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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!

Saturday, October 4, 2014, we will be on TV singing for the afternoon session of General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You can also pick it up on lds.org. It starts at 2:00 pm Mountain Standard time. Look for us. The whole world will be watching! We'll be singing with other people from the Tooele Valley in the LDS Conference Center. Luckily all the people around me sing beautifully so I will be OK! As I have practiced all the songs, probably twice as much as anyone else because, like I said, I don't sing...I have been overcome with emotion. "No tender voice like thine..." I love my Savior more than I understand. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to share my testimony with the whole world through song. My sweet husband also gets to sing in conference, so look for him too.

"O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth..." - Alma 29:1 The Book of Mormon

"I know that my Redeemer lives....."

April Gailey Photography
Charles Jay Autry, my extremely handsome husband. He had to shave of the facial hair to sing in General Conference so don't look for the goatee and mustache.
April Gailey Photography
Most recent decent photo of me, taken by my daughter April Gailey... She took my photo class in High School and is now an accomplished professional photographer. April Gailey Photography

Do you like to create in series? I do! It seems that is what the Art Gallery's like, and it's what I feel really helps an emerging artist make a clear and strong statement. I'd love to explore the theme of a 'theme' in your art more thoroughly. Tell me, what theme's have you painted, created, or collected? My daughter Rachel collects ladybug stuff and things. It's so easy to create and buy for her! She loves gifts and I love to give them. I'm always on a quest for ladybug cool stuff! It makes her smile...me too!

Lady bug example
Little Nola Jean Harris, born May 5, 2014 and wrapped in a LadyBug blanket...
I began a sunflower theme 20 years ago. Acting as a Chaperone for a high school field trip filled with Granger High Schools best artists, (a very tame group) I sat alone. School busses are noisy places and not conducive to chatting anyway, so I pulled out my 'something to write with and something to write on' that I had in my bag. Out of the blue...came a good idea. I had previously looked at sunflower designs at the store, and realized there was only one basic boring design available. So, sunflowers became my first real series...I wondered how long it would last. I have created sunflower art in many mediums. I've done sunflowers in ceramics, stained glass, watercolor, oil, graphite, photography, and planted gobs and tons of sunflowers in my yard and garden. Creating sunflowers is quite easy for me now, with lots of miles on my paint brush. And I still love them! I'm partial to Russian Giant Sunflowers now. I grew them in rows this summer, along my courtyard.

Russian Sunflowers
They're all gone now, but sunflowers like this one were all along my courtyard this summer. It was glorious to behold!
Other themes I have explored include sunsets and sunrises. The sky is so inspiring! I love crazy storms and driving into the sunset. I live by the Great Salt Lake, and the sunrises and sunsets over it never cease to amaze me. So, wa-la another theme I've painted and still am, behind my LDS temple paintings. As I've considered God's most beautiful creations, human beings, I have taught myself to paint beautiful accurate portraits, first using my porcelain doll collection, then joining the Portrait Society of America and learning from true professionals. I love love love to paint! From life, from photos, from my lovely dolls, or from my imagination, I live to paint!!! Atheists and non believers mystify me. Alma says it for me here: From the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ

Alma 30:44 (this is the prophet Alma talking with Korihor, an anti-Christ)

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

My husband and I will share our testimony of Jesus Christ through song with 363 other good people from the Tooele Valley, tomorrow, October 4th at 2:00 pm in the 184th Semi-annual World Wide General Conference, I pray that our combined testimony will strengthen yours. "Let all that breathe praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost"... is a line from our opening song. I hope all my paintings also testify of the reality of God and his majesty! Don't forget to tell me about your theme, series, and also your testimony!

Camille Joan Autry Dingfield
This is my beautiful Cami on her wedding day. February 29, 2008
Leap year...go figure!
Cami
I painted this of Cami, (she was the originator of selfies...) when she was in high school. She didn't get to go to prom and seemed uncharacteristically fine with that. Her date got grounded.
Cami would have been 25 years old today if she had not made the decision to end her life on April 8, 2011. Hardest event of my entire life and all her family, including her husband Robert whom she loved dearly. My Savior cried with us that day, and again today. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have had her as my child for a mere 21 years. She was born laughing, and always handled hard things with a touch of dark humor. As she grew older many health challenges plagued her, mostly tummy aches that today I believe was a gluten intolerance and the need for real food. Add to the health challenges, a sad spirit that longed for perfection but had no idea where to start.

I tried to attach the song by Mindy Gledhill called 'Long Lost Child' but failed. This beautiful song always reminds me of Cami and her challenges. I love her so, and miss her so much today. We went to her headstone at the cemetery and put a fresh bouquet of red roses surrounded by white daisies. When the Resurrection flowers are ready, I will divide the bulbs and plant some at her headstone.

Beautifully wild, long lost child.

Today I will spend the rest of the day painting and hopefully finishing another image of the Resurrection flowers that always seem to poke their heads out of the ground and bloom on her birthday.

Resurrection Flowers
I painted this in 2012 when they bloomed for the first time. These lovely delicate perennial flowers seem to bloom every Sept 4th on Cami's birthday. The bulbs were a gift from my sister on the day of Cami's funeral. My grandson, Hunter, helped me plant them after the funeral services were over.
Resurrections flowers
This is an unfinished painting that I will finish today in honor of my sweet daughter.

S: Specific - The goal should identify a specific action or event that will take place.

M: Measurable - The goal and its benefits should be quantifiable (whatever that means...$)

A: Achievable - The goal should be attainable given available resources

R: Realistic - The goal should require you to stretch some, but all the likelihood of success. Your ultimate goal is to succeed at whatever you set out to do.

T: Timely - The goal should state the time period in which it will be accomplished

Sigh. Uggh. This is the hard stuff here.

Tips:

*Develop several goals. A list of 5 to 7 items gives you several thing to work on over a period of time. Too many portends failure.

*Attach a date to each goal. State what you intend to accomplish and by when. A good list should include some short-term and some long-term objectives.

*Be specific.

*Write down your objectives and put them where you will see them. The more often you read your list, the more results you get.

*Review and revise your list. Experiment with different ways of stating your goals. Goal-setting improves with practice, so play around with it.

OK. Here goes.

Identify your goal: My current goal is to receive at least 2 commissioned Temple paintings from the 60 new contacts I got at the La Caille Bridal Expo I spent $600.00 and several hours obtaining.

Outline all potential obstacles or concerns: Well, so far I have emailed all 60 brides, and looked for them on Facebook. I have one potential client so far. I'm waiting for her to tell me when I can drive out and meet with her and her fiancé to plan the project. I'm thinking I should text all of them also. Many young people do not use email anymore, but texting is almost universal with that age group.

Steps:

1. Clean up my contact list....yikes! It's a royal mess. I had the guy at the Apple store sync iCloud with my iPhone and my iMac and ended up with a ridiculous contact list...I may delete the whole list and start over manually.

2. Put all the brides in my contact list, and then text them all with an invitation to receive a beautiful temple painting as a wedding decoration at their reception, that will increase in value, both monetarily and spiritually as it will also serve as a reminder that their eternal vows are beyond value.

3. Order cards from fineartamerica, and one month before date of their wedding send them a lovely card to remind them of my services and congratulate them again on their wedding plans.

Well, that wasn't so hard after all...I can get that all done tomorrow maybe. So, now it is time to set the next smart goal since I do not plan on creating another blog until next Sunday.

Observation: After Monday's craziness...Monday's are always crazy, Sundays seems to be a goal setting day for me always. First I spend 4 hours at church and get all kinds of advise on what I should do, and I write it all in my church journal. I find myself feeling positive and excited while there, but a bit overwhelmed when I get home and begin planning my week. And then Monday comes...and I think I have to get it all done on Monday. I have to vocally speak to myself and say "You have all week to do all this stuff-one thing at a time! Breath! Breath! Breath deeper! Yoga is the best thing I do for myself each day, especially Mondays! (whoops, rabbit trail)

My next goal: Find a photo of the temple I want to draw, hopefully one I took. It has to be recognizable as a specific temple. It does not have to be the whole temple. It has to be a great composition. I have to be able to put a couple in front, in the foreground after the entire temple is painted. I will paint the temple as a finished painting, photograph it carefully, and then post it on fineartamerica. Then I can sell prints of the temple without the personalization. I will also keep the pattern that I draw so I can paint the same temple again if necessary. (For a new commission of the same temple.)

Steps:

1. Transfer only the best photos (particularly Temples) from my older external hard drives. (This may take the rest of the week)

2. Chose one...make a decision. Then draw it carefully.

3. (Process) Paint the background in watercolor on the 24 x 36 Fredrix watercolor board. Check YouTube for tutorials about pouring on watercolor...the texture of the watercolor board does not respond like watercolor paper. I've already scrubbed off a sky I painted and am ready to start over. When I absolutely love the sky I will apply clear gesso over it, seal the edges also, and than transfer the drawing. Then I will seal the drawing with another coat of clear gesso. Begin oil painting either the SLC Temple or the Oquirrh Mountain temple regardless of obtaining a commission. My panel is 24x36 and just waiting for a beautiful temple painting!

I am so excited! I can hardly wait till Tuesday!!! But wait...if I get some commissions I'll have to do some traveling and meeting with clients...wouldn't be such a bad diversion.

It's such a fun challenge-being my own boss!

Today I want to revisit my Mission Statement. I worked on it a few times, but it all sounded like a vision statement to me so I haven't actually blogged about it yet. I'm an Artist, so I've written lots of Artist Statements...but those are more specific to a certain painting or a series of paintings.

No matter what I decide to create as I apply my artistic skills to convey an idea, it must be uplifting, encouraging, and radiant.

As I was driving into Salt Lake City, Utah for a day at Local Colors Art Gallery, I was overwhelmed with the way the morning light penetrated heavy cloud cover over Salt Air. Salt Air is not a temple, but as I viewed it I received a spiritual conviction in my heart that I wanted to paint LDS Temples---all of them!

MISSION STATEMENT~I want to provide lovely oil paintings of temples for the whole world. I want them to be so inspiring that every LDS home will want a print. The resplendent beauty of each Temple hanging on the walls of Saints all over the world will bring the Spirit of Christ into the living rooms and hearts of followers of Christ.

If you read my vision statement you know that I am an idealist to the core. Lofty goals are part of my character. Realists don't relate to me very well...C'est la vie!

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Last week I worked on a mission statement, and asked for feedback from my friends. So, here's the revision.

MISSION STATEMENT~ By painting temples, I want to show the whole world the true beauty and purpose of temples: joy, protection, progress, and eventual return as family units to His glorious presence. The resplendent beauty of each Temple painting, hanging on the walls of Saints all over the world will bring the Spirit of Christ into the homes and hearts of His children.

Soon I will bring all these posts together, and have a business plan I feel confident and comfortable with. This post is short and sweet, and as always, I love feedback!

Smart Goals reviewed and refined:

Ok, so I re-read my first try at a Smart goal, and the goal I thought I could finish in one day, Monday August 3, (I can get that all done tomorrow, maybe) still remains unfinished.

My current goal is to receive at least 2 commissioned Temple paintings from the 60+ new contacts I got at the La Caille Bridal Expo I spent $600.00 and several hours obtaining.

Potential obstacles or concerns:

1. Well, so far I have emailed all 60 brides, and looked for them on Facebook. Not many responses at all.

2. I have one client so far. I will meet with Sara and Francisco on Aug 27 to do a photo shoot at the Mt. Timpanogus Temple. They want an 8x10 for the sign-in table at their reception.

3. Diversions have accumulated: I did a Plein Air event Saturday the 16th, painting remains unfinished and it is so enticing...I really want to finish it. Plein Air competition event scheduled on August 23rd. I paid for 3 entries, which means I have three little landscapes to do next weekend.

4. Funeral tomorrow, Stansbury Art and Lit Society meeting on Tuesday, Budgeting payday (this is really hard stuff for me and takes several hours) on Wednesday, Fiona's birthday party Friday, Sat Sun and Monday to do three plain air paintings and then deliver paintings to Local Colors on Monday.

5. Viola Recital next month, need to practice a lot, Singing in the Choir for General Conference on October 4, and then the next week Messiah practice starts so Sunday nights will be busy from next week until Christmas. Christmas gift paintings planned...hmmm. Always too much to do. What do I need to start saying NO to?

6. And I plan on substitute teaching?....go figure! And there is the yard and housework, exercising and showering....

Business TO DO list:

1. Text all of the brides. Many young people do not use email anymore, but texting is almost universal with that age group.

2. Put all the brides in my contact list, (I'm on the M's.) and then text them all with an invitation to receive a beautiful temple painting as a wedding decoration at their reception, that will increase in value, both monetarily and spiritually as it will also serve as a reminder that their eternal vows are beyond value.

3. Order cards from fineartamerica.com, or got print.net (check prices) and one month before date of their wedding send them a lovely card to remind them of my services and congratulate them again on their wedding plans.

Painting TO DO list:

(My process: Find a photo of the temple I want to draw, hopefully one I took. It can be someone else's photo, as long as they give me permission to use it. It has to be recognizable as a specific temple. It does not have to be the whole temple. It has to be a great composition. I have to be able to put a couple in front, in the foreground after the entire temple is painted. I will paint the temple as a finished painting, photograph it carefully, and then post it on my website. Then I can sell prints of the temple without the personalization. I will also keep the pattern that I draw so I can paint the same temple again if necessary. (For a new commission of the same temple.))

Steps:

1. Transfer only the best photos (particularly Temples) from my older external hard drives.

2. Chose one...make a decision. Then draw it carefully. (as of today, August 17, I have 2 drawn, and one more on the drawing board)

a. Oquirrh Mountain Temple is drawn, and ready to transfer to the 24 x 36 Fredrix cradled watercolor panal. Background (3rd try, I scrubbed it off twice) is ready to gesso. (I sprayed it with printer ink!!!) I'm so excited!

b. Snowflake AZ Temple is drawn and ready to transfer as soon as the sky is dry. Stormy sky, With the temple glowing in front of the storm is the concept. Name: Stand Ye in Holy Places 16x20

c. Snowflake AZ temple nearly finished on a 5x7 Fredrix panel. Watercolor sky, clear gesso, and the temple in oil.

d. Drawing of St. George Temple is started. (it's the one Sara and Francisco want)

3. Apply clear gesso over the sky, seal the edges also, and than transfer the drawing. Then I will seal the drawing with another coat of clear gesso. Begin oil painting the Oquirrh Mountain temple regardless of obtaining a commission.

It's such a fun challenge-being my own boss!

SWOT: (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)

This could get a bit personal…I’m uncomfortable being an open book, but here goes. I will only list the strengths on this blog. My next blog I’ll cover my weaknesses and so on.

Strengths:

Patience, with myself, others, and the artistic process

After teaching art for 24 years I have a wealth of knowledge about art, and more importantly, I have connections, and know how to find answers to any question I encounter in my artistic journey

I am ambitious, determined and passionate about creating my own Profitable Art business

I love my new business cards and direction

Understanding how to create a great painting is a never ending process, but one I love and feel I am becoming accomplished at.

Writing and communicating about my art is fun to do, and I love sharing it.

I am teachable…always listening and learning new concepts, wherever I find them

I have great technology tools. I have a new iMac computer that I am becoming comfortable with, a new iPone, and an iPad. I also have the opportunity to take classes at the Apple store and they have helped me a lot. I still have a lot to learn of course.

Most importantly…I have faith in my own ability, and my own relationship with God, trusting that any obstacle I encounter can be overcome with prayer, and action. I’m not afraid to work hard!

I challenge you to follow my blogs and determine your own reasons, purposes, and goals that will lead you to be a more profitable artist.

Last week I blogged about some of my strengths, as difficult as that was I'm having a harder time posting my weakness list, it's a lot longer. Some of that list will remain written in my personal journal, but there are a few I'm comfortable sharing...

In my list of strengths I mentioned that I am a very patient person, but patience sometimes bumps into a deadline, and often at the end of a painting I rush and cut corners. I discovered this weakness a long time ago, and being aware of this tendency has helped me do better.

Obviously it is better to do things correctly the first time, that is the true shortcut, but I do have a shortcut mentality when I want to get something checked off my to-do list and move on. I should make myself a visual sign that says "Shortcuts are the long way around. Taking shortcuts cuts you short!" There's nothing more frustrating than having to redraw or repaint something because I am not satisfied with the results. Believe me, I've relearned this principle many times!

I am a people pleaser. I want everyone to be happy, and will sometimes do things for others that they can and should do for themselves.

Another serious weakness is saying "NO" to activities and things I would like to accomplish or participate in that will not further my business goals. I find it easy to get very busy doing stuff that isn't very important. Sometimes I can get lost in a novel, or rearranging a little corner of my home, when I need to be painting. I have a lot of other hobbies and interests. Stuff like that.

Creativity sometimes gets in my way...trying new things can be important at times, but sometimes you just have to quit trying new things and stick to your business plan! Cuz it's a good one!

Business plan blogs are coming!

More on SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analyzing my business opportunity, opportunities: Ok, without going over my business plan here, and my goals...that's for another day. Opportunities and ideas are endless. Carving out my own niche has meant sacrificing many things I could do...I've had to pick my favorite medium, (oil paint) and then my favorite way to paint, (Realism) and then my favorite theme or themes.


Here I will just list some opportunities for growing my little little business:

1. Business building workshop at the Apple Store where I bought this wonderful iMac I'm enjoying (most of the time, I have a lot to learn)

2. My fineartamerica website jane-autry.artistwebsites.com

3. facebook.com/daisyjaneautry

4. Wordpress blog sight - nilajaneautry.com

5. Wedding Expos: I have a booth this Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the La Caille

6. Stansbury Art and Literature Society (a local group of artists I belong to)

7. Portrait Society of America - I'm a member

8. Gallery representation opportunities

9. Many wonderful Artist friends

10. Lots of Art contests

11. The Whole World, if I can figure out how to get my name and work out there!

12. ??????????? This list will grow.Autry-J-Still-Life

Vision Statement: Who I am as an artist, accepting the fact that I am an idealist with lofty goals and unrealistic expectations puts me in the line of fire of cynics and realists. My intention is to avoid their attacks by embracing my idealistic self and continuing on my journey to illustrate perfection. Don’t kid yourself..we all desire greatness. And my belief is that we can all be great, we can all put our best foot forward and seek inspiration and guidance from our higher power on a daily basis.

What I want out of my artistic life is to leave a legacy of faith, determination and courage. I want my art to be collected and treasured by those who seek beauty, peace and fulfillment from the visual images they surround themselves with.

Visual imagery is a language all its own, a method of communication that transcends all language barriers, but has some barriers of its own. What I am trying to communicate with my artistic expressions isn’t necessarily what the viewer will feel. Each artwork being observed is interpreted by a unique individual with their own set of interpreters and carries a different message, perhaps even at different crossroads for the same viewer, like rereading a book and understanding it differently on the reread.

I’m looking for you, kindred spirit. One with whom to communicate on a visual level, all depths of reverence and beauty.

Old 20 sec blurb: I paint exquisite portraits of dolls and flowers. I want you to feel what I feel as I paint, a reverence for the beauties of the earth and an awareness of humanities personal search for perfection. With my art I want to melt your heart.

New 20 sec blurb: I'm a professional artist working mostly on commissioned portraits in oil. When I am not painting a commission I paint exquisite portraits of dolls and flowers. I want you to feel what I feel as I paint, a reverence for the beauties of the earth and an awareness of humanities personal search for perfection.

I also love to paint religious edifices, such as Temples, churches and the like. My work is highly idealistic, much like the old masters with an emphasis on eternal themes. I am an idealist to the core, an artist who cherishes high and noble principles. With my art I want to enlarge, soften and enlighten your heart. Ah-Hah! Awe....."One person can make a difference..." JFK

“Look what I can do Mommy!”
--by Nila Jane Thurber Autry
June 9, 2013
Why do I feel compelled to do art? One day in casual conversation I mentioned to my daughter April, that I couldn’t die too young, I had way too many paintings I needed to paint. I didn’t think anything of the comment until I saw the look on her face. Incredulous is how I would describe her expression. And I wondered what compels me to plan my life creating windows of time that allow me to spend a couple of hours every day painting.
I’m a mother of six, grandmother of 8. I have a wonderful husband who lets me do all the housework, cooking, cleaning, bills, shopping, make and go to appointments, make phone calls and make sure his sore back is rubbed out, (truth be told, the sore back is chronic and severe, that’s why he lets me do so much of the work in running a household and family). I also need to look pretty any time I go out, and keep up the yard and garden. I have the great blessing of being married to a man that loves and adores me. I am blessed more than many other ladies I know, so many are single, desperate and lonely. I’m not cursed with any of those maladies. I am blessed with good health and an over ambitious nature. No matter what I do with my life I will always be too busy, so I plan every day carefully in order to make time for the calm and focus that painting and drawing gives me.
I have taught art at the high school and college level for over 20 years. I love seeing students come alive as they get to the ‘aha’ stage, “Wow, look what I did!” That moment of amazement is still very real for me. “Look what I can do Mommy!” a child says as they learn. I still experience that wonder of discovery. The technical skill, the creativity and the idea or concept I synthesize through painting adds an adult dimension that takes my art to the level of communication that transcends and crosses communication barriers, language differences, religious beliefs, political agendas, and cynicism.
It’s what I have the need to communicate that keeps me painting realistically, and emotionally. I love color, I love the beauties of the earth, I love a good portrait, and I am so happy when I can paint what I feel and see in my heart. I want my art to communicate my belief in God. I want to make others feel what I feel when I see a flower with sunlight shining through it, or a person’s face with life and spirit glowing through the paint. I would like my paintings to be described as intimate, exquisite and lifelike. That’s my intention with every painting I do. A spot of color, a touch of heaven.
I often feel like I am ever learning and coming short of the intensity or glory I what to depict in my paintings. There must be a balance between soft and striking, quiet and inspiring, muted colors and intense color notes. Every painting needs to surprise and delight. As I mentioned, I fall short but I keep trying.
Every painting is a testimony. “Cast the dark veil of unbelief from before your eyes.” Notice, notice, notice the glory of the beauties God has created! I’m screaming it! How can anyone not look around and believe in God?
So many worry and stew about the difficulties of life, and fuss and whine and accentuate the negative, the difficult, and the desperation around them. In doing so it only grows worse.
Look, see, believe!
I love life. It is glorious and wonderful. There is never enough time in a day to do all that I want to do. I’m so thankful I believe in a God who has given purpose and meaning to my life through art. I’m so thankful to believe in life after death. I think there will be artists, architects, musicians, and builders in heaven. I believe heaven will be here on this earth and will be very much like what we are familiar with here. We just won’t get tired and sick…ever! Now, that would be heaven! We will keep learning and growing. We will better understand our purpose. We will never stop giving. We must never stop giving. For that is truly true happiness. Through my art I give the world my testimony, not only of the stories of Jesus, but of the glories of the world we live in. I love this glorious world!

If only...famous unnecessary words and feelings. If only I'd paid more attention to her silent cries of desperation. If only. What's done is done. Do you think she is beautiful?

I've told stories to my students about Vincent van Gogh for several years. When I get to the part that he shot himself, and refused medical help I always get a bit teary eyed, but when I tell them that his sister in law marketed his work after he died I really get choked up. It wasn't until my daughter took her own life with a gun that I understood where the depth of conviction to market his work and share it with the world came from. Cami did a series of self portraits that spanned her brief lifetime. I wish to share them with the world. She was a very sweet, quiet girl, a bit tormented similar to van Gogh. She took life too seriously but had a very silly side that always made everyone around her giggle. Those who gave Cami a chance loved her deeply, but she never believed them. She was always amazed and incredulous when people expressed their love and admiration for her. Depression was ever present in her life. I hope to do for Cami what Van Gogh's sister-in-law did for him.

I learned at a marketing meeting last night that 50% of your time should be spent marketing your work...I guess I have some work to do. Blogging is also a bit new to me, it feels like a public journal entry.

Right now I am finishing up a still life of a doll I named Jenessa. She is painted with a beautiful blue glass vase and a glass butterfly with red roses on her dress, in her hair, and other touches of red. Most of the time I really love this painting. But sometimes, it seems ordinary...I wonder if all artists feel that way about their work?

I'm also trying very hard to develop enough self discipline to finish each painting before I go on to the next one. I have a bad habit of getting a new idea when I am at the hardest part of a current painting, and putting aside an almost finished painting to start the new one. Makes for a lot of unfinished work!

I love what I do, even though 90% of my ideas get neglected because there is not enough time to complete them. Hopefully the most exciting ones will resurface, and still be grand!

Oh, how I wish I was in my studio painting...but I don't have room on my walls for all the paintings I continue to create, so I need to get them out there, and market them. I'm working on another doll still life that I'm almost finished with...can't wait to share it. Like most artists, I'm sure you feel that your current work is your most exciting. Watch for it!