Creating Mood: A Study of Atmosphere & Aerial Perspective

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Date: July 1, 2003
Time: 11:00 – 12:00

Personal Narrative

I grew up in Bountiful, Utah in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and because of my adventurous spirit, spent much of my time exploring the area. As a result I have had a connection with the "great outdoors" from an early age. I had a very active childhood and spent my summers backpacking, fishing, hiking and biking, and my winters snow skiing in the mountain ranges of Utah, Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming. I believe these experiences, strengthened my love for the land and I became aware of my desire to create great landscape paintings. My parents recognized this artistic interest and over the years found several landscape painters, including Harold Demont Olsen, for me to study with.

After I graduated from high school, I attended a year of college at Brigham Young University. Then I interrupted my college education for two years and served a religious mission for my church in Italy. While living there I developed a great love for the Italian people, language, culture, art, and landscape. I returned home to finish my undergraduate degree in visual arts. I enjoyed my overall experience at BYU especially because I met my wife there. As I was interested in realism, I did have a difficult time with the university's emphasis on conceptualism without a solid foundation in drawing. Although my undergraduate training strengthened my ideas about art and aesthetics, I believed I still lacked many essential skills.

Following graduation, I spent a year teaching art lessons, gaining gallery representation and building my portfolio. Things were going well but I realized I needed further education to take my work to the next level. In researching graduate schools, I found that the Academy of Art College offered the realistic tradition I was looking for. I believe my time here will help me to be a successful gallery artist and teacher. I look forward to working with the faculty on my final project.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Spring Show 2003 at Academy of Art College-May 2003

• Private banking art show at Zions Bank- by invitation only-November 2002
• Taught private art lessons/ March 2001-August 2002
• Represented by Apple Frame Gallery in Bountiful, UT/January 2002-present. Represented by Brownstone Gallery in Provo, UT/May 2001-present
• Two-man show at Brownstone Gallery /May 2001
• Featured artist demonstrations at Park Place Gallery in Park City, UT/January 2001
• Representation at Gateway Aesthetic Institute in Salt Lake City/January 2001- present. One-man show at Dal Fornello Restaurant/December 2000
• One-man show at Tivoli Gallery/October 2000
• Represented by Tivoli Gallery in Salt Lake City/June 2000-July 2002
• Featured in private collections around the country

EDUCATION:

• Academy of Art College-MFA Visual Art/Painting program 2002
• BA Visual Arts! Business Management Minor degree from Brigham Young University. (April 2001)
• International Art study in Venice, Florence, and Rome. (Spring 1999)
• Two-year LDS mission to Milan, Italy. (1996-98)
• Cowboy Artists of America workshop under the direction of Gary Carter
• Entrance into workshop by portfolio. (1995)
• Private training with Harold Demont Olsen. (1992-1995)
• Private training with Olinda Reynolds. (1987-1992)

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