Cristall Harper at Gallery MAR | Gallery MAR in Park City, Utah

Why do I paint and what inspires me? I paint because it allows me to create. I am unable to have my own children, but painting is how I fulfill that desire to contribute to the world and make my imprint. It’s fulfilling when I sell a painting to a collector who feels the joy I put into a painting and appreciates that little part of me on canvas. I also paint because I absolutely love the swish of the brush and mark of the paint. When I work, my mind is clear. I see simply shape and color. It is a peaceful and energetic process simultaneously. I love the accomplishment when a painting is finished, and I want to share my talent with other people. I am inspired by light and color. Most objects can be made more beautiful by the way they are lit. I also like to see paintings with some texture; I want to see brush strokes or palette knife marks and I want to see oil paint that isn’t overworked, but is allowed to be itself.

I am inspired to paint when I see this in other artists’ works. Some of my favorite artworks are J.M.W. Turner’s seascapes and a portrait by John Singer Sargent titled Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. I take pictures in museums whenever possible and fill photo albums with paintings I’ve experienced. I visit galleries and follow contemporary artists via the web. There is inspiration in all of these places. Art simply is inspiration.

I have always loved art. I grew up in Missouri in a house where the kids colored and mom and dad bought artwork to hang on the walls. Art was around and encouraged.

My wonderful High School art teacher, Ms. McCord, taught me drawing and painting for two years and suggested art as my college major. I followed her recommendation and graduated from BYU in 2002 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting. The next six years I detoured from art and worked other jobs while my husband finished graduate school and began his career. In 2008 I returned to art and we built a studio behind our house. I’ve enjoyed being a full-time artist ever since. My yellow lab, Buttercup, keeps me company during the day while I work. She has been the subject of many paintings and is always there to play when I need a break. My studio is usually tidy, my house is usually not. I love crossword puzzles, summertime, a good movie or book, and going to Yellowstone with my husband.

Selected Shows, Awards & Publications

2012

Holiday Boutique, Alpine Art, Salt Lake City, Utah

Great Things Small Packages, Terra Nova Gallery, Provo, Utah

Honoring Utah Artists, Alpine Art, Salt Lake City, Utah

15th Annual Artists Reception, Zions Bank Financial Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Life: Real and Imagined, Linus Gallery, Pasadena, California

Botanicals, Linus Gallery, Pasadena, California

Best in Show, Alpine Art, Salt Lake City, Utah

Utah Valley Spring Art Show, Zions Bank Financial Center, Provo, Utah

Lunch & Learn guest artist, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, Utah

Ladies’ Night guest artist, Deseret Book, Orem, Utah