July 08th, 2025

​Günther Haidenthaller will be presenting on July 8th!

Who I Am
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 and 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 soccer to paint full time.

What I’m About
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. It is my passion. Who didn’t love coloring with crayons, traveling to magical realms in our minds when we were kids? I believe the only thing which sets humans apart from the animals is our ability to visualize, imagine, fantasize, and that gift comes from Him who is literally the Father of our spirits, the Supreme Creator Himself. Life is about contrasts–I express the balance and beauty in that with my art. I work primarily in oils, occasionally in oil pastels, watercolor, pencil, pen and ink, and yes–crayons!