Howard Kearns | Water color
Rural Home by Howard Kearns captures the quiet beauty of rural Utah in early spring. Originally titled Early Spring, the watercolor depicts a farmhouse with a welcoming porch, laundry blowing gently on a clothesline, rolling hills, and snow-covered mountains in the distance. Through soft colors and careful composition, Kearns conveys not only the landscape itself but also the peaceful mood and simple charm of country life.
Born in Springville, Utah, in 1907, Kearns studied at Springville High School, Brigham Young University under B.F. Larsen, the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco, and the College of the Pacific. A gifted painter in both watercolor and oil, he found endless inspiration in the landscapes of his native Utah. Kearns was also an accomplished musician and taught both music and art throughout his career. Although his life was cut short by his death in 1947, he is remembered as one of Utah’s outstanding young artists. Rural Home reflects his remarkable ability to capture the atmosphere and enduring beauty of the places he loved most.
James Marshall | Block Print
The Cat by James Henry Marshall is an expressive woodblock print that showcases the beauty and craftsmanship of traditional printmaking. Created in 1939, the black-and-white composition features a stylized cat rendered with bold shapes and decorative patterns, capturing both the grace and quiet intensity of the animal.
Woodblock printing is one of the oldest forms of printmaking, originating centuries ago and believed to have first developed in China. The process begins by transferring a design onto a wooden block, then carefully carving away the areas that will not receive ink. Ink is rolled onto the raised surface, and paper is pressed against the block to create the final image. Additional colors can be added by hand or by using separate carved blocks for each color.
A Salt Lake City artist, James Marshall studied at the University of Utah and was known for his woodblock prints of wildlife and domestic animals. The Cat is an excellent example of his skill in the medium, combining strong design with careful craftsmanship to create a work that is both decorative and expressive.
Gordon Grant | Print of etching
Life Boat by Gordon Grant is a dramatic etching that captures the struggle of a small boat and its crew against the relentless power of the sea. Towering waves crash around the vessel as the men fight to survive beneath a dark, foreboding sky. Despite the storm’s intensity, a single ray of light breaks through the clouds, offering a sense of hope amid the turmoil. Through its striking composition and emotional depth, Life Boat reminds viewers of both the dangers of nature and the resilience of the human spirit.
Rosa Bon Hur (Bonheur) | Photograph of oil painting
Horse Fair is a print reproducing Rosa Bonheur’s celebrated masterpiece, one of the most famous animal paintings of the nineteenth century. The scene depicts powerful horses walking, trotting, and rearing as handlers guide them through a bustling horse market. Bonheur’s remarkable understanding of animal anatomy and movement brings the composition to life, capturing both the strength and spirit of the horses with exceptional realism.
Born in Fontainebleau, France, in 1822, Bonheur received her earliest artistic training from her father, the painter Raymond Bonheur. She first exhibited at the prestigious Paris Salon at the age of nineteen and went on to become one of the most acclaimed animal painters of her era. Her groundbreaking career earned her widespread recognition, including becoming the first woman to receive the Legion of Honor in 1865. The Horse Fair achieved international fame after being exhibited in Britain and the United States and later became one of the most widely reproduced works of art in American schools during the early twentieth century. Today, the original painting is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains one of Bonheur’s best-known achievements.
Bob Byerley | Print
This print, Deputies, was created in 1991 by Bob Byerley, a contemporary realist artist from Independence, Missouri, known for his nostalgic narrative paintings that often portray idealized scenes of American childhood.
The artwork was selected by Draper Elementary students to represent the school’s celebration of the Utah Centennial. The students acquired the print on January 12, 1996, raising funds through a recycling project that collected newspapers, telephone books, magazines, and aluminum cans. The artwork became part of the school’s centennial celebration activities and was unveiled to the students in March 1996 after Byerley shared a video about the painting with the school.
Deputies depicts two smiling young girls dressed in cowboy clothing and hats, seated on an old red car as they look toward something in the distance. Through his carefully detailed and nostalgic style, Byerley captures the imagination, adventure, and innocence often associated with childhood memories in America.
Robert D. Mcfarland | Watercolor
Robert D. McFarland is an artist with a deep appreciation for the watercolor medium and its unique qualities. In his own words, McFarland describes the challenges and strengths of watercolor, emphasizing the importance of embracing its transparency, spontaneity, and emotional impact:
“I am passionate about watercolor. The limitations that it presents give rise to its strengths if handled correctly. Its transparency breathes air and light into a painting. Its unpredictability can bring spirit. Its unforgiving nature brings a true emotional response.”
Through his work, McFarland demonstrates the expressive possibilities of watercolor, using its delicate balance of control and chance to create paintings filled with atmosphere, light, and emotion.
Arnold Friberg | Print of oil painting
This artwork, The Prayer at Valley Forge, was created by Arnold Friberg, a celebrated historical and Biblical painter known for his dramatic and inspirational works. The painting depicts George Washington kneeling in prayer beside his horse during the winter at Valley Forge, representing the spiritual endurance and perseverance associated with a defining moment in American history.
To achieve historical accuracy, Friberg conducted extensive research, studying museum collections and making detailed sketches of authentic Revolutionary War uniforms, equipment, and horse gear. He also traveled to Valley Forge during the winter to study the landscape, trees, and snow firsthand, ensuring the setting reflected the conditions of the historic event.
Born in 1913, Friberg grew up in Arizona and began working in art at a young age, starting with commercial artwork, signs, and illustrations before developing his career as a fine artist. He studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and later worked with renowned illustrator Harvey Dunn in New York.
During his career, Friberg gained recognition for his historical and religious paintings. He created illustrations for the Book of Mormon, earning the reputation as “The Painter of Scripture,” and later served as chief artist and designer for Cecil B. DeMille’s film The Ten Commandments, receiving an Academy Award nomination for costume design. His powerful historical and Biblical imagery has been exhibited internationally and continues to be widely recognized.
Phyllis Taplitz
This artwork was donated to Draper Elementary School by Jeannie Brown, a longtime resident of Draper, Utah, as part of the school’s ongoing commitment to preserving and sharing significant works of art with students and the community.
Phyllis Taplitz was a Bay Area printmaker and mixed-media artist known for her expressive approach to printmaking and contemporary art. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on October 13, 1930. Taplitz earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1952 and later completed postgraduate studies at Adelphi University in 1966.
Her work reflects a lifelong dedication to printmaking and mixed-media art, contributing to the rich artistic traditions of the Bay Area.
Ken Corbett | Print of oil painting
This artwork, Defenders of Freedom, was created by Kenneth A. Corbett, a Utah-based portrait artist known for his classical realist style and paintings of portrait, wildlife, landscape, and historical subjects. Corbett’s work often reflects his appreciation for individuals who have made meaningful contributions to faith, history, and society.
Born on March 11, 1963, Corbett divides his time between Sandy, Utah, and Sacramento, California. He studied portraiture with John Sander in New York City, developing the traditional techniques that define his detailed and realistic approach to painting.
Corbett is recognized for his portraits of Latter-day Saint leaders, religious subjects, and important figures in American history. His admiration for the heroes and defenders of the nation is reflected in works such as Defenders of Freedom, which honors themes of courage, sacrifice, and service. Many of his paintings have been reproduced as signed and limited-edition prints, allowing his work to be shared with a wider audience.
1994 | Carolee Glaittli |Watercolor
Created in 1994, this offset lithographic print reproduces an original watercolor depicting the Utah State Capitol building. The composition shows the building beneath a flag on a central pole, with a bare tree in the foreground, emphasizing a quiet architectural view of the landmark.
The print is numbered 528 of an edition of 1,000 and is signed in the image and in silver ink. According to the object record, it is a photo-offset lithographic reproduction after an original watercolor.
Al Rounds | Print of watercolor
This offset lithographic print depicts two historic Draper landmarks—the Old Draper Church and the Round House—set within a landscape of flowers and distant snow-covered mountains. The composition reflects a nostalgic view of Utah’s local history and built environment.
The work is a photo-offset reproduction after an original painting by Al Rounds and is part of a limited edition series. According to the collection record, the original painting was associated with a 1996 Heritage Banquet, where it was sold at auction to support the development of Heritage Park on the site of the historic structures. The print edition is documented as 12/700 and was signed by the artist.
Al Rounds is a Utah-based artist known for his depictions of regional historical sites and landscapes. His work often draws on local architectural heritage and community memory, and he produces both original paintings and editioned reproductions.
2010 | Brock Rasmussen
Brock Rasmussen, was a senior at Hillcrest High School when he entered and won the Draper Visual Arts Contest with this self portait.
Self Portrait presents a striking, abstractportrait that immediately draws the viewer’s attention through its bold use of color and contrast. The face is divided into light and deep reddish-brown tones, creating a dramatic interplay between positive and negative space that gives the figure an almost sculptural quality. The background is richly textured with layered earth tones, golds, whites, and browns, producing a sense of movement and depth that surrounds the portrait with an expressive, almost dreamlike atmosphere.
The portrait conveys a feeling of introspection and mystery, as the subject’s expression appears calm yet contemplative. Rather than focusing on realistic detail, Rasmussen uses texture, color, and fragmented forms to suggest emotion and personality, inviting viewers to interpret the figure in their own way.
Overall, the combination of expressive abstraction, warm color palette, and careful framing creates a visually compelling work that encourages close examination and personal reflection.
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