Justin Hayward was nearly 5 when he began to draw; it all started at church. "I grew up Baptist," he said, "and during the sermons I'd bother my little brother, so my parents gave me a sketchbook and pen."

His years of religious devotion to drawing have now paid off. Hayward, an adjunct faculty member in the Brigham Young University Art Department, is one of seven finalists in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, sponsored by the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

With over 4,000 entrants in the prestigious competition, Hayward's selection is quite an accomplishment. "They'll be 50 to 60 pieces of art in the final show," he said. The first-place winner receives $25,000 and a commission to paint a portrait that will become part of the NPG's collection.

After detailing the competition's history and exhibit schedule, Hayward affably added that seventh place was worth $1,000. "So," he said, "at the least I'll get $1,000 and a free trip to Washington, D.C."

His painting, "Young Marriage," is 72 inches deep and 48 inches wide. The composition is based on "The Arnolfini Wedding: Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride" (1434) by Jan van Eyck.

Hayward's piece depicts his and his wife's experiences as newlyweds and students living in New York City. Positioned throughout the portrait are symbols associated with a young marriage, such as expectation, uncertainty and sexual desire.

In the painting, Hayward sits in a chair on the right, wielding a paintbrush like a king's scepter. His wife, on the left, stands behind her chair, which holds several books (she is currently finishing up her law studies). She wears a bright red coat, closed up tight. A potted, blooming lily rests beside her; on the floor is a turtle, and on the windowsill, a crow.

According to the artist, he was always enrolled in advanced art classes, even in elementary school. He would take summer courses, or have his teacher assign projects well beyond that required by other students. "I just always loved art," he said. "I was a lot better at it than math or science."

Hayward attended Alma College in Michigan (no relation to the LDS Church) on an athletic scholarship. While there he also studied art. "I've always been interested in sports and art," he said, "but I got hurt after my first year, so my football career was through."

His wife (instrumental in Hayward's conversion to the LDS faith) was attending BYU, so he followed her to Provo and eventually graduated with a BFA in Illustration. His goal, however, wasn't to be an illustrator. "I just love drawing and painting the figure, and the illustration department at the Y really focuses on that."

After graduation he went to the New York Academy of Art. "I spent two years getting my MFA and then went to Italy to study portrait painting at the Florence Academy of Art."