Description | Size | Price |
Oil on Linen |
50 x 38 in (127 x 96.5 cm) | Sold |
Serigraph (47 colors) | *38 x 31 in (96.5 x 78.7 cm) | inquire |
Serigraph | 38 x 31 in (96.5 x 78.7 cm) | inquire |
*refers to image size—paper size= 50 x 38 in. (127 x 96.5 cm) |
Contact: rgeoffrey@rgeoffrey.com
The "Canyon Jewel" Story
Original Oil Painting, 1982 – Serigraph published 1984
The original painting was created in my basement studio over eight months,
from 1981 to 1982. It took 852 hours to paint.
I can be precise
about the time because I had an actual punch-in time clock
to help me track my hours.
The location of my studio is significant because my studio had a low
ceiling and the canvas was 50 inches tall so the painting
sitting on the easel barely missed the ceiling.
Consequently, I could not stand when I painted but rather,
had to sit flat on my cold basement floor and wrap my legs
around the easel to work on the bottom section of the
painting. You can imagine the massive discomfort and
pain associated with such an operation, especially over the
protracted 800-plus hours of artistic self-flagellation.
The result was worth
it, agony and all…
When I finally finished the painting, I took it to the LDS Museum to see
if there was any interest in purchasing it. As it turned
out, there was substantial interest due to its historical
significance related to the Mormon Pioneers and the epic
“Hole-in-the-Rock Road” expedition of 1879. Naturally, the
museum wanted me to donate the painting. However, being a
chronically underfunded artist who had to pay rent and buy
food, donation was not a viable option for me. I had asked
for $60,000 for the painting. The museum committee had me
wait in the anteroom for some 45 minutes while they debated
the merits of such a purchase. Eventually, an Elder and
museum official came out and apologized to me saying that
the museum really wanted the piece but, if they paid my
asking price, that would use up their entire acquisition
budget for the year so regretfully, they had to decline. So,
I then showed them the serigraph of the painting. Again,
they wanted me to donate the work and again I had to
decline, for the starving artist reason mentioned above.
This time, however, we came to an agreement and the museum
purchased the print (and thus, was able to pay my rent for a
month). Amen.
The Canyon Jewel serigraph was later displayed in the Whitehouse and
President Reagan wrote me a nice letter saying that it would
be part of the Reagan Presidential Library along with my Red
Canyons serigraph he had displayed in 1982.
Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko was sent
a Canyon Jewel serigraph via the LA Embassy- this was during
the turbulent time of transition from President Chernenko to
President Gorbachev, and I never found out whether or not he
had received it. For all I know the serigraph was deemed a
suspicious package, and blown
up in the embassy parking lot… however,
Business magnate, Philanthropist, and unofficial envoy to the Soviet Union
for Presidents Nixon through Reagan, CEO of Occidental
Petroleum, Dr. Armand Hammer, was also presented with a
Canyon Jewel serigraph and he wrote me a very kind letter
wherein Dr. Hammer, mentioned my letter to President
Chernenko, that he thought my letter to President Chernenko
“should indeed please him as a reflection of most American’s
hope for friendship and peace.”
Ironically, the original painting “Canyon Jewel” was stolen and I was
never paid for it. I intend to donate all rights and title
to the painting to the LDS Church History Museum. So, 40
years later, a donation after all… |