“I feel like my whole thing is sharing the transformative power of art. I think that art is a way to connect to yourself and explore the inner landscapes of your own mind, and I feel like I've used my art to really delve into why I am the way that I am, you know. I feel like it's really expanded my view of self and also just the feeling of connection to other people and all things like animals, the Earth, and everything.” “Another thing that I’m working on in my personal life is deshaming and deprogramming. I feel like that's showing up a lot in my art. Growing up in a super conservative religious town, that's something that's ingrained in us, especially in women, too, in this culture. We feel such shame about our bodies; we feel inappropriate just for existing, basically. So that’s one thing that my work is inspired by right now.”

"I am endlessly fascinated by the beauty in nature. In my photography I try to communicate the intimacy of witnessing special places, the hidden designs that permeate our planet, or the dynamic geology shaped by time and the elements.

"I definitely believe in just creating and the process of creating. I think people get scared because they're going to make something bad—which you always are—but sometimes it works out. There's just such a big emotional release when you create. Sometimes I get too stressed out if I think too much about what I'm trying to make and what I want it to be. But if you just create and let your mind flow, there's so much more creative activity that comes out of just not thinking and seeing where it ends up. So, I think it's about not being afraid to create and not worrying if something looks good. And if it doesn't work out—well, tough luck, that's just life. Try again. It's about not being afraid to make something bad because it's going to happen."

“At church, I usually will bring a few butterflies with me, and I’d handed out two of the three that I had. I was getting ready to leave, and there was a lady in there who… well, nobody was talking to her, let’s just put it that way. But I’d never seen her before, and it was almost like she was one of those people where you don’t go up and introduce yourself, you know, you just leave them alone. So, I went up to her, and she had a child with her, and I handed her a butterfly. Then, pretty soon, we had a conversation going. I was excited for what she was feeling. That $10 item starts conversations. It doesn’t bring in any more business, but it just makes for a better day. So, if you ask what am I doing, I’m trying to make people happy—well, happier than what they are, and it doesn’t take much sometimes. That’s my goal.”

"Lagom, the name of my brand, is a Swedish concept of “not too much, not too little, but just enough.” Yes, I sell art and handmade items, but what I am really selling is a lifestyle of living mindfully rooted in creativity and nature. The desert has become such a special place to me that has provided me peace, tranquility, healing and personal growth. The wilderness is where the inspiration for creativity, health and wellness all stems from for me and my mission is to share that with others whether through art, hiking or (eventually) yoga. I place an emphasis on living clean, sustainable living, and touching on the importance of mental health. Not living minimally, but without excess. Its truly become a life concept that I try to embody in my every day life in all aspects, because its about finding balance in life, and helping others find it within themselves because balance looks different for everyone.

"I believe the enemy of the creative process is limitation. Neither tools nor rules hinder any artist from making what they envision. Art is not restricted by any single genre, medium, school or process. It is an authentic expression of the creative spirit. "Taking cues from pop art, surrealism, and contemporary portraiture, I use traditional painting techniques with digital tools to convey complex ideas and compositions with layered imagery. My subject matter is always connected to my life, my relationships, my internal struggles, and a ongoing dialogue with my larger community. "My source material includes vintage family pictures, historic images, original photographs, drawings, painting, collages, and prints. I am intrigued by the possibilities of mixing materials and processes to expand well beyond a single medium . My goal is to use any material to convey the visual message I am sharing with the viewer."

"Ever since I was a teenager and my dad let me use his old Nikon F with a 50mm lens I have been hooked on photography. My passion has always been to capture the magic and majesty and beauty of any animals and landscapes that come into my view. I especially enjoy capturing animals in motion, doing the things they do. I got a lot of practice as a sport and portrait photographer for many years. My favorite was photographing people on boats in the Grand Canyon, because I had plenty of time in between to photograph animals and the Grand Canyon. Southern Utah is one of the most beautiful places on earth, it's one of my favorite places to be. Every day of my life I wake up to another beautiful day, tirelessly in search of one more animal or mountain, or lake or stream or sky that I can share with you and you too will enjoy the beauty and wonder of this incredible earth we live on."

“I was a foster parent. I had left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for 10 years. I felt lost, alone, and scared. Then, I had three kids dropped off at my front door, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I felt even more lost and more alone. Then I finally got my butt in church. My mom told me, ‘Maybe you should just go to church, they have Primary and can help watch the kids.’ So I went to church, put my kids in Primary, and I found my way back. Maybe church is not for everybody, which is fine, but I found myself there. I found joy and happiness and stability in Christ.” “After a couple of years of being back in church, I did the research after adoption. With children that are in foster care, only 6% end up graduating with a bachelor’s degree, even less with an upper graduate degree. I didn’t want that for my kids, you know. I didn’t have a college degree; I struggled so hard to make it without one. I wanted something better for my kids. At least if they wanted that, they didn’t feel like it was out of reach. So I came back to school to be able to show them that that’s a possibility. It’s hard, but you can do it.” “So coming back to school and learning art all over again was something that really gave me a way to express myself, to express the love that I have for my children and for my Heavenly Father.”

"I believe that art is expressing yourself. I love nature and beautiful places so I Iove mimicking what I see in paintings. I’ve always wanted to be an artist. My great, great grandfather is John Hafen the Utah artist. His son ( my great grandfather) was also an artist and his daughter (my grandmother) painted also. I’ve always admired their talent and paintings and have wanted to do the same. This has inspired me to be an artist. I hope to inspire others to want to paint or create art. I also hope my paintings can be calming or bring joy to those that see them.

"In 2021, I got diagnosed with being on the spectrum, and I’m fifty-four now. So, that was a lot for me to take in. That (piece on the left) is basically for myself. Finally, I’m taking a bow. That (piece on the right) is somebody with autism. Smiling, yes, but it’s kind of a masking thing. We do a lot of masking." (See second photo for reference.) "It was hard. Getting that diagnosis was really hard, but I have my youngest sister’s second-to-youngest. He got diagnosed and sent me a message and said, 'You don’t have bad abilities, you have different abilities. Hold on to your strengths and just remember that nothing’s wrong with you. You have other powers.' In a way, that just really sunk in hard for me… it means a lot."

"Once in an art class I had in 8th grade. The art teacher there had a quote on her wall that said “Draw what you see, not what you think you see.” That has always stuck with me throughout my hobby of art. What’s come to be a goal of mine with art is to portray a message of hope and comfort. I’ve done a handful of Christian artwork and continue to find new inspiration on messages I can share with others through art. I’ve also come to love figure paintings as well and strive to master that one day. "

"I spend much of my life seeking to feel and understand nature, and people of other places and cultures. In creating art from those experiences, I hope to impart my feelings, and give the observer a place to enjoy what they may not have seen in person. I have a desire to share my experiences with others and am often told by friends and acquaintances, that they live vicariously through my adventures. Many of these people are no longer able to travel, and they receive great joy discussing their own experiences when viewing mine. "

"Art serves a purpose that many know but very few understand. For me, it saved my life since childhood. Art was my escape during the abuse, art was my confidant when no one else was there, art was my mentor when I needed to understand... Art was, and still is, the anchor that steadies my mental health during the roughest storms. The need for art, of all kinds, is intrinsic for human development. Teaching my kids how to do what I do has been an amazing experience for me. Even my oldest is continually challenging herself now and is successful in her art ventures. I want and need to collaborate with other artists of all kinds. I need new challenges and want to learn more ways people do things. And one of my dreams is to have a multi collaborative piece on display for everyone to experience. "

"I’m a very intuitive artist. I believe nature is one of the most grounding and healing forces in our lives, and my art is a way to honor its beauty and power. Growing up, I found safety and connection in nature when I couldn’t find it elsewhere, and that connection continues to inspire me. By incorporating elements of nature like real preserved flowers, crystals, sand, etc. into my paintings, I aim to create pieces that reflect nature’s tranquility and evoke a sense of balance. My work is also deeply tied to my Hawaiian heritage, celebrating the flowers and landscapes that feel like home. But can also reflect different natural environments we may find ourselves in that can bring us healing. Through my art, I want people to feel peace and wonder, much like the calm I’ve found in nature. Many of my pieces represent a transition from darkness to light, inspired by my journey of overcoming anxiety and trauma. Southern Utah’s stunning landscapes and vibrant community remind me of the healing power of the natural world, and I hope my art inspires others to pause, reconnect with their inner calm, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us."

"When creating my artwork, I apply and blend vibrant, bold colors to bring my compositions to life. My techniques emphasize rich textures and dynamic movement, inviting the viewer into a vivid exploration of color and form. My art is inspired by desert landscapes and presented in a surreal style. The scenes are realistic enough to feel familiar but use vibrant, colorful desert plants, animals, and sometimes figures to captivate viewers, drawing them into a beautiful, mesmerizing almost spiritual world that blurs the line between reality and imagination."

"It all comes down to mindfulness for me. We all have our own trails and adventures we experience and I create jewelry to reflect and amplify those experiences. I want my jewelry to reconnect people with the earth itself and serve as a reminder to get outside. One of the most unique things about my jewelry is how I use local desert sand in each piece. I want to create wearable connections to the earth that we surround ourselves in. I love to hike and mountain bike and collect dirt and sand from the various trails I explore. "

“I just came out of a really hard two years of feeling super directionless and really hopeless. I just didn’t understand my worth at all; I was so low. Then I took an institute class at the Institute building on campus, and one of the lessons was on grace. Just understanding that self-worth wasn’t something you gained by merit—it’s just something that is—completely changed my life. It helped me understand how to give myself more grace. And if I didn’t understand that until I was an adult, how many children, how many parents of children, don’t understand that yet?” “So that’s what this book is about. It’s a book about grace, because I’m hoping that if children can understand from a young age that they have innate worth—that they don’t have to do anything to earn—then they can focus more on what fulfills them and grow up more intentional, just happier.”

"My photography is more to me than a snapshot of a pretty moment or vista. Each image I capture is a direct reflection of my emotional, mental, and spiritual state at that moment. I believe if I stood in the exact spot countless times I would come out with countless unique images because each time I am in a new place. When looking at my art, my hope is that the image evokes an emotional response from the viewer. That it's a combination of what they are feeling as well as what they are seeing. The funny thing about me being a Southern Utah artist is that I love the cold. I embrace everything about it and thrive in it. So living in a desert has its challenges. The beautiful details and unique landscapes of Southern Utah have kept me here for years though. "

“My mom passed away in 2012, way too young; she was going to be 93. She said she wanted to be 104. She changed her blood pressure medicine, got AFIB, and had a massive stroke. She never did anything small. She had a codicil in her will that her art not be forgotten and thrown away. So I took that to heart; that’s my part—to get her out in the world. My dream would be to have a museum with her art all protected. People could come in and look at it, and also have a part where people could come, no matter how old you are, no matter your abilities, to create art. Everyone has artistic talent. People would have the opportunity to find out that they really do have talent.” … “When I was three or four, she had four kids, and she got multiple sclerosis. She was healed by faith. She was hanging onto the counter and said, ‘God, take me or heal me’—she had these kids to take care of. She felt a white light and was healed. So I grew up knowing that there was a higher power. When my mom went out to paint, that was her purpose. She would ask to be a conduit for the beauty of the world to flow through her onto the canvas.” … “I think at some point, if you’ve been given a lot, you have to give back. Or else, what’s the point of living unless you give back some of the good that’s been given to you? I truly believe her work needs to be out in the world; I truly believe it makes people happy.”

"When I create, I do it with the belief that art, in any form, has the power to carry pieces of who we are—our stories, our struggles, our joy—and connect us to one another in a way words can’t always do. For me, jewelry isn't just about making something beautiful; it's about crafting something that holds meaning. Every piece tells a story, whether it’s about a place, a moment, or a feeling that resonates with the person wearing it. I’ve always believed that true beauty lies in the personal connections that art creates between the artist and the wearer. If there's one thing I’d want someone to feel when experiencing my work, it’s a sense of being seen and understood. I want them to feel like the piece was made just for them—like it’s a little part of their story, or a reminder of something important. It’s about more than just the jewelry itself; it’s about the emotions, energy, and memories it carries. I also Reiki-infuse my jewelry to align the wearer with healing, harmony and balance, and grounding. My hope is that when you wear one of my creations, you feel a deeper connection to yourself, to others, and to the beautiful world around us."

"Creating is both cathartic and inspiring. I strive for strong composition that balances pattern, color and texture in my designs. My work is a blend of modern tools and traditional craft. I use a camera, digital tools, and printer to capture and manipulate images. I use fabric, thread and needle to layer and paint over the image creating texture, suggesting movement, and intensifying color."

"I want to create a sense of joy, whether it's from a still life, landscape or the simple beauty of an animal. I believe that something that is going to enter my house should come in with a sense of peace. I've toned down my palette over the years to a more neutral tone. Keeping the overall feeling more clam and at ease. Although the majestic colors of Utah are bright and vibrant, and their beauty overwhelms me!

"I love showing the action of nature, documenting our beautiful shared history and portraying the adventure, grandeur, and sublime feelings we experience in our home state. We live in a special place. I want that to reflect in my photography. "