My wife Laurel and I, with our five children, live in the small town of Spring City in central Utah. I am a "Utah Boy" born and raised and though now in my "middle ages" still love the high mountain desert that I grew up in. I spent most of my childhood and young adult years on a small farm in Highland Utah and most of the subjects that find their way into my paintings are the rural things that I grew up with. Highland as well as the rest of Utah Valley is now a fine example of urban sprawl. This "progress" up north is what inspired our "move to the country" over a decade ago. After Laurel and I finished our education (as if it is ever finished) at Brigham Young University we moved South to the Sanpete Valley that I had grown fond of during hunting trips with my Dad as well as photo trips by myself trying to find my way as a developing landsape painter. When asked for an artist statement I try to keep it simple; I am a "contemporary traditionalist". I know that sounds contradictory, but I hope I can be up-to-date, and still honor tradition. One thing that is consistent in art history, is the opposition between different ideas, i.e.: contemporary vs. traditional, romantic vs. classic, naturalistic vs. abstract, etc. I decided years ago not to choose between the opposites, but instead work to bring them together in a beautiful way.

My watchword is beauty. It is not difficult to see that we live in a world that is full of turmoil. On the other hand, it is easy to be tempted by the cliche. Rather than choose between angst or picturesque beauty, I hope to offer a reminder that there is beauty in the ordinary. When asked for an artistic statement one is tempted to try to impress with intellectual rhetoric, but my statement is simple: "There are still good things."

website: http://www.workmanstudio.com
Spring City Arts
PO Box 357
Spring City, UT 84662
435-462-9751