Zion Forever Project presents
2025 Art Invitational
Zion National Park
November 3-8, 2025
Zion Canyon, Utah
Hosted by Zion Forever Project, Worthington Gallery, and Zion National Park For more than a decade, Zion Forever Project has hosted a celebration called the Plein Air Art Invitational in Zion National Park and the Springdale community. We are proud to expand the event this year, inviting not only renowned plein air artists, but also studio artists to capture the beauty of Zion National Park. We look forward to continuing to explore different art mediums and methods that celebrate the legacy of the arts coming together to support the public lands we love.
Event Schedule
Wednesday, October 1
First Look!
A first look and early purchase at Artists Signature Studio piece can be found at Worthington Gallery starting on October 1st.
- Time TBD
- Where Worthington Gallery, Springdale
Overview
Artist Demonstrations
- When: Tuesday – Thursday
- Times: TBD
- Where TBD – in Springdale
Friday, November 7
Invite Only Art Invitational Fundraiser Gala
- Info More info coming soon.
Saturday, November 8
Wet Paint Silent Auction and Community Art Piece
- Time TBD
Participating Artists
Click any card to see full artist profile
Roydan Card
Landscape Painter
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I was introduced to the desert when I was eight and have been enchanted with its rarified beauty ever since. I began painting at age fourteen and never stopped. Desert has been my focus for over 55 years. I love the subtle colors and stark views as well as the startling grandeur. It is where I go for solace, contemplation and continue to find new beauty - even in those places considered badlands. I desire to paint something “worthy” of the riches the Desert has gifted me.
BRIEF BIO:
1952 Born in Canada - 1956 emigrated to Utah with family
1976 1979 BFA &MFA Brigham Young University - Painting / Printmaking
1980 - 1996 Printmaking instructor at BYU while keeping a studio practice.
1996 Left BYU to pursue ART full-time. Occasionally taught classes for the University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Utah Tech and various painting and printmaking workshops.
Over the years my works have been acquired by the Smithsonian, several State Museums as well as corporate, university and private collections. I have self published some poetry/prose books, a printmaking manual and collaborated on “fine press” book projects with poets
and artists.
PAST PAINTINGS: digital images have been delivered.
SIGNATURE STUDIO PAINTING : BEING DELIVERED June 28 2025 to Worthington Gallery along with a digital thumb-drive of the image.
Roydan Card
Landscape Painter
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I was introduced to the desert when I was eight and have been enchanted with its rarified beauty ever since. I began painting at age fourteen and never stopped. Desert has been my focus for over 55 years. I love the subtle colors and stark views as well as the startling grandeur. It is where I go for solace, contemplation and continue to find new beauty - even in those places considered badlands. I desire to paint something “worthy” of the riches the Desert has gifted me.
BRIEF BIO:
1952 Born in Canada - 1956 emigrated to Utah with family
1976 1979 BFA &MFA Brigham Young University - Painting / Printmaking
1980 - 1996 Printmaking instructor at BYU while keeping a studio practice.
1996 Left BYU to pursue ART full-time. Occasionally taught classes for the University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Utah Tech and various painting and printmaking workshops.
Over the years my works have been acquired by the Smithsonian, several State Museums as well as corporate, university and private collections. I have self published some poetry/prose books, a printmaking manual and collaborated on “fine press” book projects with poets
and artists.
PAST PAINTINGS: digital images have been delivered.
SIGNATURE STUDIO PAINTING : BEING DELIVERED June 28 2025 to Worthington Gallery along with a digital thumb-drive of the image.
Michelle Condrat
Painter
Michelle Condrat was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where she resided to this day. After earning her Art and Art History degrees from the University of Utah, she continued with her artistic journey painting the unique landscape of Utah and the Southwest. When she is not working in the studio, she is gathering inspiration and subject matter for her paintings from her surroundings, whether it's from her own backyard, to the mountains outside her studio to major national parks in the country.
Many people have described her style as "digital" or "architectural" due to the layering of her linear and blended paint strokes. She is known for this unique painting style as well as her intense color choices that are made from her unconventional paint pallet. Michelle's style also helps to give motion and depth to her paintings, while capturing the feel of the western landscape with a fresh and new visual perspective.
Michelle is an active participant in many art shows throughout the country, especially those that are related to national parks and monuments. She has won numerous awards throughout the years such as The Zion National Park Invitational Foundation Excellence Award in 2014 and the People's Choice Award in 2019, the Cedar Breaks National Monument Plein Air Festival People's Choice Award in 2017, the Sears Dixie Invitational Viewer's Choice Award in 2020 and the Purchase Award in 2021, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art Best of Show Award in 2021, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art People's Choice Award in 2022 and 2023, and has had her artwork featured on the cover of Arizona Highways Magazine in the January Issue of 2023.
Michelle Condrat
Painter
Michelle Condrat was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where she resided to this day. After earning her Art and Art History degrees from the University of Utah, she continued with her artistic journey painting the unique landscape of Utah and the Southwest. When she is not working in the studio, she is gathering inspiration and subject matter for her paintings from her surroundings, whether it's from her own backyard, to the mountains outside her studio to major national parks in the country.
Many people have described her style as "digital" or "architectural" due to the layering of her linear and blended paint strokes. She is known for this unique painting style as well as her intense color choices that are made from her unconventional paint pallet. Michelle's style also helps to give motion and depth to her paintings, while capturing the feel of the western landscape with a fresh and new visual perspective.
Michelle is an active participant in many art shows throughout the country, especially those that are related to national parks and monuments. She has won numerous awards throughout the years such as The Zion National Park Invitational Foundation Excellence Award in 2014 and the People's Choice Award in 2019, the Cedar Breaks National Monument Plein Air Festival People's Choice Award in 2017, the Sears Dixie Invitational Viewer's Choice Award in 2020 and the Purchase Award in 2021, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art Best of Show Award in 2021, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art People's Choice Award in 2022 and 2023, and has had her artwork featured on the cover of Arizona Highways Magazine in the January Issue of 2023.
Roland Lee
Landscape Painter
Utah artist Roland Lee has explored the National Parks for over 50 years, capturing images with sketchbook and paintbrush. From his cabin/studio located on the east border of Zion National Park Lee has intimately explored the peaks and canyons of Zion as well as Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Lake Powell, Mesa Verde and other national Parks. His original paintings can be found in over 2000 museum, bank, corporate, university, and private art collections.
Lee’s newest hardcover art book Roland Lee - A Legacy in Landscapes, along with his now sold-out book, Discovering Zion contain many of his national park paintings. His Zion landscape paintings are also included in the book, Mukuntuweap, Landscape and Story of Zion Canyon, sold in the Zion National Park bookstore.
Lee’s watercolor paintings have been selected for exhibit by the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Arts for the Parks Top 100, and Paint the Parks Top 100 shows which toured America. He is one of only a handful of living artists to be included in the historic component of the National Park Service centennial exhibit “A Century of Sanctuary, The Art of Zion National Park,” which included such noted deceased artists as Thomas Moran, Maynard Dixon, Ansel Adams, and Gunnar Widforss.
A popular painting instructor, Lee has contributed articles to The Artist magazine and The Drawing Board magazine, and has conducted art workshops throughout America. His paintings have also been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, Western Art and Architecture magazine and many others.
Lee’s interest in land preservation resulted in his service on the board of directors of Zion Natural History Association (now the Zion Forever Project) for 12 years. He continues to contribute regularly to support the National Parks.
Roland Lee
Landscape Painter
Utah artist Roland Lee has explored the National Parks for over 50 years, capturing images with sketchbook and paintbrush. From his cabin/studio located on the east border of Zion National Park Lee has intimately explored the peaks and canyons of Zion as well as Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Lake Powell, Mesa Verde and other national Parks. His original paintings can be found in over 2000 museum, bank, corporate, university, and private art collections.
Lee’s newest hardcover art book Roland Lee - A Legacy in Landscapes, along with his now sold-out book, Discovering Zion contain many of his national park paintings. His Zion landscape paintings are also included in the book, Mukuntuweap, Landscape and Story of Zion Canyon, sold in the Zion National Park bookstore.
Lee’s watercolor paintings have been selected for exhibit by the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Arts for the Parks Top 100, and Paint the Parks Top 100 shows which toured America. He is one of only a handful of living artists to be included in the historic component of the National Park Service centennial exhibit “A Century of Sanctuary, The Art of Zion National Park,” which included such noted deceased artists as Thomas Moran, Maynard Dixon, Ansel Adams, and Gunnar Widforss.
A popular painting instructor, Lee has contributed articles to The Artist magazine and The Drawing Board magazine, and has conducted art workshops throughout America. His paintings have also been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, Western Art and Architecture magazine and many others.
Lee’s interest in land preservation resulted in his service on the board of directors of Zion Natural History Association (now the Zion Forever Project) for 12 years. He continues to contribute regularly to support the National Parks.
Wade Wixom
Landscape Painter
Utah artist Roland Lee has explored the National Parks for over 50 years, capturing images with sketchbook and paintbrush. From his cabin/studio located on the east border of Zion National Park Lee has intimately explored the peaks and canyons of Zion as well as Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Lake Powell, Mesa Verde and other national Parks. His original paintings can be found in over 2000 museum, bank, corporate, university, and private art collections.
Lee’s newest hardcover art book Roland Lee - A Legacy in Landscapes, along with his now sold-out book, Discovering Zion contain many of his national park paintings. His Zion landscape paintings are also included in the book, Mukuntuweap, Landscape and Story of Zion Canyon, sold in the Zion National Park bookstore.
Lee’s watercolor paintings have been selected for exhibit by the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Arts for the Parks Top 100, and Paint the Parks Top 100 shows which toured America. He is one of only a handful of living artists to be included in the historic component of the National Park Service centennial exhibit “A Century of Sanctuary, The Art of Zion National Park,” which included such noted deceased artists as Thomas Moran, Maynard Dixon, Ansel Adams, and Gunnar Widforss.
A popular painting instructor, Lee has contributed articles to The Artist magazine and The Drawing Board magazine, and has conducted art workshops throughout America. His paintings have also been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, Western Art and Architecture magazine and many others.
Lee’s interest in land preservation resulted in his service on the board of directors of Zion Natural History Association (now the Zion Forever Project) for 12 years. He continues to contribute regularly to support the National Parks.
Wade Wixom
Landscape Painter
Utah artist Roland Lee has explored the National Parks for over 50 years, capturing images with sketchbook and paintbrush. From his cabin/studio located on the east border of Zion National Park Lee has intimately explored the peaks and canyons of Zion as well as Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Lake Powell, Mesa Verde and other national Parks. His original paintings can be found in over 2000 museum, bank, corporate, university, and private art collections.
Lee’s newest hardcover art book Roland Lee - A Legacy in Landscapes, along with his now sold-out book, Discovering Zion contain many of his national park paintings. His Zion landscape paintings are also included in the book, Mukuntuweap, Landscape and Story of Zion Canyon, sold in the Zion National Park bookstore.
Lee’s watercolor paintings have been selected for exhibit by the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Arts for the Parks Top 100, and Paint the Parks Top 100 shows which toured America. He is one of only a handful of living artists to be included in the historic component of the National Park Service centennial exhibit “A Century of Sanctuary, The Art of Zion National Park,” which included such noted deceased artists as Thomas Moran, Maynard Dixon, Ansel Adams, and Gunnar Widforss.
A popular painting instructor, Lee has contributed articles to The Artist magazine and The Drawing Board magazine, and has conducted art workshops throughout America. His paintings have also been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, Western Art and Architecture magazine and many others.
Lee’s interest in land preservation resulted in his service on the board of directors of Zion Natural History Association (now the Zion Forever Project) for 12 years. He continues to contribute regularly to support the National Parks.
Bill Cramer
Oil Painter
Bill Cramer is well-known for his striking oil paintings of the American West. Raised in the West, Bill always had a passion for exploring nature and creating art. As an avid rock climber, he spent much of his youth enjoying the more vertical aspects of the landscape. Eventually he settled in Arizona with his wife Michelle to be closer to the scenery they both enjoyed. It was there that he discovered the joys and challenges of plein air painting, with his outdoor experiences providing much of the insight and inspiration for his landscape paintings. Bill’s style can be best described as Impressionistic Realism, using bold brushwork and colors to capture the vibrancy and beauty of the natural world.
“I truly enjoy the essential act of painting, especially outdoors. I look for a balance between the actual scene and my reaction to it - not to replicate exactly what I see, but to convey what I want the viewer to experience. Every landscape is greater than the obvious visual elements. The gentle push of an evening breeze, the warmth of sun-baked sandstone, the scent of sagebrush, or the sudden call of a raven overhead are examples of the many unseen elements that influence my work. I am content when a painting is as rich as the landscape that inspired it!”
Bill Cramer
Oil Painter
Bill Cramer is well-known for his striking oil paintings of the American West. Raised in the West, Bill always had a passion for exploring nature and creating art. As an avid rock climber, he spent much of his youth enjoying the more vertical aspects of the landscape. Eventually he settled in Arizona with his wife Michelle to be closer to the scenery they both enjoyed. It was there that he discovered the joys and challenges of plein air painting, with his outdoor experiences providing much of the insight and inspiration for his landscape paintings. Bill’s style can be best described as Impressionistic Realism, using bold brushwork and colors to capture the vibrancy and beauty of the natural world.
“I truly enjoy the essential act of painting, especially outdoors. I look for a balance between the actual scene and my reaction to it - not to replicate exactly what I see, but to convey what I want the viewer to experience. Every landscape is greater than the obvious visual elements. The gentle push of an evening breeze, the warmth of sun-baked sandstone, the scent of sagebrush, or the sudden call of a raven overhead are examples of the many unseen elements that influence my work. I am content when a painting is as rich as the landscape that inspired it!”
Philip Carlton
Landscape Painter
Philip Alexander Carlton’s path towards painting the American West has been anything but traditional. His early college years saw him on a fast track towards science and engineering, but he serendipitously found himself drawn to the mysteries of studio art and ultimately focused on honing the classic skills of drawing and painting.
For many years his work was primarily figurative and exclusively made in his Minnesota studio. However, his love of the outdoors grew throughout his 20’s, not as an artist but as a rock climber and cyclist. It was through these passions that he first began to explore the western United States, spending time in his mid 20’s in Joshua Tree, Yosemite, and Zion National Parks. In 2013 his love of the outdoors merged with his artistic curiosity and he began to explore painting the landscape from life - en plein air.
Despite never having painted a landscape prior to 2014, Philip began almost exclusively painting outdoors and in 2015 he entered his first plein air competition. As his skill grew, so did his desire to capture bigger scenes, and in 2016 he first painted outside of the Midwest, spending weeks in both Grand Teton and Canyonlands National Parks.
After that, his love of painting the West shaped both his art and his life, returning year after year to Southern Utah, Eastern California, and the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming to camp, paint, hike, and climb. In 2020 he settled in the Western Colorado desert town of Fruita, and has continued to tirelessly paint the nearby canyons, peaks, and the Colorado River. When not painting he’s still biking, climbing, or trying to entertain his two exceptionally naughty rescue dogs.
Philip Carlton
Landscape Painter
Philip Alexander Carlton’s path towards painting the American West has been anything but traditional. His early college years saw him on a fast track towards science and engineering, but he serendipitously found himself drawn to the mysteries of studio art and ultimately focused on honing the classic skills of drawing and painting.
For many years his work was primarily figurative and exclusively made in his Minnesota studio. However, his love of the outdoors grew throughout his 20’s, not as an artist but as a rock climber and cyclist. It was through these passions that he first began to explore the western United States, spending time in his mid 20’s in Joshua Tree, Yosemite, and Zion National Parks. In 2013 his love of the outdoors merged with his artistic curiosity and he began to explore painting the landscape from life - en plein air.
Despite never having painted a landscape prior to 2014, Philip began almost exclusively painting outdoors and in 2015 he entered his first plein air competition. As his skill grew, so did his desire to capture bigger scenes, and in 2016 he first painted outside of the Midwest, spending weeks in both Grand Teton and Canyonlands National Parks.
After that, his love of painting the West shaped both his art and his life, returning year after year to Southern Utah, Eastern California, and the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming to camp, paint, hike, and climb. In 2020 he settled in the Western Colorado desert town of Fruita, and has continued to tirelessly paint the nearby canyons, peaks, and the Colorado River. When not painting he’s still biking, climbing, or trying to entertain his two exceptionally naughty rescue dogs.
John Cogan
Landscape Painter
John D Cogan is an American painter, born 24 February 1953. He lives in Farmington New Mexico with his wife Karen.
John paints in acrylic, working on canvas and panels. His goal is to capture the splendor of creation in the landscapes of the American West. His style consists of thin underpaintings and thicker finishes, rich pigments, glazes, and attention to detail. He emphasizes color and the transient effects of light.
John has exhibited at the Grand Canyon Conservancy’s Celebration of Art from 2009 through 2024. In 2012 John’s painting “Out of the Depths” was selected to become part of the permanent collection of the Grand Canyon. He won Best of Show in 2015 and 2024, and Artist’s Choice in 2022. John has served as Artist in Residence on both the South and North Rims.
John participated in Zion National Park’s Plein Air Invitational, from 2010 through 2021, winning multiple awards including the Superintendent’s Award in 2011 and 2017 and the Foundation Award in 2015. His painting “Waters of Evening” was used as the poster painting in 2016. The 2013 book, Art of the National Parks features John’s paintings in the section on Zion National Park. John was Zion Artist-in-Residence during April 2019.
In 2019 John was designated an Associate Living Master™ at the Art Renewal Center, an honor that places him among the best representational artists of this century. He has won an honorable mention and many of his paintings have been finalists in the Art Renewal Center Salon. His work is currently shown at Mainview Gallery in Scottsdale. His paintings have been auctioned at the Prestigious Coeur d’Alene Art Auction in Reno.
John’s paintings are part of the permanent collections of the Grand Canyon, the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, Raymond James Financial, Xanterra Corporation, Zion National Park, Bernalillo County, Citizens Bank, Conoco Phillips, McGraw Hill, San Juan College, and Eastern New Mexico University, among others. John has 27 pieces in the collection of the Sultanate of Oman.
John has three degrees in physics from Texas A&M and Rice University, including a PhD. He also has a master’s degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.
John Cogan
Landscape Painter
John D Cogan is an American painter, born 24 February 1953. He lives in Farmington New Mexico with his wife Karen.
John paints in acrylic, working on canvas and panels. His goal is to capture the splendor of creation in the landscapes of the American West. His style consists of thin underpaintings and thicker finishes, rich pigments, glazes, and attention to detail. He emphasizes color and the transient effects of light.
John has exhibited at the Grand Canyon Conservancy’s Celebration of Art from 2009 through 2024. In 2012 John’s painting “Out of the Depths” was selected to become part of the permanent collection of the Grand Canyon. He won Best of Show in 2015 and 2024, and Artist’s Choice in 2022. John has served as Artist in Residence on both the South and North Rims.
John participated in Zion National Park’s Plein Air Invitational, from 2010 through 2021, winning multiple awards including the Superintendent’s Award in 2011 and 2017 and the Foundation Award in 2015. His painting “Waters of Evening” was used as the poster painting in 2016. The 2013 book, Art of the National Parks features John’s paintings in the section on Zion National Park. John was Zion Artist-in-Residence during April 2019.
In 2019 John was designated an Associate Living Master™ at the Art Renewal Center, an honor that places him among the best representational artists of this century. He has won an honorable mention and many of his paintings have been finalists in the Art Renewal Center Salon. His work is currently shown at Mainview Gallery in Scottsdale. His paintings have been auctioned at the Prestigious Coeur d’Alene Art Auction in Reno.
John’s paintings are part of the permanent collections of the Grand Canyon, the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, Raymond James Financial, Xanterra Corporation, Zion National Park, Bernalillo County, Citizens Bank, Conoco Phillips, McGraw Hill, San Juan College, and Eastern New Mexico University, among others. John has 27 pieces in the collection of the Sultanate of Oman.
John has three degrees in physics from Texas A&M and Rice University, including a PhD. He also has a master’s degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.
Gregory Stocks
Landscape Painter
Gregory Stocks has been a professional exhibiting artist since 1993 and is
recognized for his combination of classical representation and contemporary
execution. His sensibility is stark, with a clean, contemporary feel. His scenes are
a combination of memories and imagination… intended to relate not so much a
place as an “emotional space”.
Arriving in Utah in 1981, the artist attended Utah State University where he
earned a Bachelors Degree in illustration. Stocks has been featured in the
publications Southwest Art Magazine and American Art Collector. In addition
to exhibiting at the US Embassy in Brussels in 2005, he has exhibited throughout
the US and is included in many public and private collections. He now calls
Tucson, Arizona home.
Artist’s Statement
My work is an effort to create images that serve as emotional detours from the
noise and confusion of the surrounding world. I find the process of painting to be
similar to that of writing a song. There is a basic structure or rhythm to the work.
The melody comes into play in the form of color, brushwork and the expressive
possibilities of process. ~Gregory Stocks
Gregory Stocks
Landscape Painter
Gregory Stocks has been a professional exhibiting artist since 1993 and is
recognized for his combination of classical representation and contemporary
execution. His sensibility is stark, with a clean, contemporary feel. His scenes are
a combination of memories and imagination… intended to relate not so much a
place as an “emotional space”.
Arriving in Utah in 1981, the artist attended Utah State University where he
earned a Bachelors Degree in illustration. Stocks has been featured in the
publications Southwest Art Magazine and American Art Collector. In addition
to exhibiting at the US Embassy in Brussels in 2005, he has exhibited throughout
the US and is included in many public and private collections. He now calls
Tucson, Arizona home.
Artist’s Statement
My work is an effort to create images that serve as emotional detours from the
noise and confusion of the surrounding world. I find the process of painting to be
similar to that of writing a song. There is a basic structure or rhythm to the work.
The melody comes into play in the form of color, brushwork and the expressive
possibilities of process. ~Gregory Stocks
Allen Brockbank
Landscape Painter
Getting outside is good for the soul. Painting outdoors is what I do. It’s what I love, think about, work at, and struggle with.
The outdoor studio provides so much more information than a simple photograph. Views beyond the borders of my composition inform what goes on the canvas. The sounds, the scents, the heat, the cold, the wind, the rain and the elements combine to shape my work. Sometimes “the elements” actually participate in the final piece. In many of my paintings, you'll find bugs and dirt embedded in the paint.
Capturing the light is everything! It is my inspiration. Its elusive and fleeting quality can transform the landscape in a moment and be gone in the next. That urgency to capture that moment gives an energy to the work that is hard to replicate in the studio.
My goal in doing plein-air work is to convey to others my experience and love for a place. I try to bring the outside in .
Bio:
Allen’s development as an artist was defined early in his home by his parents. His father was an outdoor enthusiast who led Allen on mountain climbs and backpacking trips across the American west. His mother was an accomplished watercolor artist with a love of the landscape who shared her experience with her young son. Allen went on to earn a fine arts degree from Brigham Young University where he met his wife Janice. They settled in Centerville, Utah where Allen began his career in commercial art and computer game design. Over the next twenty years, Allen refined his artistic skills in the digital world developing video games with fine companies like Disney, Microsoft, and Take Two. It was during this time that Allen discovered the joys and challenges of landscape painting right in his backyard. Utah is a painter’s paradise and a “university” for teaching the plein air artist. He believes that painting on location and in the studio are complimentary pursuits, one building upon the other.
Allen is an award-winning participant in plein air competitions across the country including top events like Easton (Maryland), Door County (Wisconsin), Sonoma(California), Telluride(Colorado), many others and now, Zion!
Allen Brockbank
Landscape Painter
Getting outside is good for the soul. Painting outdoors is what I do. It’s what I love, think about, work at, and struggle with.
The outdoor studio provides so much more information than a simple photograph. Views beyond the borders of my composition inform what goes on the canvas. The sounds, the scents, the heat, the cold, the wind, the rain and the elements combine to shape my work. Sometimes “the elements” actually participate in the final piece. In many of my paintings, you'll find bugs and dirt embedded in the paint.
Capturing the light is everything! It is my inspiration. Its elusive and fleeting quality can transform the landscape in a moment and be gone in the next. That urgency to capture that moment gives an energy to the work that is hard to replicate in the studio.
My goal in doing plein-air work is to convey to others my experience and love for a place. I try to bring the outside in .
Bio:
Allen’s development as an artist was defined early in his home by his parents. His father was an outdoor enthusiast who led Allen on mountain climbs and backpacking trips across the American west. His mother was an accomplished watercolor artist with a love of the landscape who shared her experience with her young son. Allen went on to earn a fine arts degree from Brigham Young University where he met his wife Janice. They settled in Centerville, Utah where Allen began his career in commercial art and computer game design. Over the next twenty years, Allen refined his artistic skills in the digital world developing video games with fine companies like Disney, Microsoft, and Take Two. It was during this time that Allen discovered the joys and challenges of landscape painting right in his backyard. Utah is a painter’s paradise and a “university” for teaching the plein air artist. He believes that painting on location and in the studio are complimentary pursuits, one building upon the other.
Allen is an award-winning participant in plein air competitions across the country including top events like Easton (Maryland), Door County (Wisconsin), Sonoma(California), Telluride(Colorado), many others and now, Zion!
Suze Woolf
Painter
I studied ceramics and printmaking at the University of Washington. An early adopter of computer graphics, my career as included print and interface design. Though known as a watercolorist, I explore a wide range of media from painting, paper-casting, artist books and pyrography to installation –sometimes all together.
I have exhibited throughout the Pacific Northwest but also across the US and parts of Canada. My work is in museums, public collections, and many private ones. I have curated a large travelling exhibit, juried competitions for municipalities and artist organizations, and contributed work to non-profit fundraising. An installation of my burned tree portraits on fabric toured from 2019 to 2024.
I have received grants, stipends and exhibits from Artist Trust, Shunpike, The Entrada Institute, Zion Natural History Association, the Museum of Northwest Art, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, Missoula Art Museum and the University of Montana, among others. I have been artist in residence in Zion, Glacier, Capitol Reef, North Cascades, Olympic and Great Basin National Parks and at Grand Canyon Trust’s remote Kane Ranch. I have also been an invited resident at art colonies Banff Centre, Vermont Studio Center, Willowtail Springs, Jentel, Playa Summer Lake, Centrum, Mineral School, and Sitka Center for Art & Ecology.
Suze Woolf
Painter
I studied ceramics and printmaking at the University of Washington. An early adopter of computer graphics, my career as included print and interface design. Though known as a watercolorist, I explore a wide range of media from painting, paper-casting, artist books and pyrography to installation –sometimes all together.
I have exhibited throughout the Pacific Northwest but also across the US and parts of Canada. My work is in museums, public collections, and many private ones. I have curated a large travelling exhibit, juried competitions for municipalities and artist organizations, and contributed work to non-profit fundraising. An installation of my burned tree portraits on fabric toured from 2019 to 2024.
I have received grants, stipends and exhibits from Artist Trust, Shunpike, The Entrada Institute, Zion Natural History Association, the Museum of Northwest Art, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, Missoula Art Museum and the University of Montana, among others. I have been artist in residence in Zion, Glacier, Capitol Reef, North Cascades, Olympic and Great Basin National Parks and at Grand Canyon Trust’s remote Kane Ranch. I have also been an invited resident at art colonies Banff Centre, Vermont Studio Center, Willowtail Springs, Jentel, Playa Summer Lake, Centrum, Mineral School, and Sitka Center for Art & Ecology.
James McGrew
Landscape Painter
James McGrew’s childhood backpacking and camping trips sparked his loves for
nature and art. He began painting with oils at age 10 and later earned degrees in
natural sciences. Inspired by 19th-century romantics, McGrew works to continue their
legacy of preservation for future generations. He frequently hikes and backpacks for
unique perspectives and wildlife encounters. James’s paintings hang in prominent
collections worldwide and received many awards including Best of Show in the Grand
Canyon and Maui Invitationals, the Zion Foundation Award and more than a dozen
collector’s choice awards. His work has been featured in many magazine articles, films
and books. James also worked as a park ranger/naturalist for over 25 summers. He is
an artist member of the California Art Club and a signature member of the American
Impressionist Society.
James McGrew
Landscape Painter
James McGrew’s childhood backpacking and camping trips sparked his loves for
nature and art. He began painting with oils at age 10 and later earned degrees in
natural sciences. Inspired by 19th-century romantics, McGrew works to continue their
legacy of preservation for future generations. He frequently hikes and backpacks for
unique perspectives and wildlife encounters. James’s paintings hang in prominent
collections worldwide and received many awards including Best of Show in the Grand
Canyon and Maui Invitationals, the Zion Foundation Award and more than a dozen
collector’s choice awards. His work has been featured in many magazine articles, films
and books. James also worked as a park ranger/naturalist for over 25 summers. He is
an artist member of the California Art Club and a signature member of the American
Impressionist Society.
Stephen Stauffer
Landscape Painter
My love for painting En Plein Air has taken me out of the studio and placed me in places most can only dream about.
Capturing moments in time to save not only for me, but also to inspire and be enjoyed by those who follow.
Imagine the most spectacular sunrise you have ever seen. Remember that incredible feeling and how the magic of that moment made you feel. That is the feeling I get each time I’m allowed to see and paint these amazing images.
As a member of Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, Plein Air Painters of Utah and Plein Air Utah Live, I have the opportunity to paint with the best of the best! To share our craft and passion and to paint with these Masters is truly a dream come true.
I look forward to my next outing and hope to be able to share its splendor with you all.
Have a super fantastic day today and don’t forget to share your smile with everyone you meet.
Stephen Stauffer
Landscape Painter
My love for painting En Plein Air has taken me out of the studio and placed me in places most can only dream about.
Capturing moments in time to save not only for me, but also to inspire and be enjoyed by those who follow.
Imagine the most spectacular sunrise you have ever seen. Remember that incredible feeling and how the magic of that moment made you feel. That is the feeling I get each time I’m allowed to see and paint these amazing images.
As a member of Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, Plein Air Painters of Utah and Plein Air Utah Live, I have the opportunity to paint with the best of the best! To share our craft and passion and to paint with these Masters is truly a dream come true.
I look forward to my next outing and hope to be able to share its splendor with you all.
Have a super fantastic day today and don’t forget to share your smile with everyone you meet.
Ellie Wilson
Landscape Painter
I have a lifelong connection to Zion. From childhood, I’ve known the scent of red rock after rain, the bloom of yucca plants, and the cool stillness of canyon potholes. Visiting my grandmother in Springdale always meant a day of wandering through the park, exploring its quiet power and endless color. My first painting of Zion was the Sentinel at sunset, inspired by one of those early excursions. Since then, I’ve continued painting these cliffs to share the awe I feel when the sun hits the rock just right. Each piece I create is not just a landscape — it’s a memory, a feeling, a reflection of the warmth that lingers on the stone long after the sun has dipped below the horizon. I hope my work brings that sense of wonder and lasting presence into your home.
Artist Bio:
My journey as an artist began early, unfolding naturally through a lifelong love of beauty and the outdoors. Growing up in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains instilled in me a deep reverence for nature, which remains the heart of my work. At age 15, I discovered oil painting, and from the moment I painted en plein air—surrounded by mountains with a brush in hand—I knew I had found my voice in landscape art.
While earning my BFA in Illustration, I had the privilege of interning with renowned painter Scott Christensen, an experience that deeply shaped my understanding of light, atmosphere, and composition. Soon after graduating, I sold out my first solo show and launched my full-time career. Since then, I’ve painted across more than eight U.S. states and 18 countries, constantly challenging myself to capture the spirit and mood of place through careful observation and refined technique.
Now a mother of two, I’m inspired daily by the sense of wonder my daughters bring to the world around them. Their awe rekindles my own, and adds fresh emotional depth to my practice. Each painting is a celebration of the quiet, powerful beauty found in nature—meant to not only be seen, but felt. Through my work, I aim to offer collectors a lasting connection to the natural world, and to moments of stillness, clarity, and awe.
Head Shot: A professional photographer took my headshot and the image is only 240dpi. I understand that is under the minimum dpi that you requested. It is the best photo I have of myself, but if this one doesn't work I am happy to get another one.
Ellie Wilson
Landscape Painter
I have a lifelong connection to Zion. From childhood, I’ve known the scent of red rock after rain, the bloom of yucca plants, and the cool stillness of canyon potholes. Visiting my grandmother in Springdale always meant a day of wandering through the park, exploring its quiet power and endless color. My first painting of Zion was the Sentinel at sunset, inspired by one of those early excursions. Since then, I’ve continued painting these cliffs to share the awe I feel when the sun hits the rock just right. Each piece I create is not just a landscape — it’s a memory, a feeling, a reflection of the warmth that lingers on the stone long after the sun has dipped below the horizon. I hope my work brings that sense of wonder and lasting presence into your home.
Artist Bio:
My journey as an artist began early, unfolding naturally through a lifelong love of beauty and the outdoors. Growing up in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains instilled in me a deep reverence for nature, which remains the heart of my work. At age 15, I discovered oil painting, and from the moment I painted en plein air—surrounded by mountains with a brush in hand—I knew I had found my voice in landscape art.
While earning my BFA in Illustration, I had the privilege of interning with renowned painter Scott Christensen, an experience that deeply shaped my understanding of light, atmosphere, and composition. Soon after graduating, I sold out my first solo show and launched my full-time career. Since then, I’ve painted across more than eight U.S. states and 18 countries, constantly challenging myself to capture the spirit and mood of place through careful observation and refined technique.
Now a mother of two, I’m inspired daily by the sense of wonder my daughters bring to the world around them. Their awe rekindles my own, and adds fresh emotional depth to my practice. Each painting is a celebration of the quiet, powerful beauty found in nature—meant to not only be seen, but felt. Through my work, I aim to offer collectors a lasting connection to the natural world, and to moments of stillness, clarity, and awe.
Head Shot: A professional photographer took my headshot and the image is only 240dpi. I understand that is under the minimum dpi that you requested. It is the best photo I have of myself, but if this one doesn't work I am happy to get another one.
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