art

An annual contest for all Wasatch County School District students kindergarten through 12th grade. Categories include 2-D Drawing, Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, 3D Pottery, and Sculpted Work. Top Winners Grade 9-12 Naomi Marie Hansen Wasatch High School A Colorful Discovery My name is Naomi Hansen. I am a sophomore at Wasatch High School and I am 16 years old. I’ve been taking drawing lessons since I was…

Tucked away on 100 South, in the heart of Heber City, there’s a magical, little place that has been enriching the lives of children and adults for over 22 years. Lee Music provides a serious music education. It takes the general idea of private music lessons and instantly ratchets up the possibilities. Whether you love classical sonatas, or dream about riffing on the electric guitar, there is a teacher who will take your dream seriously and lead you along the way to mastery — or slaying on the guitar. As a young toddler,…

AmberLee Shuler has always enjoyed creating, but it wasn’t until she started taking art classes in middle school and high school that she realized just how much she loved art! Painting with acrylics, watercolors, and oils, drawing, calligraphy, she enjoyed it all. While taking calligraphy in 10th grade, her teacher encouraged her to try out pottery. At first she was hesitant. AmberLee explains, “I didn’t think I’d really like pottery, but my calligraphy teacher was also the pottery teacher and I really liked him as a…

Did you know that the largest plein air painting competition in Utah is held right here in our valley? Painting “en plein air” is really just the French way of saying “in the open air.” With an easel set up right on location, this process allows artists to paint directly in the landscape they are working to capture on their canvas. For fifteen years now artists from all over Utah, and neighboring states, have gathered in our beautiful valley for Wasatch Plein Air Paradise, the signature event put on by the Midway Art…

A common thread weaves its way through the life and work of Robert Duncan illuminating and inspiring his life’s path. What is this thread and driving force that ties his work together? A bright yet simple curiosity. Curiosity about interactions between people and places and time. Curiosity about wildlife and the earth they roam. Curiosity about relationships between individuals and other living things. This curiosity has driven a lifetime’s work that has shifted and evolved over time according to the current passions of…

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. Edgar Degas The emergence art contest is in its second year and is already gaining good traction. The theme this year was “My Place in the World.” The theme really inspired the youth of Heber to think of and express the interaction they have with the world we live in. Last year there were 175 entries, and this year entries soared at 255. Angie Neuberger, president of Wasatch Parent Network for the high school, was thrilled with the increased submissions. There…

Everything comes down to contrast. Günther Haidenthaller points out the window at a car dealership across the street. “Look at the highlights off those two jeeps, and that cold, steely kind of stainless steel quality to the light.” He also indicates the snow-covered mountains further in the distance, pointing out the blue tones in the shadows and the warmer tones — the hint of cadmium yellow — where the sun shines. Günther is a man of contrasts. Born in Austria and raised mostly in Utah — two wildly different…

A chicken, a dog, and a paintbrush – sounds like the perfect start to an art career. “It all got started when my dog killed the neighbor’s chicken,” artist Rebecca Proctor shares with a laugh. How could an art career bloom from this you may ask? Well, let’s back up a little and you will begin to see. Rebecca says it is likely that her mother has caveman drawings on her uterus. She says, “I have drawn since I can remember. All my Christmas gifts were always art, always craft stuff. I drew and drew and drew.” With all of…

With all of the talented artists we have here in our valley it should come as no surprise that, collectiviely, their art work can be seen from Wasatch County to all across the globe. This spring and summer there is an opportunity for our amazing artists to share their gift(s) with Summit County by creating a Historical Mural in Hoytsville, Utah. “The SCPAAB is seeking qualified artists to create a two-dimensional mural celebrating and honoring the history, heritage, and culture of Hoytsville and Summit County. The mural…

Chris Peterson has tried almost every form of outdoor recreation. He has snowboarded, mountain biked, and backpacked, but the thing he keeps coming back to, the sport that connects with his soul, is fly fishing. He says, “For my personality, for who I am, fishing is the thing. It’s about those moments of magic where you’re face to face with the wild animal, these crazy looking creatures.” Fishing is not the only thing Chris happens to love. He is also passionate about painting. The Contemplative Man’s Recreation So,…

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso Vernon Murdock began creating art from the moment he first figured out how to hold a pencil. As a very young child, he loved nature; he loved the mountains and the fields that surrounded his home — so he drew them. He enjoyed looking at and watching cartoons — and sketched those too. Vernon’s curiosity about how things worked was no different — he illustrated all the stationary and moving parts. He adored and loved his…

Jordan’s studio is bright and open and full of natural light. Large paintings lean against the wall, some complete, while others are awaiting their turn. An easel sits in the corner with a canvas adorned by a beautiful array of vibrant colors coming to life as they circle around and around. To some, the looping pigments resemble tree trunk rings; others see a thumbprint or an oyster shell. One of the more substantial linear abstracts Jordan loves to tackle takes up a good portion of another wall, while a cart sits with wet…

Inspired by Our Home Town The majestic and varied landscapes of Wasatch County have inspired artists from across the globe since the early pioneers first settled here. Today our valley’s mountains, rivers, fields, farms, and skate parks are inspiring a whole new generation of young artists. The year 2020 brought about a lot of change for everyone — in Wasatch County, a group of PTA presidents representing the district’s elementary, middle, and high schools, decided to change things up a bit too. After much deliberation…

CAMS’ Art in Public Places Initiative kicked off this week by launching the first of several huge murals in Heber City. The Community Alliance for Main Street (CAMS) partnered with Heber City and the Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce to create the artwork. According to Mayor Kelleen Potter, the murals are “an investment in our downtown. Data shows investing in downtowns brings back great returns, often $3 for every dollar spent.” The inaugural mural will be on the north side of the Heber Valley Visitor’s Center at 475 N.…

It’s no secret the Heber Valley has seen some dramatic changes in the past few years. Since 2000, the population has doubled, and is expected to double again by 2040. The community is shifting from a sleepy agricultural community to a burgeoning mountain recreation mecca.