Guiding the Prairie Shooting Star, 2026
22 in x 22 in oil and block print on stretched canvas
The single flower acts as a form of portraiture. As the subject of the painting it grabs focus with its unique qualities, colors, and textures. The background pattern is made from oil paint and block printing. This acts as context for the subject. Sometimes it compliments, sometimes it contrasts. Either way, it interacts with the subject and tells a unique story.
This mini-series for Easter tells about my experiences with the Savior. When I picture myself as the flower I realize that sometimes I'm wild like the bergamot, sometimes I'm prickly like the thistle, sometimes my head hangs down like the lily.
The symbols repeated in the background represent Christ and His relation to us, sometimes he is the tandem bicycle comforting and friendly, sometimes he is the door opening to light, sometimes he is a star - offering a small but powerful light for us to seek out in dark times.
No matter my state, I can draw closer to the Savior. As Dallin H. Oaks said in his February 2026 address to BYU students, "God is relentless in His loving pursuit of each of you."
