“About three or four years ago, an impression came to Julie.  This impression gave her a strong desire to paint Emma Hale Smith, the wife of the prophet of the Restoration, Joseph Smith Jr.  Julie wanted her painting to capture a certain feeling about Emma, reflecting who she really was.”

Bennett, Sheri. “Artist Julie Rogers Experience With Painting Emma Hale Smith.” JosephSmithJr. Joseph Smith and Emma Hale Historical Society. 30 September 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2010.
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Julie recently completed a mural in the Santa Clara City Building:

“The story of the mural is one that needs to be told”, says artist Julie Rogers. “I can feel the presence of these people. They want the story told. It is important to them, and I am so excited to do this.”

Chosen from a small group of Utah muralists, Rogers’s work was selected because of its emotion states Kathleen V. Nielson, Santa Clara Heritage and Parks Chairperson. “Either of the other two finalists would have done a great job,” she says, “But Julie’s presentation sketch of the concept captured something that each member of the selection committee felt. We just had to go with it.”

Artist Julie Rogers is from Kanab, Utah, and has developed a keen sense for painting deep emotion into the subjects of her work. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has commissioned many works from Julie and has purchased many others she has felt inspired to paint. Many of her works have been printed in the Church’s Ensign Magazine, and select pieces traveled with the pioneer exhibit Sweetwater Rescue.

For the Santa Clara mural, Rogers is following her lead that it belongs to the entire community. “I want them to feel a part of it,” she says. “By coming and watching it happen, take place as I paint, they will feel connected to it. That’s important.” With this philosophy in play, the painting of the mural will be open for public inspection throughout the process. A mural painting schedule will be available at the Town Hall and on the Santa Clara City website at www.sccity.org beginning December 10, 2008.

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