Stretching Canvas

A painting is pretty simple when looking it from its earliest stages. Behind most paintings is simply a panel or a piece of canvas/linen stretched around some wood.



Here is a stretcher 4 x 6 feet built by a killer Carpenter in Salt Lake City. If you ever need any wood work done he is your guy. Jeff Schroepfer is his name and his number call 801.301.1380. He is not only skilled but also one of the nicest guys I know.





These are the needed tools to effectively stretch a canvas.



I enjoy stretching canvases from time to time, by no means would I like to do it everyday. I do find it a bit zen to reflect on the work you are about to paint. It is a simple task that requires basic knowledge but must be done perfectly or else things will go bad real fast.

If you are looking for REALLY well made canvases, better then any Art Supply store, then contact Charly Snow at 801.870.2103

"...arresting motion..."

I have always wanted to try to paint motion. William Faulkner said, “The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.” So I decided that a horse race had some serious motion and I did some research. Not living close to a horse track I rented 5 of the 50 movies I found that had horse racing in them. So I paused one of them on my computer and did this. It is large, 45"x 60" and I did it mostly with house paint brushes I found at one of those dollar stores. I wanted to contrast the motion of the rider with the crowd he was riding past. One of my favorite assignments yet.

The Peyton Manning Painting

As a Graduate Student you are pushed to try new things and expand who you are as an artist. When I was a young child one of my favorite things to do was watch football with my Father and draw the heros we witnessed on tv. I thought it might be fun to try my hand with the subjects that inspired me so many years ago. This painting was constructed by various images found online.

I saw Peyton Manning play once in Denver(ironic seeing as that is now his new team), I sat through the game with my father and brothers as it snowed about 6 inches on us. The Colts won the game in overtime and we were all impressed at how Manning orchestrated a game winning drive with all that snow.

Super Bowl Weekend/ Adrian Peterson Painting

I hope everyone has a great Super Bowl weekend. Heres is a sketch of Adrian Peterson I did in 2010, oil on canvas 18"x 24". It would be fun to paint some of these guys life size.

The Rivalry/ The Holy War

A few months ago some friends and I went to a small cabin to work on some art. I decided I wanted to do a painting of a University of Utah football. That is the subject matter I focused on as a child so I thought I would re-visit those moments of my childhood. A sort of a "what would your 8 year old self paint" if you could travel through time moment.

If you have been to or spent some time here in Utah you are familiar with one of the most heated rivalries in the nation. Growing up here we were consumed by it. Byu was, "the big brother"(as they put it) for a long time but as of late Utah has emerged as the better program winning 7 of the last 10. Go Utes!!! Thanks for a great season.

# 47 Saint Christopher

This one was the last of a four part series. The Mitchell family is truly amazing. I felt it a real blessing to get to know them while working on this project.

Garrett Smith

I painted this for the Smith family, who are some of the kindest and most inspiring people I have met. There are certain people in this world who live with SO much passion that all we can do is sit back and take a moment to admire them. Oil on Canvas, 16" x 20".

# 46 Scarlet

Sometimes a painting almost just paints itself.

#45 The Most Remarkable Eliza Jane

This little gal is the daughter of one of my best friends. She has hinted that she would like to be painted. Her father and I teamed up to paint her portrait for her sixth birthday. Happy Birthday Eliza Jane!!!

Recent Commission

Here is a recent commission I did. 48"x 48" oil on canvas.