Untouchable Waters
"About 60 million years ago, a small area of land uplifted and brought 1.8 billion year old metamorphic rock to high elevations. This is called the Gunnison Uplift. About 30 million years ago, large volcanoes erupted on either side of this uplift, burying it in volcanic rock. Then, as early as two million years ago, the Gunnison River began flowing in force. The river and time eroded all of the volcanic rock and cut a deep canyon in the metamorphic rock below. What you see today is a deep, steep, and narrow canyon: The Black Canyon of the Gunnison."-nps.gov
The river in this canyon is nearly impossible to reach. The view represented in my painting is from one of the canyon peaks. I always paint places that I've actually been to, and each of them are painted from pictures I have taken myself. I think it's important to be true with representations we artists portray in our art. It feels unathentic to paint something I have never seen before. My art is a reflection of the things I love, places I've explored, and the landscapes I am passionate about.
If you want to learn more, about the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, I have linked the information to the learn more button. Happy reading!
Original Oil on Panel
9 x 12
Available
05
April
2025
Minersville
Minersville Resevoir is located in Beaver County, UT. The fishing here is great and has become a prime spot to catch big fish. As you can see, the rainbow trout we caught are rather fat. I think this was one of the biggest rainbow trout I've ever caught at 5lbs. As you can see from my last blog post, it's quite the size difference.
Life as a Grandpa
Having kids has been one of the greatest blessings throughout my life, but having grandkids is just that much more fun. I now have 5 grandchildren and am looking forward to another one due to arrive in September.
I have to teach them the art and love of fishing while they are young! My two eldest grandsons are Vincent and Jodan. They are both such unique personalities and bring so much energy to our lives.
Jordan is very atheltic and spins cirlces around the rest of us. We can usually find him climbing anything in the yard, or doing flips on the trampoline.
Vincent is very intellectual as a child and will most likely be the one that carries on my legacy of artistic creativity. He is constantly making different crafts and art projects, and at only 7 years old draws better than most adults.
I have two other grandsons Kai and Isaac. Isaac is just barely 3 months old and Kai a little over a year old. Kai hangs out with us most of the time during the day, while my daughter manages the art gallery. Kai loves to come visit me in my workshop and gallery. He is especially fond of animals and gets really excited about the horse paintings we have at the gallery.
I have one granddaughter named Kennedy and she is just the most precious thing on the planet.
Birthday Fishing
It's always a blessing to be able to escape from the constant pull of responsibilities that come with running a business, and go out and reconnect with nature.
For my birthday, Levi and I went fishing at panguitch lake here in Utah. The fishing was really good. This lake usually doesn't disappoint, and we were happy to enjoy a gorgeous sunset full of vibrant reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows. After the sun went down, we caught some beautiful Tiger Trout.
March 21
Framing Celebrities
A friend, Mark Maggiori who we frame for on a regular basis told me he was making a painting for Kevin Costner and wanted a uniquely designed frame. I am always up to design something beautiful, and this was an especially fun project. I think the frame turned out great and looks exceptional with this painting.
What about you?
19
March
2025
Winter in March
This year in Southern Utah we have had a really dry winter. We didn't get any snow around Thanksgiving or Christmas like we usually do. Finally in late march we are getting snow. Cedar City is always keeping us on our toes with the weather. I have always loved when the snow comes, because it makes the natural world around us look so clean and pure. It gives me a sense of calm and helps me to slow down a little within my busy life.
Enjoy a few snowy scenes I've painted and photographed.
08
March
2025
Fishing Panguitch Lake
Fishing is one of my favorite past times that I love to do when i'm not painting, framing, or managing the new art gallery.
My son Levi probably likes to fish with me the most. We enjoy exploring all over Utah and fishing the many lakes and streams we have nearby.
Our most recent trip was to Panguitch lake. We love this spot because it is close by, there is usually good fishing, and the scenic views around the area are beautiful.
28
Feb
2025
Weekend Getaway
It's always nice to have a much needed getaway every once in a while. I have always loved exploring the world around me. It reminds me of why I am an artist.
This weekend my wife Kathryn and I decided to spend it in Zion. When we were newly married, I spotted a town on the way to Zion, but at the time we couldn't figure out how to get there, so I walked the field and crossed the river to take pictures. I took some pictures of the church, and felt inspired to paint it. Later on at an art show, someone had recognized it in my painting, and after conversing with them, I learned the town's name and how exactly to get there.
About 35 years later we finally made it to the town Grafton, which is near Rockville. The town was settled in 1847 by a few families who started out there farming cotton. Three years later it was destroyed by a flood.
The town was resettled but residences were killed and driven out by navajo raiders. The people who survived fled to the town of Rockville for safety. Some farmers return to tend to their crops but were quickly driven out by floods. This led to Graftons men building a canal that would deliver the water from the Virgin River to a wide bench 20 miles downstream. When the Hurricane Canal was finished in 1906, many of the families packed everything up and moved to Hurricane.
February 18th, 2025
Otter Creek
Levi and I went fishing yet again at Otter Creek in Antimony Utah. We caught some beautiful rainbow trout that were a pretty good size. It was a beautiful day.
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