Mary Jane Burton, The Leeds Exit Hike

Artist: Mary Jane Burton

Title: The Leeds Exit Hike

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 5 x 7 inches

Price: $95

Artist Bio: My name is Mary Jane Burton. I was born in Whittier, California and then lived in Pocatello, Las Vegas, Fresno, and Brea before finally moving to Menlo Park, California during high school.

When I was young, I loved art. I could be found drawing Snoopy cartoons, drawing firemen in a homemade book, painting blown-out egg shells with a paint-filled syringe, or learning how to draw in perspective in art classes.

After graduating from BYU in Art and Design, where I won first place for a self-portrait done in oils in the student art show, I married a cool guy and we had five awesome kids. I quickly found out that when I did have some down time, oil painting was too stressful with cute kids running around getting into it. So, I happily focused on drawing and watercolor painting.

Besides drawing and painting for fun, I was able to use my art talent to support the PTA, my kids’ schools, and our church. Some of my work included drawing a large mural of Lone Peak (the mountain) for Lone Peak Elementary School that they displayed in their front foyer for many years. Also, I designed and painted a huge backdrop for the Alta High School La Scelles Dance Team when they competed in Florida at the National Championships. Another project was designing and drawing several large murals for our church’s “Christmas in Jerusalem” nativity evening.

When my youngest was in high school, I went back to BYU to earn a teaching certificate in art. I taught art and ceramics at Alta High School, and then at South Jordan Middle School. It was fun trying out different mediums and themes with the students and watching their art talents grow.

Now that I am retired, I get to do all the oil painting I want, plus watercolor, oil pastel, and Prismacolor. I love drawing clouds, mountains, flowers, and humans–really all of Heavenly Father’s brilliant creations–and painting them in thick, luscious oil paint, or beautiful, clear, watercolor or slick, creamy oil pastel! I hope you enjoy my artwork!

instagram.com/mjburton_designs (@mjburton_designs)

https://www.behance.net/maryjaneburton