I post this painting with a bit of hesitation. I am following up the masterful painting that Peter did.
I echo what Peter had to say in his post, it was a wonderful afternoon. I hadn't painted in oil for five years, since my daughter was born. I stopped mainly because i was afraid of the fumes affecting my daughter and wife.
I learned in oil, love everything about it, it is in my blood both figuratively and literally (wasn't too careful when i worked in oil..).
It had always been a dream of mine to go and do some landscape painting where my faith had started. I packed my Julian easel in a suitcase, and packed it across the country just to go and do this.
The Sacred Grove is a very special place for me, and I am sure for many more Mormons. I tend to be a bit of a "doubting Thomas", but I feel that Joseph Smith wasn't lying about the vision he had there.
I am touched by how Peter described his compositional choices, and that he felt that this was a special place as well. I am grateful that he kept me motivated to go and paint, not draw, but PAINT in oil!
It was a great expereince, much like the experiences I have when i get up in the morning, start working, and my brush, pen, or wacom tablet is doing what my mind wants them to. I feel as artists we have a gift, and on our best days it is really like having communion with that higher power.
