Serenity in the Woods

This inviting scene draws us in bit by bit. We approach the cabin past a rocky bank, through the wooden buck rail fence. Though some trees still exhibit the marks of autumn, others are already bare. The warmly lit windows of the cabin seem to contrast with the chill of the snow-covered ground. All the while, two children and a dog frolic in what could very well be the first snow of the season. This appealing scene is filled with a sense of nostalgia and an understanding of the joys of a simple life.

Beth Atkinson Brierly considers herself lucky enough to have been born and raised in Francis, Utah, and to have grown up in the Kamas Valley. She attributes her love of art and color to her mother, Evva. Beth fondly remembers evenings spent sitting on the porch with her mother watching the sunset. Unafraid of experimentation, Beth has painted on materials as diverse as canvas, glass, wood, metal, moose spoons, and ostrich eggs. She studied painting for a few years with Carol France, and remains appreciative of Carol’s instruction. Beth has lived in Hoytsville for 25 years. She is the proud mother of 5 and the grandmother of 10.
1998 Commission Award