I was raised in a home in Midvale, Utah by a mother with an artistic flair who dabbled through the years without any training. My sisters and I were blessed with her interest and talent. In grade school, after seeing some artwork from Disney Studios, I had a strong desire to draw all the Disney characters and subsequently bought a book illustrating step-by-step instructions to do just that. That interest spurred me into as many art classes as I could through high school.

My art interest and technical abilities helped me study Architecture and Computer Science at the University of Utah. At graduation time, I discovered that one quarter of the architects in the US were unemployed. Technology employment was soaring so I took a programming job. My artistic interest and abilities were put on hold while my family was young.

I was able to take some workshops offered by master artists Tony Ryder and Daniel Greene that sharpened my desire and gave me a few new skills. Overall, my art love was put on the back burner until when, in my fifties, I accepted employment at Brigham Young University (BYU). I soon learned that BYU had an excellent art department and also offered the opportunity to audit classes. I saw a BYU art professor, Robert Barrett, showcased in an art magazine and liked his work. I approached Professor Barrett and asked if I could attend his classes. He welcomed me to his and other classes and soon became a mentor to me. My focus became figure drawing and face painting (portraits).

While attending these classes at BYU, I became aware of Saturday live drawing sessions at the University of Utah and became a regular. After a few years, I was asked to supervise and organize the drawing sessions and enjoyed guiding anyone who reached out for tips. After decades of hosting these Saturday sessions, the University of Utah decided to discontinue them due to campus security concerns. After a while, I was able to find space at the Leonardo Museum in Salt Lake City where a community of artists could once again gather to share a love of art and to hone skills. The Leonardo offers the sessions free to museum members.

I met Stephen Higgins in the drawing classes. He invited me to go with him and do some watercolor Plein Art painting sessions. He was painting houses in the Avenues part of Salt Lake City. There are so many gorgeous and very challenging houses in that part of the city that appeals to my architectural interests. Many of them are over one hundred years old. I was new to watercolor and through Stephen’s encouragement I have enjoyed watercolor painting those unique houses.

I pursue art in the realist tradition and focus on portraits, landscapes, and figure drawing. I am visually oriented and enjoy continuing learning and gathering experience. I enjoy teaching and helping others improve their artwork. My goal is to become a better artist through drawing and painting and to bring joy and beauty into the lives of clients. I hope you enjoy my slowly enlarging gallery of work.

Jeff Bailey