Entropy

We are surrounded by systems. Some of these systems function to a degree of order and others to a degree of disorder. There seems to be a randomness as to why one operates as it should while others fail. There is a lack of predictability to it all.

As a young man, I went to an art school without any preconceived ideas and it exceeded any expectations I could have ever imagined. I was introduced to amazing artists who were confident and willing to share the knowledge they had acquired along their journey. They became life long mentors.

A few years later, I went to graduate school. With the previous experience I had expectations as to what art school was "supposed to be." I was shocked at what I was confronted with. Professors full of excuses, limited experience, apathy, and suspicion. It was a disappointment to say the least.

Why did one function so well, while the other failed? This painting was a reflection on those experiences. Entropy, 40"x 46", oil on canvas.

Poetry in Motion

Capturing someone capture a red sports car. Poetry in Motion, Oil on Canvas, 36"x 48". Available for purchase at the Terzian Gallery.

So it Begins...

Rite of Passage. Life is full of many "starts and stops." We often compare our successes or failures to those who are taking a journey at the same time as we are. To not fall into that type of thinking pattern is very difficult in our culture. I thought about the competitive nature of our society and the feelings that arise when we are about to start a race at the same time as other people, as I painted this piece. The people I really admire, are the ones that are able to look past comparisons and focus on bettering themselves without having to be better than those around them.

So it Begins, Oil on Canvas, 36"x 48". Available at Terzian Galleries.

Silence the Doubters

This painting references back to early adolescence. I was a small kid. As a ninth grader I was often confused with seventh graders, which never felt good. In a photography class I was getting teased for being so short, one kid named Phil Hansen said, "I bet you can't even jump and touch the fire sprinkler on the ceiling." Well I wasn't going to walk away from a dare, so I took two steps and to the surprise of the crowd I jumped and touched the sprinkler hanging down from the 9 1/2 foot ceiling. I had impressed my classmates, but unknowingly set off the fire alarm. I ended up in the Vice Principal's office and she gave me 10 hours detention, which was basically cleaning up trash for two hours after school for a week. Strangely, as I look back, I don't remember any of the punishment, but I will never forget the expression on Phil Hansen's face after proving him wrong.

Silence the Doubters, Oil on Canvas, 40"x40". Sold at Terzian Gallery.

Closing the Gap

 

It's been a while since I posted a painting. I have been busy moving and setting up a new studio. Here is a recent piece titled, Closing the Gap, oil on canvas, 40"x 60". Available at the Terzian Gallery.  

The Firenze Race Team

This painting was inspired by our trip to Italy. The Firenze Race Team, oil on canvas 48"x 48". Sold at the Terzian Gallery.

Europe 2014

June was a bit of a wild ride. We spent the month moving and running around Italy and France for a few weeks. Now that we are settling in and inspired beyond belief it is time to get to work and make some paintings.

The Venetian Glassblowers

This was painted in anticipation of visiting Italy this summer. Oil on canvas, 36"x 48".

"Revolution of the Mind"

Lately I have been think about how everything in life can be seen from various perspectives. Living in a country where people often confuse their opinion with truth, we see ongoing debates about "how things should be." When I am painting I often listen to the news. I enjoy listening to both sides of the aisle to see how they choose to spin their versions of the "headlines."

These two paintings have been a personal meditation exercise. One is the vantage point of looking into a riot and the other is looking out. One feels of fire, the other feels like ice. I have noticed that as we look at any one issue, most people want to take a side and "make it right." The next thing I noticed is that people will do almost anything to validate their perspective. What often gets lost in all this nonsense is people losing sight of what is important. They are so focused on "who is is right", and lose sight of "what is right."

Both paintings are oil on canvas and 30"x 40".

New Website

I just finished putting together a proper website.

Click on the link to check it out:  www.zacharyproctor.com

The Spectacle

I painted a smaller version of this a little while back. It was so enjoyable that I wanted to paint it larger and try a few different things. The painting is a memory of an unforgettable day I spent with my grandfather before he passed on.

The Spectacle, 48"x 48", oil on canvas.
Sold at the Terzian Gallery in Park City, Utah.

Vulnerability

Growing up I had heard many people talk about gender roles and what is expected of men in contrast to what is expected of women. After getting married I quickly became aware of what women are up against. I found it a little shocking and harsh. So I decided to make a painting about what I was learning.

Vulnerability, oil on canvas, 30"x 40".
Sold at the Terzian Gallery.

The Harvest

When I was younger I spent some in South America. While I was there I worked for a few days on a cattle farm in the La Pampa. They taught me how to ride rode on horses similar to these without any saddles. Just as the authentic "Gauchos." We gathered up hay bales, fed the cows, and even branded some of them. It was an experience of a lifetime.

The Harvest, oil on canvas, 36"x 36".
Sold at the Terzian Gallery.

This is the first stage of the painting, the "underpainting."

Young Santiago

I have always found inspiration in literature. As I am painting I often listen to audiobooks that I get from the local library. This is a piece inspired by Hemingway and his short novel, The Old Man and the Sea.

Young Santiago, Oil on canvas, 30"x 40".

Always interesting to see the sketch that preceded a painting. It helps one realize where you may make mistakes in a larger piece.

Mysteries of Modernism

We recently returned from an "art trip" to New York City. I found myself a little annoyed as i was trying to look at all the art in that amazing city. It seemed as though everybody had an i-phone in front of their face taking a photograph of almost everything they were looking at. I am genuinely surprised that the museums and galleries are okay with people snapping so many picture of the art on display.

This painting is a mental meditation exercise at understanding the current state of the modern art world. There is a lot of fascinating things going on and the contemporary state of things back in NY are extremely mysterious. Mysteries of Modernism, oil on canvas, 30"x 40".

Available for sale at the Terzian Gallery in Park City.

The Sundance Kid

The west is full of folklore and myth. The stories of its settlement and the chaos that existed are relatively reachable looking back only a few generations. My ancestors settled in the Salt Lake Valley and Central Utah. As kids we grew up hearing stories of our pioneer ancestors, cowboys and native Americans, and the infamous outlaws. Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were the stories discussed around the campfire on out Boy Scout camp outs.

Here is The Sundance Kid, (oil canvas, 30"x 40") and the preliminary sketch.

Answering the Call

I painted this based on some experiences I had in southern Argentina. It is about three companions and our leader "Answering the Call" in a small town called Pique. It was so enjoyable to paint I am tempted to do a really large version of it. This one is an oil on canvas and 30"x 40". 

Check out this video Joel Addams made about the painting.

Upcoming Show

This painting is for a show in southern California next month. The show is compiled of amazing painters that worked as apprentices under the artist David Dornan. Since Dave lives and works in Helper Utah, the show is about the experience of working in that small town. Helper is in southeastern Utah and once thrived on mining and the railroad, so I painted this piece of a train and some men that helped it along the rail.

Helper Train, 48"x 48", oil on canvas.
Available at the Coda Gallery in Palm Desert.

# 63 and # 64 Wright Commissions

I recently just finished off the second and third commission for the Wright family. It was a privilege to paint such adorable children. Here are all three hanging together. All of them are 24"x 24", oil on canvas.

# 62 Urie Commission

The head series continues, slowly, but surely. This is a commission for an awesome family in SLC. It is # 62 out of 100. 24"x 24", oil on canvas.

Super Bowl Sunday!

For years I was a San Francisco 49ers fan. When they hired Jim Harbaugh, I got really caught up in their turn around and the resurrection of Alex Smith's career. After what happened with the team last year, I have mixed feelings. There are some great players on that team. This little painting is of Frank Gore, one of the best and most consistent running backs in the game. Oil on canvas, 24"x 24".

Pit Crew

Everybody needs a good pit crew. Oil on canvas on board, 5"x 7".

Grad School Miscommunication

I never intended on going to Graduate School. It sort of presented itself and seemed like a good idea at the time. When it started I thought I had a notion of what the experience was going to be, however my expectations and my reality were not the same. The department and the professors were filled with apathy, leaving many of the grad students to fend for themselves. It was sort of like being lost somewhere and all the people you are looking to for help and directions are just as lost as you are. I guess it could be summed up as, "the blind leading the blind."

This little oil painting symbolizes the miscommunications I felt. Oil on Canvas, 26"x 36".  

Commission for the Jespersens

This is a recent commission I painted for a great family in SL. Anne is an amazing painter and it was a privilege to paint a painting of her painting. Oil on canvas, 22"x 28".