January Thaw

The snow has melted back to reveal last season’s grasses and crisp shrubs in Valoy Eaton’s oil painting“January Thaw.” Painted with quick strokes, Eaton’s piece has a realism that leans toward impression-ism— there’s a beautiful play of light and shadow across the landscape, a softness to the wood, grasses, and figures. It’s one of those midwinter days where 40-degrees feels balmy, after likely having hit single digits sometime around Christmas. A nice day for a stroll. In the scene, the light is weak but starting to round the corner on a new season. With the dry grasses suddenly exposed again, it looks like autumn, but feels more like spring. “I am a landscape artist,” writes Valoy Eaton, “I appreciate my surroundings and try to express my love for the seasons.”

Valoy Eaton has had a one-person retrospective show at the Springville Art Museum, was voted in to a lifetime membership of the National Academy of Western Art, and was appointed by the governor of Utah to represent visual arts for the state on the Utah Arts Council. His portrait hangs in Abravanel Hall in honor by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to the arts. He was also presented with the Utah Governor's Mansion Artist award. His watercolors, oils, and prints have also been purchased by hundreds of collectors. Eaton writes that “he believes that some of the most profound subjects are found in everyday occurrences when living close to nature.”