Behold Your Little Ones

"Behold Your Little Ones" (2016, Oil on Canvas 24"x36")

This painting was commissioned by my wonderful mother who is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. She raised us reading from the scriptures as a family every night before we went to bed. Every time we read 3 Nephi Chapter 17 she would get very emotional. The Savior tells the people, "Behold your little ones" after he had blessed the children one by one. Then the angels descend and encircle the little children. So it was no surprise to me that when I presented ideas to my mother she loved the idea of me painting a scene of the Savior with little children. I used my own children used as models for this painting. Painting them with the Savior has helped me see them with new perspective when they test my patience. I have reflected on this painting and at times have felt an added measure of patience as I think of how the Savior would treat my children in my situation. I reflect on the scripture and feel he is asking me to behold, or see, my little ones as he sees them. My hope is that those who see the painting will feel the Savior's love for each of his children as I have while painting it. These little ones can teach us so much and can show us how to love and forgive the way the Savior does.

Grandpa

I started painting a portrait of my Grandpa early in the summer of 2016.  By July his already poor health was failing. I brought the portrait with me to Utah for our visit and I worked night and day to get it done by the funeral so I could give it to my grandma.

Grandpa was the best.  He was always there for me, he brought laughter, he brought me art. It's hard to express how I feel, I get that from him, and like him I rely on art to express myself. I have always loved and admired him and I always will. Grandpa's big brown eyes were the window to his soul. Through those eyes you could feel his love for you, his immense love of God, and love of the beauty of God's creations.  I'm glad he's free of pain but I miss him.

Kind and Loving Savior

This was the next portrait I attempted.  There is a photograph of the man who plays the Savior from the LDS bible videos that I just love. I had the thought to go ahead and try to paint it not really expecting much of it, I just wanted to give it a shot, so I just used a small 8x10 canvas first. I was pleased with the first draft so I made a larger version at a 16x20 size.

It brought me such joy as I painted our Savior.  The thing that stood out to me in the photograph that I tried to portray in the painting was the kindness in his eyes.  I hope I captured that. 

Kind and Loving Savior (2014; oil on canvas, 16x20) by Sarah Hatch

Baby Brother

I love faces. There is something exciting about capturing an expression.  It had been about 7 years since I had painted a portrait, I really wanted to try a portrait again and see if I still had it in me to do one. Brent and I just love this picture of our boys in the hospital when our eldest was holding his little brother for the first time. After I finished the painting we took the photograph off the wall and put this up instead!

Baby Brother (2014; oil on canvas, 8x10) by Sarah Hatch

Lilies

Lilies  (oil on canvas, 8x25) by Sarah Hatch

I am excited to finally share some of my ART!  I graduated in 2007 with my Bachelors Degree in Art from Weber State University. My favorite medium had been oil painting until I got pregnant with my firstborn, then I tried to work in acrylic (a lot less stinky harmful chemicals).  Acrylics never felt right to me though.  These last 6 years have been spent having and raising my 3 beautiful children and running the photography business on the side.  Oil painting got shoved into the back burner and I only pulled out this painting once or twice a year.

There was something missing in my life and I didn't realize what it was until about 6 months ago. I had been talking to someone whose counsel I really valued and she really encouraged me that even if I was tired, if the dishes were piled high, if the house was a mess, to just pull out my painting at night. She told me to let go of the worries about of all the stuff I had to do and to just enjoy this thing that I love. She said that I would actually gain more energy in the long run by doing this. A few different people had been encouraging me to work in my art again too. All of these people were definitely sent to me by God.  I needed this art back in my life, it has been so wonderful to create again. And she was right, I did gain more energy by doing it. Painting is a part of me, it speaks to my soul.

So, after long last I finally finished this painting and several others are either finished as well or in the works. In the days to come, I will be posting pictures of more of my paintings, so stay tuned for those.