods or play among the rocks and water—it is a conservative garden.
I sat absorbed for almost four hours, painting this very scene. My mind populated the small forest with imagined life, envisioning everything from twinkling fireflies to tiny, sleeping fairies. The sound of the water tumbling over the stones created a lulling, pleasant harmony, a natural soundtrack that promised deep relaxation. Seated in the cool, shaded breeze, all worries melted away.
"Picnic Table Flowers" is my absolute favorite of the flower paintings. I especially love the relaxed feeling of the simple canning jar, and the delicate details of the stems visible through the glass, along with the scattered, falling petals. It truly feels like a bouquet of beautiful, easy-going feelings captured in a jar, completely free of pretense or complication.
More than just beautiful, The Living Canopy at Sego Lilly Gardens is a true sanctuary when summer temperatures climb past 90+ degrees. Despite the garden's small size, stepping under this naturally shaded tunnel is an immediate relief.
Functioning like a verdant crossroads, it offers four distinct exit paths leading to different parts of the garden. I felt entirely at peace there, ready to sit all day and watch the sunlight dapple through the leaves. I can easily imagine a series of enchanting children's stories dedicated to the wonderlands waiting at each path's opening.
The Grass is Always Greener on the other side of the fence? Or so it seems—especially in painting.
Artists exploit this sense of distance using atmospheric perspective. To make objects appear closer and more real, they are painted more vividly, with darker colors and sharper focus.
As a visual trick, the opposite applies to the background: distant objects—like the mountain range, tree line, and sky—are deliberately rendered lighter, hazier, and with less detail. Even the sky demonstrates this effect; it is darkest overhead because that part is closest to us, gradually fading to a pale, nearly white tone as it stretches toward the horizon.
The Red Butte Garden waterfall and pond was a most welcome sight on that 90-degree day in late July—a temperature we Salt Lake locals don't often experience. Completed from a photo taken by Rob Adamson, the painting remains reflective and refreshing. Its message goes beyond clear, beautiful clouds and a sunny day; it serves as a cooling reminder to refresh my mood and calm my temperament as well.
"The Sego Lily Garden was in full, vibrant bloom—a truly enchanting discovery. #2. As a long-time resident, I was both surprised and delighted to finally find this intimate, utterly captivating spot. It's small, accessible, and provides the perfect setting to sit, pause, be quiet, inhale the fragrant clean air, and, dare I say it, contemplate world peace. This piece is one of two similar paintings I created, capturing the serene view. I find the gardens are always changing, making every visit a refreshing treat waiting at each path's opening.
Fernanda and Julie, some of the most rewarding creations happen spontaneously!
My friend, who is pregnant with her first child after a long wait, had a specific request for the nursery: a picture featuring a mama duck and only one baby. Since most pictures online showed the typical groups of ducklings, I volunteered to create a unique piece.
I made three versions for her to select from. This is the abstract one I was most drawn to; it was a quick, enjoyable process that felt very natural.
Great for a Nursery!
This painting is vertical but the website cuts off the painting so please view the sideways image for full view.
This piece, "Brighton's Gold," was painted just one week before the mountain's first snow, capturing a moment I've carried for decades. It's a tribute to the scent of Girls Camp at Brighton—that rich, deep, yet not-too-strong pine aroma that defined my childhood summers.
I once searched for that familiar fragrance in Germany's Black Forest and was disappointed when it wasn't there. That's when I realized the Rockies aren't just scenery; they are home.
If you could taste this place, it would be described as rich, deep, and aromatic. This painting embodies that feeling—the warmth of the sun on the golden aspens contrasted with the cool, deep green of the pines.
I've long considered our Utah mountains my true north. When I see them, I know I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
"The Sego Lily Garden was in full, vibrant bloom—a true oasis tucked away in Sandy. This beautiful spot is not just a treat for the eyes, but a crucial water conservation project, open to the public and often graced by plein air artists on its winding paths. As a long-time resident of the valley, I was surprised and delighted to finally discover this enchanted, intimate place. It's small, accessible, and utterly captivating! This is one of two similar paintings I created, capturing a view where the stepping stones guide you through the colorful flowers."
I've traveled through this canyon countless times, and some of my earliest memories are tied to it—like watching stars from the back window of our car on late-night drives. Our family's weekly routine was a grand circle: a trip down I-15 to visit my grandparents in Provo, continuing on through Provo Canyon to see the others in Heber and back down Parleys to Salt Lake. A journey we made sometimes twice a week. This familiar route has always felt like a mix of comfort and adventure.
"What a beautiful morning—a breath of fresh air and peace. I was thinking about how we can't truly appreciate the calm without first experiencing the storm. This painting captures that feeling, and I hope it takes you to a place you've been before, a place we can both return to."
I’m so inspired by my friend. She grows her hair long, gets a fantastic short cut, and donates the hair to a charity that makes wigs for people who need them. It made me think about how sheep have no idea we use their wool for warmth and fashion. I suppose they give of themselves without a second thought, and it’s a beutiful thing to be grateful for.
I love this painting by Cézanne. Although the owner of the château remains unknown and Maria does not appear in the French land records from that era, the small outbuilding on the lower right side of the painting is said to have been where Cézanne stored his art supplies. At the time, the building was abandoned, which adds a unique historical context to the scene. This detail creates a more intimate connection between Cézanne and the work, suggesting that the setting was close to his home and creative space. It is also noted that Cézanne painted the road multiple times, capturing it from various angles and in different compositions, further highlighting its significance in his artistic vision.
Willow Pond was a new discovery for me, quite a surprise since I have lived in the valley forever. It’s a public fishing hole located around 5400 South and 5th West. On a very warm day, with beautiful storms rolling over the mountains, I captured a bright light just at the top as the storm moved in. I love it. This was one of the fastest paintings I’ve done, done quickly to seek refuge from the oncoming rain.
The way light pierced the decaying siding of a barn I encountered near Logan resonated deeply, evoking the image of a stained glass window with three crosses overlaid in gold. I'm pleased to share that this piece was honored with winning the Provost Award at the 2025 Salt Lake Community College Spring Student Art Competition.
In my first art class at Salt Lake Community College I was assigned to copy old masters’ art pieces, this one is based on Home Fields 1885 by John Singer Sargent.
This photo, taken on my walk from the Sacred Grove to the back door of Joseph Smith's boyhood home, inspired both a watercolor and, later, an oil painting due to my affection for the scene.
My inquiry into the art of Louis Heinzman, our esteemed local master, unexpectedly led me back to the desert's quiet grandeur. There, under the Arizona sky, visiting my sister, I first truly witnessed the elegant, understated grace of the ocotillo.
I recently transitioned from watercolor to oil, a delightful shift that's truly opened up new possibilities. To explore this new medium and cultivate my unique voice, I've been immersed in painting a series of flowers, allowing me to really lean into a style I'm calling whimsical impressionism. It's been an exciting journey discovering how oil paints can capture that playful, yet evocative, essence.
Nestled in the heart of Midway, Utah, a place I return to often, stands a singular pine, its silhouette etched against the grandeur of towering peaks. It's a vision that unfailingly steals my breath, a profound beauty I'd be honored to share with you.
In Spring 2025, I stumbled upon an unexpected sanctuary, the Sego Lily Gardens, a mere mile from my doorstep. It was there, amidst the quiet embrace of cultivated earth, that I truly fell under the spell of native plants, their inherent beauty a revelation.
I recently transitioned from watercolor to oil, a delightful shift that's truly opened up new possibilities. To explore this new medium and cultivate my unique voice, I've been immersed in painting a series of flowers, allowing me to really lean into a style I'm calling whimsical impressionism. It's been an exciting journey discovering how oil paints can capture that playful, yet evocative, essence.
I recently transitioned from watercolor to oil, a delightful shift that's truly opened up new possibilities. To explore this new medium and cultivate my unique voice, I've been immersed in painting a series of flowers, allowing me to really lean into a style I'm calling whimsical impressionism. It's been an exciting journey discovering how oil paints can capture that playful, yet evocative, essence.
I recently transitioned from watercolor to oil, a delightful shift that's truly opened up new possibilities. To explore this new medium and cultivate my unique voice, I've been immersed in painting a series of flowers, allowing me to really lean into a style I'm calling whimsical impressionism. It's been an exciting journey discovering how oil paints can capture that playful, yet evocative, essence.
I recently transitioned from watercolor to oil, a delightful shift that's truly opened up new possibilities. To explore this new medium and cultivate my unique voice, I've been immersed in painting a series of flowers, allowing me to really lean into a style I'm calling whimsical impressionism. It's been an exciting journey discovering how oil paints can capture that playful, yet evocative, essence.
Bringing a brain compilation to the canvas. This scene combined a photo of the Norwegian highlands with an original, imagined foreground of sheep by a pond. It was a great way to practice perspective and scale. Laurel likes the result-what do you think?