Testigo Ocular Celestial

Honorable Mention in the 2021 Book of Mormon Central Art Contest.

Watercolor, pencil, and pastels on paper

A4

In this piece, I wanted to give the viewer a different angle into the First Vision through the reflection in the eye of Prophet Joseph Smith, who was an eyewitness. This perspective emphasizes that it wasn’t a dream or a story, but rather that Joseph truly saw our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in the Sacred Grove in 1820.

[Google Translate] The artist was born on May 1, 1989, in Delicias, Chihuahua, in northern Mexico but grew up in a town called Meoquí, which gave him great appreciation and love for nature, culture and indigenous peoples. During his childhood he won a painting competition at the national level. At only 5 years old, he began to develop the ability to draw, however, in the town there was not much artistic education, so he only continued to make drawings—cartoons for teachers, relatives and acquaintances. It was not until he returned from his full-time mission for his church that he decided to study at the University of Art in Chihuahua City, and it was there that he developed his love for painting. Since then he has participated in regional, national and international exhibitions. In 2020 he was awarded 3rd place in Book of Mormon Central’s annual contest.

He currently resides in Bonn, Germany, and is happily married and has a child of 2 years old. He takes enjoyment in his work as a visual arts teacher, which was his field of study. Much of his art focuses on his personal principles and beliefs, and his goal is to reach thousands of homes with his paintings and to help preach the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints.