LDS Temples are sacred, timeless places of worship. They provide a place of peace, inspiration, and refuge from the noise and chaos of everyday life. At Altus, we have an enormous gallery of temple photography. But for this blog, we wanted to focus on the painting medium, as it brings a unique touch and insight into what the temple is. These watercolors, oil paints, and even artistic geometric reimaginings masterfully capture the essence of each temple.

Enjoy this special selection from our gallery. See your favorite temple? Or artist? Let us know in the comments!

Abigale Palmer’s paintings have a soft touch to them, not only in the brushstrokes but also in the colors she chooses and the subjects she chooses to paint. You may be familiar with her collection of motherhood-themed art, full of the same devotion and heart that she brings to her portrayals of different Latter-day Saint temples.

Stiff architecture is not always easy to capture in watercolor but Abigale does a lovely job. We love this peaceful, calming painting of the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

Full of bright color, this Draper temple painting highlights the sense of hope that this sacred building brings to those who enter its doors.

Regardless of the rainy days that we face in life, the promises that we make with God remind us that one day the sun will shine again.

The Manti Utah Temple has a unique architecture that easily draws the eye. This painting is a beautiful tribute to this historic building.

Angled toward the Heavens, this view of the Brigham City Temple illustrates a key purpose of the temple: to turn our gaze toward the things of eternity.

This eye-catching piece is full of deep colors and visual contrast. The title reminds us that we can always find shelter from today’s storms in the temple.

The title of Abigale’s painting summarizes, in large part, the message of the temple. Like Peter walking on water, our focus must not remain on the raging storms but rather on the Savior.

The early members of the church put a lot of sacrifice into the temple construction, not the least of which were the women. This painting honors their legacy.

This painting is full of autumn colors and sunshine. The bright yellows, oranges, and reds surround the Salt Lake Temple, making for a cheerful piece.

Standing proudly against a clear sky, this painting highlights the purity so important to the sacred, dedicated ground of the temple.

LDS temple grounds are always full of greenery and life. The bushes and flowers surrounding the Payson temple in this picture give it a springtime feel.

There is something open and honest about the desert landscape. The array of tans and browns against the white temple walls make for a stunning painting.  

Abigale takes an impressionist-like style to this painting of the San Diego Temple. With the fairytale-esque steeples and soft colors, it looks like something out of a pleasant dream.

This modern style painting of the Washington DC Temple takes a more cinematic approach with the red flowers in the foreground. It is a beautiful composition perfect for any home.

Stiff architecture is not always easy to capture in watercolor but Abigale does a lovely job. We love this peaceful, calming painting of the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

Anne Bradham’s detailed artwork graces many homes and public collections. She is painstaking in capturing realistic landscapes and stunning angles, making each unique temple painting a stunning masterpiece. Enjoy her calming color palettes as you explore temples from all around the United States.

The Manti Utah Temple has a unique architecture that easily draws the eye. This painting is a beautiful tribute to this historic building.

A commission for a friend, this peaceful portrayal of the Birmingham Temple now brings inspiration to many individuals and families who feel a special connection to this particular Latter-day Saint temple.

Perky flowers and blue skies always make for a pretty temple pictures. We love this sunshiney painting of the Boston Temple.

This detailed watercolor shows the Bountiful Temple grounds in all their lovelines. Clean, clear, and full of life the grounds welcome all who want to learn more about Christ’s restored gospel.

Painted with her devout brother in mind, this summertime image of the Denver Temple emphasizes the breathtaking Colorado skies.

Spring is in the air in the New Raleigh Temple painting. The pink blossoms and green stretches of grass surround the pristine walls, creating a scene as refreshing as the start of a new day.

Here, Anne focuses on clarity. She chose a view where both the Draper temple and the valley were in clear sight. But it also symbolizes the clarity of an eternal perspective.

Many might see the desert as plain and colorless, but in the eyes of an artist that is not so. Capturing something of the breathtaking Arizona sunrises and sunsets, Anne fills her painting with expression.

This painting captures the gorgeous entrance to the Houston Temple, complete with flowerbeds and fountain.

The detail of the architecture contrasted with the flowing clouds and soft foliage make this Latter-day Saint temple painting visually interesting. It’s an impressive tribute to the Jordan River area.

Unlike most LDS temples, which are built with white-colored stonework, the Logan temple has more of a brown tone to it. Anne captured this unique building and the surrounding grounds beautifully.

For the Manhattan Temple, there are no stretches of lawn or overflowing rows of flowers. It stands proudly on a street corner in the middle of the city and has a more modern look than most. We love the way Anne includes the color of the busy surroundings.

Los Angeles is a gorgeous part of the United States, full of striking cityscapes and palm trees. This painting captures the mediterranean greenery so characteristic of the area. 

Anne’s painting of the Manti Temple is the picture of serenity with the rolling hills and gentle clouds.

Anne was immediately taken by the Mount Timpanogos Temple and its grounds, taking pictures from all different angles. She eventually decided on this one for her painting, wanting to capture a sense of the majesty.

The Nashville Temple is not one of the largest Latter-day Saint Temples, but that certainly does not make it any less stunning. We love Anne’s artistic portrayal.

The misty purples and greens that cover the hills in this piece make the perfect backdrop for the Newport Beach Temple.

Clean and crisp, this Ogden Temple painting is actually angled from the back of the building, looking toward the mountains.

The artist described the Payson temple as both “calming and captivating”. We think the same of her heartfelt painting.

This is one of the few temple paintings where Anne includes the fountains. Orlando’s subtropical climate makes for beautiful landscapes, which she captures here.

This is the first vertical Latter-day Saint temple painting that Anne did. She wanted to create the sense of rising to greater heights, which is how she feels when she visits any temple.

This painting has more muted colors compared to some of the previous we’ve listed. But it gives it its own tranquil sort of appeal that we love.

Reconstructed from the Provo tabernacle after it was damaged in a fire, the Provo City Center Temple holds a special place in the hearts of many members of the Church, including Anne’s.

This bright and cheerful painting of the Redlands Temple mirrors the bright and happy event in the artist’s life when her son and daughter-in-law were married in this very building.

Much time and sacrifice went into the construction of the Salt Lake Temple. In this painting, it rises victoriously above the trees as a beacon to all that God still speaks to His children.

The San Diego temple looks like something out of a fairytale with its tiered steeples and mirror-like symmetry.

And finally we’ll finish this section of the blog off with the temple native to the area where the artist grew up. She was married in this temple, making this painting particularly special to her collection.

Madison Wardle breathes fresh, new life into traditional LDS temple paintings. Her modern, minimalist take on each of the pieces she has completed is popular with youth and young families. If you are looking for something that is inspiring without being intimidating, her artwork is a great option for gifts and home decor.

Laura Wilson’s watercolors of fresh springtime scenes are full of color and life. She has a way of capturing not only what each temple looks like, but also what it feels like to stand on the grounds. Even in the dead of winter when the flowerbeds are not overflowing and fountains are not running, the peace and hope is the same.

Eric Dowdle has a style all his own. With the immense amount of color and detail, Eric’s temple paintings have a fun, playful tone. It is no wonder he has taken to creating puzzles, a medium that fits his artwork perfectly. Eric studies his subject matter in-depth, regardless of what it is. So each of his LDS temple pictures also includes important historical details not always present in more modern depictions.

No two pieces by Greg Collins are alike. Each LDS temple painting or photo has its own personality, medium, angle, lighting, and insight. These are a few from his gallery that we think are particularly inspiring. We love the different textures of the brushstrokes, especially with architectural subject matter that often requires strict, straight lines to be easily recognized.

The artists of these three notable temple paintings do not always choose painting or temples as their focus, but the blog would not be complete without them. Kelsy's and Jesse have a gift for unique lighting that shines through in every piece of artwork, and we love the simple yet profound sense of security and gratitude in Rex and Linda's paintings. Mandy uses lush flowerbeds in all of temple pictures and we just adore the cheerful colors in her painting of the Idaho Falls Temple. Do you have a favorite style?

To see more work by the artists mentioned in this blog, visit our online store! And for more Latter-day Saint Temple artwork and photography, you might also like:

Our Top 20 Manti Temple Pictures

10+ Hopeful Salt Lake Pictures: Spring Blossoms