Del Parson: Painting the Savior’s Love
By Steevun Lemon

Editor’s note: To learn more about the artist and his paintings, visit Del Parson’s website at http://www.delparson.com/.

It was 2:15 on a Friday afternoon. I called Del Parson at his home in Cedar City, and I have to confess that the work week had taken a toll on me.

As we started the interview I was tired and rundown, but by the time I hung up the phone I was amazed at the change. The day seemed a little better, a little brighter than it had before. I guess that is the magic of Del Parson. You can’t help but walk away with a smile on your face after spending a little time with him or with his artwork.

“Birth of Jesus” by Del Parson.

Q: How did you get started in art?
A: My father was an artist. He taught at BYU-Idaho (then Ricks College) in the art department for twenty five years, so I grew up around art all of my life. Then, when I was attending Ricks, my father encouraged me to take some art classes.

Q: Had you done any art prior to college?
A: I have always drawn, and when my dad would go out on location to paint I would tag along. He let me try a little painting then, but nothing like I experienced at Ricks.

“Perfect Love” by Del Parson.

Q: How did you like the art classes?
A: I loved them. It felt like coming home. When I think back on those years, they are some of my fondest memories.

Q: You said you had “always drawn.” Do you think it was the influence of your home or just how you came?
A: Both. It didn’t hurt having father who was an artist, but I was also just drawn to it. I seemed to do it well and so I just kept doing it. I guess we all like to do things that we are good at doing.

“Good Shepherd” by Del Parson.

Q: What happened after Ricks?
A: I was married just after I graduated with my B.S. to my first wife, Joy, in 1972. I started my Masters at BYU immediately after.

Q: Was there a specific teacher that inspired you?
A: Of course my father was an inspiration and then at BYU I was a teaching assistant to William Whitaker. He was a tremendous inspiration.

Q: What was it about working with Bill that inspired you?
A: It was the first time I realized that someone could make a living in art. Bill did work for the Church magazines, commissions, portraits, illustrations, you name it. I wanted to be like him.

“Olive Press” by Del Parson.

Q: Is that when you decided to be an artist for life?
A: It was too late by then, I already knew that this was my life’s pursuit.

Q: Did you ever teach art?
A: I was in my last year at BYU and a job opening came up to teach art K-12 in Pinedale, Wyoming. So I took it. I loved it, but after a year I realized I wanted to be a full-time artist more than I wanted to teach, so I left.

Q: Can you talk a little about your first wife?
A: We were married thirty-five years ago after I had just graduated from BYU with my bachelor’s. Six years later Joy and my oldest child, Chancy, were killed in a car accident.

Q: I’m so sorry. How did you make it through that time?
A: I moved back to Rexburg so that my parents could help with my son, Broc, who was three years old and my daughter, Sara, who was under one at the time. As far as the emotional side, you make it through with the Lord’s help. I became much closer to God and I felt that He was close to me. You just get through it with His love; that is the only way.

“Thy Will Be Done,” by Del Parson.

Q: Did that experience change the way you paint?
A: I had been painting Westerns up to that point and after I returned to Ricks I started to migrate towards more religious subjects. I wanted to convey how the Holy Ghost had given me strength. I wanted to paint something that showed just how much God really loves us.

Q: How did you meet your current wife?
A: Lynette was teaching at Ricks while I was up there.

Q: Was she teaching art?
A: No, she taught consumer education.

Q: I have known a few artists in my life; was her business sense a blessing?
A: It was perfect. I can use all of the business help I can get.

Q: Did you stay in Rexburg?
A: No, right after we were married we moved back to West Jordan, where I had a home.

“He is Risen” by Del Parson.

Q: What brought you down to West Jordan?
A: I had been doing work for the Church from time to time and wanted to be closer to Salt Lake. I was still painting Westerns in addition to the Church work, and I just loved being closer to Jackson Hole and Cody, so we moved back to Rexburg after a year.

Q: What did Lynette think of the life of an artist?
A: I think Lynette’s parents were worried, but she was wonderful. She has always been so supportive, and the Lord has blessed us.

Q: You now teach at Dixie, when did you finally leave Rexburg and head south?
A: In 1988 there was an opening at Dixie College. I felt like my life was out of balance living in a studio five days a week, ten hours a day and I just wanted to be around people more. So we moved to St. George and then Cedar City. Except for a year at SUU, we have been at Dixie State ever since.

Q: How far is Cedar City from Dixie?
A: 50 miles.

Q: That is quite a commute. What kept you in Cedar City?
A: We moved here and the kids got involved in sports and school. We didn’t want to pull them out of all that. Now that the kids are gone, all of our friends are here. We enjoy a smaller town and the change in seasons.

Del Parson’s most recognizable painting of the Savior.

Q: You painted arguably the most recognized painting of the Savior in the LDS Church. How did that come about?
A: An art director at the Church called me and asked if I would be interested in doing a painting of the Savior. It was one of the first paintings of the Savior up to that point. I went to Salt Lake and met with the Correlation Committee, and they told me what they were looking for. I went back and did some preliminary sketches and sent them back. They made suggestions and I made changes. We did this back and forth for three or four months.

When I finally finished the painting based on the sketches, I was not happy with it. We had a wood burning stove and I told Lynette I was going to throw it in the stove and start over. She told me, “No way was I going to do that,” and then she took the painting from me. Before I knew it she had packed it up and sent it to Salt Lake.

They liked it and after a couple of minor changes, it was done.

Q: How do you feel about the painting now?
A: When I see the painting now I don’t think, “Hey, I painted that.” I think that is what He looks like. It was a balance between what I wanted to do and what they wanted, but the interaction was good and it ended up in a good place.

“He is Risen” by Del Parson.

Q: What is your most memorable painting you have done for the Church?
A: I don’t know. I have done over 200 paintings for the Church. I guess the most rewarding experience painting was on the “First Vision.” I took it up to Elder Boyd K. Packer. He wanted some changes and so he had me finish it in his office. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin was there too, and it was one of the highlights of my art career to meet and work alongside Elder Packer and Elder Wirthlin.

Q: Isn’t Elder Packer an artist?
A: Yes, he is. He is really good, too.

Q: Do you still do work for the Church?
A: I am not doing as much now. I am painting more of what I want these days. If one is good I will send it up to the Church and they can use it if they want. I think it is time for the younger artists to take over.

Q: What do you do with the paintings that are “not good”? The wood stove?
A: [Laughs] I don’t know. Some turn out like you wanted them to and some don’t. Just because I don’t like them doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t. Everyone has different tastes.

Q: What is your favorite painting you have done?
A: I don’t have a favorite painting. One of the most special was a painting I did of Joy and Chancy just before they died.

Q: What made you paint that particular piece?
A: I am not sure. As an artist you look around for models and the closest people to you become your models. Whatever the reason I finished it right before everything happened. That is a special painting.

Q: Are any of your children artists?
A: Let’s see. My daughter, Sara, loves to paint. She is wonderful. Who knows …

“Behold Your Little Ones” by Del Parson.

Q: How do you go about creating a painting?
A: You start by taking pictures. Lately, however, I have been painting from life. It is hard to find someone to sit for you for very long, but I love the difference. When you are looking at someone you get all of the emotions. It is fascinating to me to see and paint someone in real life.

Q: What are you working on now?
A: I just finished a painting of Christ with Asian children for a gentleman who lives in Hong Kong. And this summer we are headed to Israel with friends to try and get some ideas.

Q: Have you been to Israel before?
A: Once before. We loved it, especially the Sea of Galilee.

Q: What do you like about that area?
A: In addition to its natural beauty, it is the place that Christ started His ministry and I think it would have been a place where He enjoyed some wonderful and happy times before all that lay ahead.

Q: Where do you look for inspiration?
A: I just love art and I am always looking at it. I look at the Old Masters like Michelangelo and to so more recent artists like Norman Rockwell. I also love to see what the other LDS artists are doing. I look at Liz and Greg. I don’t know — just looking at good art inspires me.

“In His Glory” by Del Parson.

Q: What does your wife think of the life of an artist?
A: She is a real sweetheart. She is the business brains. She is the one that makes everything happen so I can just paint.

Q: What do you see yourself doing in ten years?
A: The same. I want to paint things that are meaningful to me, and I would like to paint even more from life. It just feels real and honest.

Q: What do you wish someone would have told you thirty years ago before you got into all this?
A: Not sure. I tell young artists to get the best training they can. Find a mentor and learn everything they will teach you. Keep painting; there are no shortcuts.

Q: What do you hope people feel when they look at your paintings?
A: I hope they feel the love of the Savior. I hope they feel how much He loves them and that He is always right there.

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