Editor's note: KSL.com does a regular feature on artists in the community. If you have a painter, sculptor, musician or creative genius in mind, feel free to email your submission to jklopfenstein@ksl.com. Please include a contact email for the artist, if available.OGDEN — Somewhat new to the northern Utah art scene, mother and son duo Barbara and Daniel Price are making a splash not only for their art but also for their unique stories.

Sara Erickson, Barbara’s daughter and Daniel’s sister explained, “they work side by side in a makeshift studio in my mother's dining room. My mom has many health ailments — she can hardly lift one of her arms — and the caliber of art she (and he) turn out is really amazing. My brother suffers from multiple back and health problems as well.”

Barbara Price

North Ogden-based artist Barbara Price recently learned that she received an Honorable Mention for one of her two paintings she entered in the Black and White Competition at the Eccles Art Center in Ogden.

However, Price’s love of art has been a lifelong passion.

“I have always loved to draw and color! As a young girl, I had an extensive collection of paper dolls and dresses, and I even won a prize in fifth grade for the most beautiful homemade kite (with a ballerina and glitter),” Price said.

Price was an art major at Brigham Young University, graduating in 1967.

“I had planned to become an art teacher, so it was a very general art degree, where I had one class of everything associated with art. However, I did have to take art history twice to get a passing grade, and I almost failed pottery and oil painting,” said Price.

Two weeks after graduation, Price got married and she worked at non-art related jobs for the next few years.

As the years progressed, she and her husband had six children, so Price was “very busy being a stay-at-home mom,” she said.

Her art skills helped her children with their school projects, but Price also organized an art appreciation program while the family lived in Madison, Wisconsin.

“I established, organized and ran an art appreciation program in our elementary school for a few years,” she said.

In 1998, the Price family relocated to North Ogden. Price recalls that in 1999, she saw an advertisement for art classes at the Eccles Art Center in Ogden. Intrigued, Price signed up and began taking courses.

“(I) signed up for painting with pastels, perhaps the only thing I had not tried years ago at BYU. I loved it. I took classes for two or three years until our teacher quit, and then took classes at other locations in watercolors and finally, in oil,” she said.

Price is inspired by “the beauty in nature."

“I love doing landscapes and seascapes, especially ones that show the play of light and shadow, and that have reflections in water. I grew up in Southern California, and love the ocean and the challenge of capturing the beauty of the waves,” she said.

She also enjoys capturing candid shots of children.

“I especially like to try to capture the look on children’s faces when they are involved in something unawares, and they are not posing for the camera,” Price said.

Both Price and her son Daniel share studio space in their dining room. She paints with pastels, acrylic, watercolor, and water-mixable oils.

“I’m enjoying experimenting with acrylics right now, but my favorite is oil,” Price said. “I only use the water-mixable oils because you do not need turpentine since the clean-up of the brushes is with soap and water, and the oils themselves do not have a heavy odor.”

Growing as an artist is a goal for Price. She is “constantly trying new things, new techniques, and new mediums,” she said.

“I love colors, and I always try to consider the design quality of what I’m working on. I work in a studio (our dining room) from photographs, some of which I have taken. If I did not take the photo, then I will get permission to use the photo,” she said.

Art is source “of much happiness and much frustration” for Price. Contrary to popular belief that painting is simply fun and relaxing, Price explains that for her, “it is really a lot of work.”

“I almost always look at a white canvas and think, ‘Can I really do this?,’ she said, “But it’s also very satisfying when you are able to get something to look the way you want it to.”

Daniel Price

Daniel Price has only been painting for “about five years now,” but his artistic bent started as a youth, primarily with pencil drawing.

“I've loved to create art for as long as I can remember,” he said.

Originally, Price’s goal was to have a career involved with art, but he said he “did not want to be a painter because I knew just how difficult it was.”

That lead him to school for graphic arts and design, Most of Price’s academic art training was for computer design and graphics arts, with several drawing classes. Though he explained he took one painting class in college, but “didn't really enjoy it, so I didn’t pursue it at the time.”

Price continues to expand his skills with YouTube tutorials and videos. He finds the challenge of creating art as his main inspiration.

“The challenge is what I think mostly inspires me. I see other artists create amazing works of art and I want to see if I can do it too,” he said.

Price finds inspiration in nature as a way to manage his health issues.

“I can't travel and get outdoors as much as I used to, so I think painting landscapes and using my photos from my travels/adventures has been a healthy way to cope with my health problems,” said Price.

He especially likes to focus on “the mountains, lakes, rivers, southern Utah, and sunsets.”

“Painting nature has been a good alternative to being out in nature,” he said.

Price has a bit of trouble describing his work. “Colorful” is one adjective he suggested.

“I like doing several styles, especially photo-realism, impressionism, and abstract. Since I have a wide variety of artwork, it's difficult for me to describe it or generalize it. I think one of the elements that I use throughout is vivid color — because life is vivid,” said Price.

In a turnabout from his earlier days, Price now lists oil as his favorite medium. He also is experimenting in acrylics and is “enjoying it immensely.” As well, Price does watercolor, creates computer graphics, and shoots photos. Additionally, he continues to create pencil drawings.

“A good drawing is critical for a realistic painting, and so pencil is a medium I still use a lot,” Price said.

For Price, art has always been a big part of his life.

"Life is art and art is life. Anything that you're passionate about and work hard at can be a form of art,” said Price, “ Creating paintings and drawings have helped me come to that realization and appreciation.”

Both Barbara and Daniel exhibit at Gallery 25 in Ogden. Daniel also has two paintings in the Davis County Administration building.

Online, find Daniel at: www.1-dan-price.pixels.com, www.dp-designs.deviantart.com, www.instagram.com/youknowmeasdan, or www.facebook.com/daniel.price.5832.

Barbara’s online portfolio is https://2-barbara-price.pixels.com.

Emily Howsley is enjoying her adventures in the wild blue yonder of Texas.

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