Manhattan Temple Painting

New Oil Portrait of Lorinda

At long last, the oil portrait we commissioned of Lorinda has been delivered!

The painting, by artist Greg Mortenson and which measures 24"x34", shows Lorinda holding one of our "darker haired" children (actually, the Taber-Kewene's baby), while wearing her favorite blouse-and-skirt outfit from her mission to Germany, her wedding ring, pearl earrings she was wearing on her wedding day, a pearl necklace given to Lorinda by family friend Janae Powell, a blanket borrowed from the Blanchards, while seated in one of the 14th Street "convent" chairs that David refinished.

We love it! One "weird" thing, though: Lorinda's eyes follow you wherever you are. Yep, kids, mom is constantly watching you!

"A Lost Art"

Family friend and artist Cory Bjarnson painted Christopher's portrait for submission in an art competition at the National Portrait Gallery. The 24"x36" oil-on-linen piece, entitled "A Lost Art," depicts a young boy (Christopher), his back turned to modern distractions symbolized by a violent game on a computer screen, reading Lust for Life, Irving Stone's biography of Vincent Van Gogh. Christopher certainly has a lust for life and for learning!

Portrait: Photo and Oil

Brad Cook, friend from BYU days, saw a Facebook photo of Brent taken on the day before his release as stake president by friend Kah Leong Poon and decided to paint it. A man of many talents, Brad has a special gift for photo-realistic painting.

Kent Christensen Painting

Brent and Lorinda commissioned artist Kent Christensen (and fellow ward member) to create a painting in the style of Carravaggio--who immediately became Brent's favorite Italian Renaissance artist after visiting Rome in 2001 (with Lorinda) and again in 2008 (with Caroline). The painting contains a number of religiously symbolic elements. Can you find all of them?

Painting of Ben Lomond Peak

Brent and Lorinda commissioned Manhattan 3rd Ward member Mike Perry to paint their "favorite" mountain from back home in Ogden, Utah--Ben Lomond Peak, which dramatically towers over Weber County and is visible from both of their parents' homes. This is "the" mountain the both remember most from their childhood in Utah.

The scene is from the southwest looking northeast toward the mountain, approximately from the area of present-day Harrisville, which was settled by Brent's great great grandfather, Martin Henderson Harris (nephew to Book of Mormon Witness Martin Harris). The foreground is a composite pastoral view not particular to a specific time or location (other than within Weber County).

The oil painting was completed just in time for Christmas.