48”x60”
oil Paint on Board
I have always loved the story in the Bible of Abraham and Sarah who were given a promise from God that He would “multiply their seed as the stars of the heaven” (KJV Bible, Genesis 22:17). It took a long time for this promise to be fulfilled. Sarah was 90 and Abraham was 100 when Sarah miraculously conceived and they were blessed with their son, Isaac, through whom came the twelve tribes of Israel and millions of descendants. Their promise was also a spiritual one, a promise that will yet be fulfilled in ways that are difficult for us to comprehend.
I sometimes think about Sarah during those childless years, when she yearned to be a mother, and the promise, perhaps, began to fade and seem impossible. Maybe she looked up at the numberless stars, trying to stay hopeful and faithful. In those moments I imagine her remembering the works of the Lord; all that He did for those who came before, and all that He had done for her. In the Lord’s time, her faith was rewarded and the promise was fulfilled. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (KJV Bible, Genesis 18:14). “With God, all things are possible” (KJV Bible, Matt. 19:26). When we look at the countless stars in the night sky we can remember the promise God kept to Sarah and have hope that he will do the same for us.
Prints of this painting are available in my online store. CLICK HERE FOR PURCHASE OPTIONS.
24”x42”
Oil on board
There are about 17,500 species of butterflies in the world. Butterflies come in an array of patterns and include all the colors of the rainbow. Their wingspans range from half an inch up to twelve inches! There is so much variation among butterflies, just as there is among all of God’s creations. Consider the diversity of landscapes we see across the world, ranging from barren deserts to lush forests to snow capped mountains. There is such a multitude of variety in trees and flowers, fruit and vegetables, insects, animals, and even humans.
With all this variety it’s apparent that God rejoices in diversity! He loves all of His creations and He doesn’t love one butterfly above another, just as he doesn’t love one person above another. All are alike unto God.
84”x48”
Oil on board
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have always believed in Heavenly Parents but before I was asked to do this painting I hadn't spent much time thinking about Heavenly Mother. The creation of this painting brought the Spirit of God into our home and impacted me and our family in ways we didn't expect. Through our experiences we have felt confirmation that Heavenly Mother is real.
48”x60”
oil Paint on Board
Abraham saw and learned many things from God. In The Pearl of Great Price he tells of a vision where he was shown all of God’s creations and was taught about the sun, the moon, and the stars, including Kolob, the star nearest to God. He was taught many spiritual truths, some of which may not have been recorded. This painting illustrates some of the heavenly objects he saw while the star chart and constellations use hieroglyphics from Facsimile 2 in the Book of Abraham to symbolize his spiritual learning.
Prints of this painting are available in my online store. CLICK HERE FOR PURCHASE OPTIONS.
8”x10”
oil on board
Christ compares the word of God unto a seed saying he who receives the seed into good ground hears the word, understands it, and bears fruit. To receive the seed our hearts must be open (KJV Bible, Matt 13:23).
We must give place for the seed to be planted in our hearts. If we don’t cast it out by unbelief, it will swell and begin to grow and we will know it’s a good seed, “for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me” (Book of Mormon, Alma 32:28).
24”x36”
oil on board
Jesus Christ is the source of my light. When I look to Him I grow and live. Without a strong connection to Him, I begin to spiritually die.(1)
Just as the children of Israel looked to the brazen serpent to be healed(2) and Lehi’s family looked to the Liahona for guidance to the promised land(3), I look to God each day when I choose to perform small and simple acts of faith including: meaningful prayer and scripture study, ministering to those around me, weekly temple attendance, watching only wholesome entertainment, and taking care of my body. It is through these simple, yet significant, actions that I strengthen my connection to God and truly live.
(1) Sharon Eubank, “Christ: the Light that Shines in Darkness,” April 2019
(2) Numbers 21:8; 1 Nephi 17:41; Alma 33:18-22; Helaman 8:13-15
(3) Alma 37:38-47
oil on board
In Matthew 13 the Savior tells the parable of a sower who sowed seeds. Some fell by the wayside and were devoured by birds. Others fell in stony places and grew, but then withered in the sun because they had no root. Still others fell among thorns and were choked. But some fell into good ground and brought forth fruit.
Christ likened the word of God unto a seed. “He that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (KJV Bible, Matt 13:23).
This is a series of five paintings about the creation of the heavens and the earth. The creation process included dripping thinned oil paint into puddles of water on a horizontal canvas. I would sometimes sit and observe the tiny molecules of color, suspended in water, gliding, colliding, merging, and repelling each other. It reminded me of galaxies forming and being stationed in their corner of the universe. I loved this analogy and that process was the inspiration for the series.
16x20”
oil, acrylic and pencil on canvas
16x20”
oil, acrylic and pencil on canvas
16x20”
oil and acrylic on canvas
16x20”
oil and acrylic on canvas
16x20”
oil and acrylic on canvas
oil on board
This is my final painting as a student at the Hein Academy of Art (now called the Hein Atelier of Traditional Art) and is a symbolic timeline of my experience there. Beginning at the back of the painting moving forward, it represents a progression in time. The cast sculpture in the back was one of the first objects I painted and represents my earlier studies. I used green apples in two of my previous still lifes and included five apples here, each representing one year at the academy. Notice the drawing pencil, stub and charcoal, the tube of black paint (sitting on top of Jeff Hein’s business card and a paper I used to tally my painting hours), and the paintbrush in front. The hourglass is obviously indicative of the many hours spent practicing. The scrabble pieces on the left symbolize the friendships I developed at the school, and my initials are included there as well. The chroma of the objects becomes less saturated as the objects recede, which helps create depth (a principle I learned from Jeff).
charcoal on watercolor paper
oil on board
charcoal on watercolor paper
oil on canvas paper
This is a self-portrait I painted while studying at the Hein Academy of Art. The paper taped to the front of the mirror was the actual paper I used to keep track of my hours for this painting.
16”x20”
oil on board
This still life is representative of my mom’s parents, Afton Romney and Alvin Charles Soderborg. My grandpa served in the navy in WWII so I included his officer’s hat, as well as his pocket sized New Testament and a photo of him in the same hat and uniform. While traveling in Italy with the navy he bought a cameo silhouette brooch and ring that he later gave to my grandma. The framed photo shows the couple on their wedding day in 1947. My grandma is wearing the same hat shown in the stack of books in the back. My grandpa loved to read, hence the books, and the mirror on the wall hung in my grandparents’ home for many years.
oil on board
16”x20”
charcoal on watercolor paper
Every Christmas as a child my family would reenact the nativity story using objects around the house as props. The wooden box on the left has been sitting on the bookshelf at my parents’ house for as long as I can remember and I recall using it as one of the gifts of the magi presented to baby Jesus. These objects hold special meaning for me as we continue this tradition with our own children.
charcoal on watercolor paper
oil on board
oil on canvas
Interesting fact: candy lemon drops will literally melt if placed in a jar with lemons and limes for a few days.
charcoal on watercolor paper
oil on canvas paper
If this painting could talk I think he'd say, "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas...how he got in my pajamas, I don't know."
oil on board
This study illustrates depth through the use of warm and cool colors.
charcoal on watercolor paper
oil on canvas
This blue goblet is one of a set used by my family for Sunday dinners as I was growing up. I saved it from a trip to the thrift store and decided to memorialize it in paint, along with my mom's french dictionary (from her 1969 study abroad in France) and a bright red book.
oil on canvas paper
oil on board
