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Show Tropic artist Mark LeFevre displays Utah Wildlife Federation coloring book currently being distributed to schools all oover Utah for use in statewide coloring contest, grades K-6. LeFevre created wildlife sketches for the book. A sample of his popular regular work is in back. Utah Wildlife Federation Uses Local Artist For Its Wildlife Coloring Books TROPIC Born and reared in Tropic, 29-year-old local artist Mark LeFevre's simple, low-key sketches for the Utah Wildlife Federation's new Centennial Wildlife Wild-life Coloring Book actually belie his outstanding skill as one of the nation's most talented upcoming young wildlife artists. But it was fun to do, LeFevre acknowledges and hopes the contest now underway in connection with the coloring book will generate not only a love of wildlife but perhaps ignite a spark for wildlife art in some child. The Utah Wildlife Federation is currently distributing f 10,000 to Utah teachers in grades K-6 throughout the state. Additional Addi-tional coloring books are for sale at retail outlets or by contacting the Utah Wildlife Federation. The coloring book was prepared during Utah's Centennial year as a tribute celebrating 100 years of wildlife management in Utah. Each page contains one of LeFevre's wildlife art drawings and a map of Utah showing where each animal may be found along with background back-ground information about the subject of each drawing. (See Local Artist and Coloring Book on Page 3A) Utah Wildlife Federation Uses Local Tropic Artist From Page 1 The winning entry in each category (K-6) will receive a $100 saving bond, with two runners up in each category receiving $50 saving bond. Their teachers will each receive a $25 cash award and classroom educational supplies donated by participating sponsors. Half the time LeFevre spent on the 30 drawings was done as a donation. His interest in art began as a youngster, with his natural talent encouraged by his teachers and parents. LeFevre says it never ceases to amaze him that people are pleased with his art.. He graduated from Bryce Valley High School in Tropic in 1984 and served an LDS mission in Spokane, Wash. He attended a quarter at Ricks College in Rexburg, Ida. where he studied under renowned artist Leon Parson. He also studied under Perry Stewart, Utah's premier wildlife artist, at Southern Utah University where he is in his second quarter going for a double art composite degree in a four-year program. He has been teaching art part-time at BVHS for the past two years. Like all struggling young artists, he said he never seems to get the time to completely launch his art career. He married the former Barbie Fullmer of Tropic and Cedar City and they have two children, Lonee, 3, and Lexie, 18 months. Both parents have helped in Mark's dad's business, Bryce Pioneer Village in Tropic, and Mark has served as a wildlife guide in Utah and other states. His parents, Reed and Mary LeFevre, have been supportive of his art career, even when they have needed his help in the family business. LeFevre said the guide service pays well and gets him out into the natural surroundings that he loves, but it takes him away from his family too much and he has had to moderate that activity. His dream, of course, is to be able to make a viable living from his art and his fantasy would be to have all the time he needed, "take a good horse, a pack mule, and travel down to Sam Pollock Arch and paint it." His wife has been a "rock and very supportive," willing, he said, to work as manager at the family business and often left with the responsibility of raising their girls on her own for months at a time while he was away working as a hunting guide. But those many months spent working as a guide provided field experience and an intimate knowledge of wildlife, now reflected more accurately in his paintings. He said he has had breaks and opportunities many other young artists never have had that have advanced his career. Grateful for the breaks and encouragement he has received, LeFevre feels an obligation to return to society something in return, and donates each year four pieces of art to such worthy organizations organi-zations as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He has donated also to several Centennial projects including Garfield Gar-field County's own Centennial Calendar Cal-endar for which he sketched the "Too Pooped to Pump" old gas pump in front of the old Nelson home in Cannonville. In commissioned work, LeFevre has illustrated for Trophy Hunter magazine and Eastman's Journal and frequently does privately commissioned work. The coloring book project for the Utah Wildlife Foundation was a fun assignment to reach and teach the state's children about the value of wildlife and perhaps turn up some budding young artist.. The winning entries will be shown and their creators presented with their awards at a Utah Youth for Wildlife Centennial celebration (See Local Artist and Coloring Book on Page 5A) Utah Wildlife Federation Uses Local Tropic Artist From Page 3A set for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the state capitol on June 1. Rules are as follows: (1) The contest is open to all Utah youth in grades K-6, (2) Contest participants may submit only one entry, (3) An entry consists of a page from the coloring book or a photocopy of one of the 25 wildlife species contained in the book that was colored by the entrant, (4) Entries will be judged based on authenticity of colors of the animal, neatness, creativity, and presentation, (5) On the back of submitted entries there must be the following information: entrant's signature, mailing address and phone number, school district, and social security number which is required to order savings bonds, (6) All state winners must be present to receive their awards, (7) All entries submitted become the property of the Utah Wildlife Federation which reserves the right to use submitted entries in its newsletter or for other publicity purposes, (8) The winning and Honorable mention state entries will be determined by a team of independent judges selected by the Utah Wildlife Federation and their decision will be final. Deadline for entries is midnight May 1, 1996. The judges will make their decision by May 10 and the Utah Wildlife Federation will contact the state winners, honorable mentions, and their teachers shortly thereafter. More information is available by calling the Utah Wildlife Federation at 801-487-1946. The' coloring book was a collective effort of the federation, the Utah Governor's office, Utah State Office of Education, Utah Centennial Commission, Utah Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife Resources, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society, and Utah State University Extension Service and College of Natural Resources. |
