ABOUT

Artist Bio

Steve grew up on Vancouver Island B.C. where he went to art school and began his career. While always painting his main focus was ceramics. In 1999 Steve moved with his wife to Las Vegas, Nevada and studied clay with Tom Coleman. His work progressed significantly and was soon carried by many galleries as well as being featured in Clay Times magazine. After nearly five years in Las Vegas, Steve and his wife moved to Portland, Oregon where he was an active member of the art community, showing his work as well as teaching workshops and classes. Since having children Steve has concentrated on painting, pastels being his primary medium. His work is bold and colorful and uses the landscape to inspire his expressive images. Steve and his family are now settled in Bellingham, Washington and he works out of his studio in his home.


Artist's Statement

Growing up on an Island on the West coast of Canada has given me a strong personal connection to the natural world. It is this world that inspires me to express the powerful yet fragile nature of the land and it's impact on our lives. My attempt is to capture this mood and feeling and share it with others.
I use soft pastels for their brilliant colors and textural qualities. It is a very tactile and spontaneous medium, allowing me much freedom in my work. I begin by choosing a pallet and loosely blocking in each element, building up layers of color and texture. I purposefully keep the subject simple so as not to loose it's impact. My work is expressive, using bold colors and strong composition to convey my ideas to the viewer rather than accurate representation. When people see my work I would like to have an emotional impact, grabbing the viewer and holding them for a moment in time.