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So if you read this I should give you a free panting

People tell me "Wow, you are so talented." The other day my husband mentioned that other people are intimidated by me. Hmmm. I can't see it. What I know is that I've worked really hard to learn how to be a viable artist, and I have a lot more to learn and a long way to go. What others call talent is 97% practice, and 2% talent and 1% luck according to an accomplished artist, Annie Henrie.

I do feel that being an artist is something I covenanted with my Heavenly Father to learn how to do here during my mortal life, and that if I do not follow the path he has laid out for me I would be an unfaithful and not a wise steward. I often feel intimated and frightened.

I looked up art, and talents in the Topical Guide section of my scriptures and the following scriptural references help me know that I need to keep doing what I am doing. My natural tendency is to be shy and very quiet.

D&C 60:2,3

2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.

3 And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have.

I went to the Salt Lake City Utah Temple on Friday, and thought about how ornate and beautiful it is, and how the pioneers who built it were so poor and had to work so very hard just to have food and clothing, and yet they created one of the most beautiful buildings in the entire world. I like the following scripture as I think about them.

Exodus 32:2,3

(intro) Artisans are inspired in building and furnishing the tabernacle...

2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: (insert your own name or the name of your favorite artist)

3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

I'm preparing to enter the 10th International Art Competition hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, through the Church History Museum. The theme is "Tell me the Stories of Jesus". Because this competition is only held every 3 years, and because I quit my steady income teaching job to embark on the adventure of being a professional artist, and because I'm choosing to paint religious subject matter this is a very important competition for me to enter. And because it is so important to me I tremble... I find my lack of faith in my abilities looming it's ugly head. Therefore, I want to document every step, including the self-doubt every artist encounters.

I've brainstormed and ran several ideas past many of my artist friends. Listening to my friend Lanise sharing her testimony in sacrament meeting one day, I began to gather my courage. Her family has a mantra "I can do hard things". I was thinking about an idea for this painting competition right when she said that, and the spirit whispered "That's the attitude you need".

The fear left and was replaced with faith, I sat up straighter, and my subject matter presented itself.

While visiting my daughter's family for Thanksgiving, I asked her, April Gailey, a professional photographer to do a photoshoot of me.

The centerpiece of the Brigham Young University Museum of Art's Sacred Gift's art exhibit, the very first painting, hung at eye level and perfectly lit, called 'Agony in the Garden' by Frans Schwartz, sent chills up my spine, and brought tears to my eyes. A great feeling of love for my savior, and his love for me penetrated my heart. It was an a very personal, individual experience. And as you view my rendition of my self portrait, hopefully capturing my emotional and spiritual response, perhaps you will relive your own experience with this reminder of the 'Agony in the Garden', an incredible piece of artwork!

Reproductions, although lovely do not capture the intensity of the colors, the bloody tears he is crying, and the intensity of the emotion on both his and the angels face. Even though LDS doctrine does not include angel wings, the paintings with the wings of the angel enveloping him in comfort, strength and love illustrates intense emotions, beyond human understanding. The Garden of Gethsemane, and the event depicted is the most important event in human history. And because of him, even I, "I can do hard things."

1898
Words are not powerful enough to convey the visual message depicted here
I will insert my copy of the master...our master Jesus Christ, and the master painting by Frans Schwartz.

Self portrait of me looking at a painting
Because I want to capture the emotion "The Agony in the Garden' communicates, I will use this as my rough draft....my photo to guide me. Yes, I will add tears to my face.
Philipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me..."

Saturday required a lot of self talk, the encouraging kind, as I tackled the project. My painting surface is 22x30 and is a cradled panel watercolor board. I taped up the sides. It's 2 inches deep, and the wood used to create the cradle is beautiful. If I can keep it clean I won't need to paint the edges. Then I pondered and procrastinated painting the watercolor background while I drew out the design. I used the brick lines from the above photo to create a perspective grid for my copy of the Master. I used dental floss to identify my vanishing point.

Side view of cradled panel 2 inches deep
This is the side view of my cradled panel, it's all taped up to protect the edges from my sloppiness
Dental floss perspective lines
This is how I extended the perspective lines to locate the vanishing point. Dental floss is taped to the drawing and extended to a vanishing point outside the picture plane.
Overlay laid over the drawing

Drawing in perspective
Here I have drawn the basic outline of the painting I want to include using a perspective grid. This shows the overlay of the tracing paper used to rough in the 'copy of a master' and identify placement. The camera makes it look like the print is already in perspective but it is not.
The watercolor background is very soft and neutral. It could change, but for now I think it looks like it will work.

Background for Competition
Could change...
drawing being transferred to painted background
Here I am transferring the drawing to the painted background. Next I will add 3 layers of clear gesso.
Now that I'm this far into the painting I have no idea why I was hesitant to start...I'm having a riot!

Until I get the Christmas spirit in my heart I just want to skip it. Last night I read this in the Ensign and got zinged! And I must share it in my blog today...

"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love, then speak it again!" -- President Howard W. Hunter (1907-95)

Trying to keep the purpose of Christmas evident in all my gifting has always been a challenge. It's so easy to focus on the worldly gifts that are so fun to wrap, unwrap and watch for the glow in the receivers eyes. This year, our family goal is to share only homemade gifts. My request is this...I want every one of my 12 Grandkids, even the babies...(hand and/or foot prints guided by parents will be just great) to draw or paint a picture for me. I have 8x10 frames ready and waiting! I'm so excited!!!

Merry Christmas from Eric
Christmas vacation 2012 Eric and his siblings, Cole and Jenica spent some time with me in my art studio and we created art!
group art
We did this one together, Eric, Cole, Jenica and I (Grandma) had fun creating this.
Painting with Grandkids
Of course I'm not in the picture because I'm taking the picture...Hunter and Camden spent time with Grandma in my art studio using watercolors. Budding artists! Yay!
Camdens Watercolor
I think this was one of Camdens, he's the little guy on the right.
By Hunter 2014
This is one of Hunters masterpieces...He's the big brother!
I love being a Grandma!!!

May the Christmas Season find you rich with blessings of all types! Especially the richness that will come from giving gifts of the heart, as the Prophets have always taught.

Until I get the Christmas spirit in my heart I just want to skip it. Last night I read this in the Ensign and got zinged! And I must share it in my blog today...

"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love, then speak it again!" -- President Howard W. Hunter (1907-95)

Trying to keep the purpose of Christmas evident in all my gifting has always been a challenge. It's so easy to focus on the worldly gifts that are so fun to wrap, unwrap and watch for the glow in the receivers eyes. This year, our family goal is to share only homemade gifts. My request is this...I want every one of my 12 Grandkids, even the babies...(hand and/or foot prints guided by parents will be just great) to draw or paint a picture for me. I have 8x10 frames ready and waiting! I'm so excited!!!

Merry Christmas from Eric
Christmas vacation 2012 Eric and his siblings, Cole and Jenica spent some time with me in my art studio and we created art!
group art
We did this one together, Eric, Cole, Jenica and I (Grandma) had fun creating this.
Painting with Grandkids
Of course I'm not in the picture because I'm taking the picture...Hunter and Camden spent time with Grandma in my art studio using watercolors. Budding artists! Yay!
Camdens Watercolor
I think this was one of Camdens, he's the little guy on the right.
By Hunter 2014
This is one of Hunters masterpieces...He's the big brother!
I love being a Grandma!!!

May the Christmas Season find you rich with blessings of all types! Especially the richness that will come from giving gifts of the heart, as the Prophets have always taught.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/DttROWf8Sxg]

Ok, so that little video interview says a lot about who I am.

Today I want to highlight some of my favorite artists. Last Friday evening I met my artist friends at the Rio Cafe Mexican Grill for extremely yummy cheesy enchiladas at 5:00 then we attended the SLC Gallery Stroll. We began at the Rio Gallery where we spent the majority of our time. Our favorite was by Kate Steinicke called "Utopian Weeds". Several yellow flowers hung upside down in a symmetrical pattern. They were made from clay, wire, filament and acrylic. I searched the web but cannot find an image or a website to share here.

We made it over to the Art Access gallery and the Utah Arts Festival Gallery where we fought crowds to see all the cool stuff there, and run into other artist friends, but the very very best part was the live music. A Cellist was playing beautiful rich music. I did not wish to leave...ever! I should have asked her name...

Rachel on her cello
The cello played well is perhaps the most romantic music ever! Soothing and exhilarating all at once.
But alas, we did leave and at the Phillips Gallery we saw the most beautiful painting of cardboard boxes by Brad Overton. When an artist can take something so very ordinary and make it so incredibly beautiful, that's astounding. I couldn't stop thinking about his work. His colors are very muted and quiet. His subject matter so ordinary. But his use of color, reflections and light made the most mundane subject speak volumes. I will include his website here so you can see what I'm talking about, but after checking out his site, know that seeing the real painting is a thoroughly different experience. http://bradfordoverton.com/gallery-box-series.html

We always enjoy the work at Utah Artist Hands http://www.utahands.com and spent a bit of time there. At a previous Gallery Stroll we met an artist in the Michael Berry Gallery, adjacent to Utah Artist Hands, named Cjay Helt. Her work is unforgettable. Her work is filled with forests and fields of wildflowers, and garden settings that feel like the Garden of Eden. http://www.cejaycarolehelt.com/index.html

I don't know if any of these three artists are known nationally or internationally but they should be! There are a ton of fabulous artists out there. I'm crazy to think I can compete...but I must! No-one will interpret visually the way I do. My message is unique. And I have been assured that there are people out there who will connect with my work, I just have to get it in front of enough people! I have a new website: nilajaneautry.faso.com and as always you can buy prints of my work at jane-autry.artistwebsites.com

Oh, and BTW, I delivered the commissioned painting to Sara last week. Here's a photo of her with her new painting.

SaraandFranciscosPainting
We met at the airport where she was picking up family who flew in for her wedding. The pictures that have been posted to Facebook of her reception are great! It was a beautiful wedding for sure.
Also, a blog was written about the painting for Sara, and my business that I will add a link to. November 21, 2014 post http://blog.thebrideandgroom.com

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

For four years I showed my work at Local Colors Fine Art Gallery. I loved almost everything about being a part of the co-op experience. The artists I was privileged to work with and show my work with were all very professional, kind, ambitious and a lot like me. I made some great friends, and learned a lot from the experience. As part of the co-op, there was only one significant drawback we never solved when I was there. When someone bought a painting we didn't have a system of tracking the purchase with the intent of informing the artist who their new collector was. Consequently I don't know who bought any of my paintings, except one, and that is because I was there when she bought it. It is the second piece she bought from me. I guess that qualifies her as one of my collectors!

Having volunteered to take an extra shift, I was really too sick to be working, but the relaxed atmosphere at the gallery made me feel I would be alright to work anyway. First thing in the morning a beautiful lady came in, browsed a moment, and then approached me. "Do you know who the artist is that drew this?" she asked.

"Yes! I did!" I said with a little too much enthusiasm, (I didn't feel sick anymore!). As a result she commissioned me to do a pencil drawing of her home.

Commissioned work
I had a lot of fun drawing this Gardner Village tool shed. My style and attention to detail is what caught Wendy's eye. She commissioned a drawing of her home from me.
Wendy's Home in pencil
This is Wendy's beautiful home. As a result of this commission I figured out how to spend a couple of hours in my art studio every night no matter what else was going on my my life. I also realized that I love working on commissions!
Then in August of 2013 she visited the Local Colors Art Gallery again. I was the featured artist, and this was the central painting in my Sunrise-Sunset series. She bought this painting from me.

Through the Veil
'Through the Veil' is part of my sunrise-sunset series. Well it was, it belongs to Wendy now.
It's been a year now, so I was able to contact her and make arrangements to apply a protective varnish to the surface. In addition to being able to stay connected to her, I had the rare privilege of taking a tour of her unique and beautiful home. Now I have a photo of the environment my drawing of her home lives in.

She has a very eclectic collection of art, from abstract, pop art, impressionism, realism, sculptures, drawing, all kinds of lovely works. Her home is an art museum!

Wendy's home in Wendy's home
Just a glimpse of her home inside!
After I figure out how to make a living selling and commissioning art work I want to be a collector! First I need to sell a lot of my work, I'd just love to replace the pictures hanging on the walls of my home with artwork by other artists! I have collected a few lovely pieces....

You can buy prints of my finished work at jane-autry.artistwebsites.com There you can have an image printed as a greeting card, on metal, canvas, framed or even buy a cell phone cover!

If you would like to commission some art work email me at nilajaneautry@gmail.com or visit my Facebook profile. Facebook.com/daisyjaneautry

This is a continuation of a blog entitled: My Process ~ Dangerously Creative (part 1)

This is where you get to see the finished commissioned painting of Sara and Francisco in front of the LDS Temple they will be married in on November 22, 2014.

Sneak Peak at a portion of the St. George Temple
Sneak peek I put on Facebook as bait... I like feedback!
As I worked I took photos to show the progression and what it meant to add color to a white image. If you've seen the movie "Girl with a Pearl Earring" there's a moment when Johannes Vermeer (played by Colin Firth) is talking to the maid, (played by Scarlet Johansson). He is asking her to look up at the clouds and tell him what color they are. At first she says, "Gray, and white." He looks at her. She pauses and realizes he's asking her to see as an artist sees, and then she lists several colors that she actually sees in the gray and white clouds.

Unfinished version
I sent this image to Sara to see if she liked it and was pleased to have her be honest about what wasn't working. Her observations allowed me to correct some flaws.
This is the finished temple, (you'll notice the color cast from a cell phone photo compared to the finished painting photographed with my Canon SLR Camera) with unfinished portraits and no foliage. Sara observed several things that I was thankful she pointed out. Her forehead is too colorful, her hairline needs moved down, and the lips on her fiancé are too protruded.

St. George Temple
The finished painting of Sara and her fiancé Francisco in front of the St. George Temple where they will be married for time and all eternity on November 22, 2014. It will be placed on a table easel by their guest register. How cool is that?
Working with Sara and Francisco has been a joy. I'm more than a little annoyed that my college professors had the attitude that working as a commissioned artist was like selling out, and that the only 'valid' artist painted and created for their own pleasure, and it didn't matter if an artist pleased anyone else. Art for art's sake...What a selfish attitude! If I had known what a joy it is to work closely with a client, and paint what they want I would have been making money with my art long ago.

Tuesday evening we (Stansbury Art and Lit Society) had our annual Holiday Art Show. If you missed it you also missed my Witch Brownies, and a lot of great art from Tooele County's local artists.

On Monday evening I got my Sunrise-Sunset paintings gathered up and put them in pillowcases to protect them, the big one I wrapped in a sheet and packed out my truck so I could hang my show and be finished with my set-up in time to do a video interview with Melanie Chacon from tooeletv.com. She interviewed me and Pat. I had hoped to insert the video interviews here....but they are not available yet. Hopefully they will be available very soon. Here's the links: http://www.tooeletv.com and facebook.com/TooeleTV

Thought I was all ready for the day when I realized I was also supposed to bring a treat. I usually do chips and a mean salsa but I didn't have the ingredients on hand so I thought about brownies. And then I thought about halloween and jalapeños. So I searched google for a recipe for jalapeño brownies. If you're brave...

Jalapeno Brownies

Ingredients:

Yield 36 small brownies

2/3 cup semisweet chocolate or 2/3 cup bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup butter
4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
5 large jalapeno peppers, minced
6 -8 fresh Thai red chili peppers, minced (I just used more jalapeños)
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly oil a 9-by-13-inch pan.
Melt butter and chocolate together in a double boiler.
Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, whisk or beat the eggs with the salt until foamy.
Add the sugar and vanilla and beat until well blended.
Add the chocolate-butter mixture and stir until just combined.
Sift flour and cocoa together.
Add the flour and cocoa powder and mix until almost blended.
Fold in the jalapeños, chilies and nuts.
Transfer batter to the prepared pan and bake until the top forms a cracked crust and the inside looks slightly moist, 30 to 35 minutes.
Allow to cool, then cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar.
Make a warning sign....and share with brave people!!!






BTW: Happy happy Halloween!!! Be safe.

Logan Temple in November
Logan Temple in November

Finding a client, collector, or whatever you call someone who commissions an original oil painting is for a separate blog. I found Sara and Francisco as a result of the Bridal Expo I was a participant in on July 19, 2014.
My 'booth'
This is my simple set-up at the La Caille Bridal Expo on July 19, 2014
My process, how I do what I do, is a question I often get when people view my work. I am a very patient person, and even though I'm dangerously creative, I am trying to develop a method or process that is consistent and duplicatable.
Your style, and my style is like our signature, no matter what process we use, it remains unique. Following a step by step action plan on each painting, consistently is a powerful tool. You might compare it to memorizing the words and tune to a song. During the memorization process, and especially after mastering the music you are then able to give your full attention to the emotional message of the arrangement and put your whole heart into the presentation. Similarly, my creative spirit and my love of experimenting will not be stifled, surprisingly, by following a similar process on each painting. Instead the process opens up new avenues of creative expression.
I am posting photos and instructions illustrating my 'Temple Project'. My goal it to draw and paint every LDS Temple in the world. I'm only 57. At the rate I paint (very slowly), I need to live another 40 productive years. Even though I paint slowly, and often do some art for pure fun, and take a few 'rabbit trails' as my husband would call them, I pray it can be done... (you might refer to my post entitled "The Profitable Artist" Vision Statement http://wp.me/p4K6CV-9)
St. George, Utah LDS Temple
This is the St. George Utah Temple. The drawing is finished, I corrected the skewed perspective, and it is now ready to transfer to the canvas.
Watercolor surface, similar to watercolor paper texture
This is my choice of canvas, this is the purchased 'cradled panel watercolor board' I'm going to use.
Spraying on the sky
You see an 11 x 14 aquabord sitting in my art studio sink. I've sprayed Cobalt blue liquid watercolor and am in the process for watching it dry, hoping that the dreaded blooms will appear in interesting places or not at all.
Sky by Jane in Blues and pinks
This is also a cradled panel, but it is a gessoes board ready to accept Oil Paint. I'm really good at Bob Ross skies...so in case my client wants a more traditional sky I do 2, giving my client a chance to select the one they like.
Artsy Sky
This is the finished watercolor sky. It's a little more artsy than the oil sky. I'm not sure I'm done. I added ultramarine blue over the cobalt. I like the blooming...this type of Watercolor board is very prone to blooms! I think it needs some pinks...
On Sept 11, 2014, I sent images of both skies to my client, Sara. After conferring with her fiancé they selected the Oil Painted background. So here goes.
St George Temple in St. George Utah
I changed my reference photo to black and white in photoshop, this is the underpainting.
The next step is another layer of paint on the entire temple, using the color photo as a reference. The photos I'm using were some I took back in February when my family took a golfing trip to St. George.
Eventually the Bride and Groom will be in the foreground.
My follow-up blog will take you to the finished painting. Watch for it...the painting is to be delivered on November 18.

(Pics from original blog do not post here, so go see it at nilajaneautry.com or nilajaneautry.faso.com)

Yay! The numbers show that I now have 25 followers! That's like a classroom of new students. I taught Art in the public school system for 24 years. Including my student teaching I've taught from 6th grade to college level art classes. There's no greater feeling than meeting a new classroom full of students for the first time. So followers: I will do my best to keep all of you engaged and learning from me...whether it be life lessons, art lessons, or just a bit of sunshine on a cloudy day.

watercolor self portrait 1980
Looking down the hall in my basement apartment while studying Art Education at BYU, I whipped out a little self-portrait in watercolor.
My style has changed over the years significantly. Here we see a freshness and spontaneity that has been sacrificed for accuracy.

Many collectors and artists would choose freshness over accuracy. What do you enjoy the most?

A Master Painter will have both spontaneity and accuracy in the same painting, at least it will appear that way. This great goal will take me a lifetime to master!

Fiona in front of the painting of her
My friend Fiona posed for the painting that is displayed behind her.
This is the painting. It took at least 2 years to finish to my satisfaction.

Life is Precious Handle with Flowers
Fiona allowed me to do an exhaustive photo shoot with her as my model, from there is created this painting, using several sources, including a pottery piece I made several years ago for the main sunflower image.
Short post, probably because I'm used to short attention spans in the classroom, so now it's time to respond in the comments below, spontaneity or accuracy if you must choose?

More great stuff for you next week!