Fun and Sun in Provo, Utah!

There's a new beach in town- Provo Beach Resort! Where else can one, or a couple on a first date, or a family looking to breakout of the normal weekend routine find excitement and fun under one roof? 

Bowling, Mini-bowling, Croquet, A Ropes course, Flowrider(indoor surfing), a Carousel, a Surf shop,a Spa and tons of games all within one building!

 Designed with much of a Santa Monica Pier-like theme in mind, Provo Beach resort not only features lots to do on a potentially boring weekend, or a way to stay out of the heat on a too-hot-to-play outside summer day, but it is also a walk-in portfolio of some of my best work to date.

This is a mural near the mini-croquet course. It depicts much larger-than-life fish, a sea turtle and various corals and undersea life. 

As a muralist with more than 20 years experience, I have painted many underwater scenes. And, among those scenes, lots of Sea Turtles. This huge (over 9 feet in lenth) turtle is by  far the coolest and most personable yet! :-)



I feel very fortunate to not only have been given the opportunity to create so much beautiful work to coincide with a great family fun spot, but I also developed many friendships with the mangement, the construction crew and some of the other trades from as far away as Canada and New York.

With only a few days before the Grand Opening, the management approached me about creating this mondo wave coming in toward the"surfers" currently riding the Flowrider. After being much intimidated by the prospect of such a vast painting(and on a stucco wall!) I dove into the task at hand.

Surf's Up!!

Adventures in Dentistry

I am probably not alone when I share that I was never fond of the annual visits to the dentist when I was a kid. I remember my mom springing it on me upon walking in the door after school, "Get in the car. You've got a dentist appointment!"

 Now, as an adult and making my living creating environments that excite, relax, or are simply fun to look at I feel I owe it to those kids that dread the visit to the dentist to make it FUN...or, at the very least, pleasant!

 This is the new office of Reading Pediatric Dentistry in West Jordan, Utah. I am always excited to hear the details of a new prospective client, but this one just felt fun aright up my alley right from the start.

Dr, Tyler Reading asked for a Safari/Jugle-type theme for his  waiting room and leading into the treatment areas.

 Here is what we came up with. As his business grows, so will the graphic and visual appeal.

Enjoy!

Want to see more of my work? Click here!

Wildlife Portraits

This week I decided to treat myself some light, and fun pauntings that had no deadline or feeling of " I have to" get this painting done feeling attached to them. It was a wonderful and freeing experience for me!
See more of my work @ http://www.bhensler.com/

"Mule Deer II"  11" x 14" Oil on panel -
This Mule Deer is my favorite (except for the really harsh shadow on his nechk I did not see until I was uploading these)

"Mule Deer" - 11" x 14" oil on panel

"Shiras Moose" - 11" x 14" oil on panel

"Pronghorn Antelope" 11" x 14" oil on panel

Tuscan Villa View

I've really been slacking with the posts, so... Here's a mural I completed in West Valley, Utah about a week ago. A very nice client, and a fun and familiar subject. With some direction from my patron, we transformed an ordinary stark white wall into an element that transformed her kitchen/dining area into the focal point for her style.
 She was considering going with a printed vinyl mural. I do realize that, with technology progressing the way that it is, printed vinyl products certainly have their place in the market. However, (somewhat biased, I know) there is nothing like an original, hand-painted work of art in one's home or place of business. Not to mention, the personalization of the scale, subject matter, colors, etc.
 Let me know what you think, feel....Billy

The full size "Tuscan Villa View" mural.

A close-up of the mural.

A Frame for the Buffalo...Cape Buffalo, that is.

So, I love being a painter. It feels like an extension of me. I got layed of from a job doing computer animation around 20 years ago. I liked the job because I got to use my creativity, but sometimes it was a little frustrating looking at a screen all day, and then trying to decipher what I had to input for the machine to deliver to me the desired result. Spent alot of time striving to learn how to "talk" to the computer in a language it would get. But, I digress- I had never been let go like that, so it was a hard time for me. When I began creating again with only my hands and a paintbrush, I realized that this was meant to be I very much enjoy creating and putting things together. It gives me a sense of being and productivity to participate in actions like these.

The Frame
 I can do a limited amount of woodwork, but because I hold in such high regard the skilled and talented people that really do it well, I sometimes almost dread the "money-saving" task of building a frame.
However, with some moulding from Home Depot, and some modifications that enable it capable of holding a painting, and render it to feel less like a piece baseboard and alot more like a painting frame, I feel it is a success.
 The finish I envisioned for the frame to my Cape Buffalo almost happened easily. Well, it did. I just knew when I looked at it this morning that it deserved to be pushed a little further. So, second attempt is a triumph. I feel it really has the feel of some elements of the painting without distracting from it.

The Finish
The dots or circular patterns in the finish are created by painting a darkish color base,(in this instance, a dark, almost black, brown.) when this dries, I used a silvery metallic was over the base. Quickly, while this layer is still wet, splatter denatured or rubbing alcohol ( I used my hands for control) with any instrument of your choice. The alcohol kind eats, or lightly removes a subtle amount of the top layer. I blow dry it to hurry it along and increase the dramatic effect of the technique. Before completely dry, blot off the excess alcohol evenly over the surface, creating even more effect and evening. Cool! I am very happy with it.

The Painting
So, here is the finished result.
A Cape Buffalo, intimidating and staring down the viewer, as to inquire of his next move. Forward? I think not.
I call this painting "Impasse."

"Impasse"
Cape Buffalo
24" x 36" oil on canvas
See more of my work @ http://www.bhensler.com/

Relaxation and Inspiration in the Uintas.

This past weekend Allison and I camped and hiked in one of our favorite mountain ranges. The west end of the Uintah mountains are only about a 30 minute drive from Kamas. They offer a truly incredible array of high mountain vistas and what seems like hundreds of lakes- many just off the side of the road!

The beautiful starlit sky in the uinta mountains.

 As many may know, Allie and I are, for some unknown reason obsessed with finding Moose in our travels. 

a neighbor of ours, as well as several web sites state that the Christmas Meadows trail had many Deer and Moose along the trail- so regular that they're "almost tame."

 In summary, we saw no Moose. We did see beautiful and lush sub-alpine forests of Spruce and Aspen trees, huge rockslides and more dead fall than I have seen during any of my excursions in and around Utah.

Reflection.

Lots of deadfall.

Huge boulders in this rockslide must have made a

thunderous earthshake when it occurred.

This HUGE Mushroom looks like one from a fairytale.

Keeping the feet dry.