The Sky’s the Limit by Gunther Haidenthaller

Gunther Haidenthaller

Born in Wels, Austria, I grew up in sight of the Alps, playing among 2000-year-old Roman ruins and leftover WWII bomb craters, spent weekends watching sailplanes and wishing I could fly. My family immigrated to the US when I was 6 years old. A bit of a late bloomer, I learned to ski, rock climb, ice climb, fly fish, skydive and whitewater kayak as an adult. I’ve been drawing all my life, had lots of art classes in junior high and high school. Did a year at Utah State University, studying illustration and advertising design, then served a 2-year proselyting mission back home in Austria for my church. Upon returning to the U.S., I devoted 27 years to graphic design and art direction, gaining experience in photography, offset and screen printing as well (hey–it paid the bills!). I also spent 25 years as a USSF Soccer Referee, Referee Instructor and Referee Assessor. Upon leaving graphic design in 2005, I worked in soccer administration for 10 years, then left to pursue my passion for artistic expression full time. Being Austrian, I am haunted by the ethereal, dreamlike quality of light in the moisture-laden European atmosphere. I strive to express that longing in my art. Who didn’t love coloring with crayons, traveling to magical realms in our minds as kids? I believe that our ability to visualize, imagine, and fantasize is a gift which comes from Him who is literally the Father of our spirits, the Supreme Creator Himself. Life is about all contrasts–I express the inherent balance and beauty in that with my art. I work primarily in oils, watercolors, occasionally in oil pastels, pencil, pen and ink, and yes–crayons!