Art Market at Millcreek Common was held in February and featured works by local artists of various mediums. It was an opportunity to showcase the work of professional and emerging Utah artists and allow the community to view works of art and acquire them.

Local artist Caryl A. Brown had her scenic artwork at the market. Brown says she is an artist and teaching artist and gets her inspiration from traveling. “My art has been influenced by my passion for travel. I speak four languages, and it’s a joy to connect with people.” 

Brown says she uses watercolor because it is a “fabulous medium to capture light.”

“I was once in the Teton National Park and riding my mountain bike in this meadow and I saw this wild bird doing this weird dance and then I saw an antelope and a buffalo and so completely overwhelmed by the beauty of it and it was right then and there, a voice spoke to me and said, ‘This your quest, to seek beauty and share it with the world,’” Brown said.

“Sometimes we create art to process grief. The power of the natural world has been a constant source of inspiration to me as well as a road to healing and a path to emotional peace. The sharing of beauty may touch another person in a profound way or maybe it’s just a gift we offer,” added Brown.

“When I am not skiing, painting or traveling, I enjoy my role as a teaching artist supporting and nurturing creative growth and self confidence in young people,” Brown said. Visit Brown’s website www.carylabrownart.com for more information on her paintings.

Yong Hui No was one of the featured local artists. “I immigrated from South Korea. I love photography and I take photos while I travel and whatever inspires me I try to paint them,” No said.

“I work full time and this is kind of a hobby or my passion. I just always wanted to be an artist when growing up back in Korea as a child. I was into art and Korean folk dancing, a girls choir and a band. I wanted to be a fine artist. I studied fine art at the University of Utah. I do original paintings and then get them professionally scanned as giclée prints,” No said.

“I want to bring joy to the people that is why I paint,” No said. While at the Art Market a family with a little girl reached out to her and told her that their daughter loved the rose watercolor Hui No painted. “Her name is Rose and she wanted to buy that painting so they purchased it for her and this just brightened my day,” No said. “What an opportunity to share your gift with the community.” 

“Art is your expression of your gift. You put it on canvas and color all comes together and seeing the subject come to life, it fascinates me and that is why I paint,” No said. Her website is www.yongsArt.com.

“Smokey Reflections” is a work of art painted by Alissa Landefeld. The artist was inspired by “The Queen’s Gambit” show on Netflix. “I was trying to figure out what career I should pursue,” Landefeld said. “There is a scene from the show that really resonated with me on how I was feeling in my life at the time,” said Landefeld as the character in the show reflects on her life as a professional chess player. 

Landefeld paints with oils and loves to use bright, vibrant colors. Her works are described as folk art and contemporary realism. Landefeld resides in Provo, has a degree in biology and is now an artist and passionate about what she is doing. More information can be found @ludoliss.art.

Artist Nuha Moretz said, “I do nature inspired art and sometimes I go to abstract. I use acrylic, and I use a lot of textures to create. I use earth materials as much as possible like newspaper, sawdust, sand, plaster, crushed leaves.”

Moretz says by recycling or repurposing things it is an “affordable way to create art and less waste in the environment.”

Moretz creates contemporary artwork that balances emotions and the love of nature. Moretz’s website www.nuhamoretz.com.

Thomas Embley’s oil paintings stood out with scenes from the streets of Salt Lake City along with images you might find in a local bar.

“The liquor bottle painting series is primarily because I love painting the reflection of light on glass, and I think they are gorgeous hanging above business or home bars or mantels. Using fun whiskeys as the subject guarantees that the pieces will find a home with a buyer with great taste in art and spirits,” Embley said lightheartedly.

Embley was an attorney but now a full-time artist. “There are plenty of lawyers making a positive impact with their practices, but ultimately that field wasn’t for me, and I traded it to pursue my passion for painting and spending time with my wife,” Embley said and added that it was the best decision he ever made.

To see Embley’s art visit ThomasEmbleyArt.com. λ

Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly spelled Caryl A. Brown's name in the headline.