Large Measure Woodblock Series
08/04/2023
Overview of Series
These works are based on paintings Steve has done over the years, isolating various compositions within them. These cropped subjects then become the focus for the paintings. They are common subjects which Steve has repeatedly explored and changed, each one constantly evolving with the use of gels and washes. The pieces take images painted directly onto wookblocks, mixing them together with the fragmented old barn wood. The central image, surrounded by the old wood, is not confined or held by the frame, but rather flows throughout the old wood and defines the shape of the frame. TO SEE THE IMAGES IN THEIR ENTIRETY PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE, WHEN USING A LAPTOP OR DESKTOP.
In the Company of Pheasants
Acrylic and gel on Canvas and old wood. Framed. 20 x 28 1/2 x 2 inches deep. Steve has revisited many series over the years and his "Women Reading" is one that remains a constant. There is a quietness to this theme and they promote a peacefulness and calm upon viewing. This painting introduces a new spin on the genre, pheasants are present and seem to be intrigued with the young woman's reading activity. They provide a secondary narrative with a quiet interaction.
The Perfect View
Acrylic and gel on wood. 14 1/4 x 14 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches, framed. Wonderful green tones fill this warm and still painting. A hill with a shade tree provides the perfect location to sit and enjoy the day, complete with blue sky and an endless horizon.
Fields of Ochre
Acrylic and gel on wood. 14 1/2 x 9 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches, framed. This Wonderfully bright harvest painting is a scene that is common throughout Steve's career. In this series he displays bright yellow fields encompassing most of the entire painting as the ochre tone flows into and over the wooden segments.
Little Village
Acrylic and gel on wood. 14 x 10 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches, framed. This warm little landscape is bordered with green hues in the sky and within the water. It shows laborers in a field diligently working to bring in the harvest with a little village with a tall church and cottages tucked away in the trees awaiting their return.
French Rose
Acrylic and gel on old wood. Framed 12 x 14 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches deep. Women and flowers Series This side profile of a young woman holding a rose is a rich inviting presentation. The background is full of vibrant colour and forms, which seem to encompass her as if giving her a warm hug. Her gaze is on the flower, but her smile shows there is so much more to the story.
The Sheep Herder
Acrylic and gel on old wood. Framed 11 x 9 1/2 x 1 1/4 inches deep. This small landscape features rich autumn colors and values. A lone figure is standing at the edge of a shallow bank, as the water swirls and flows downward through a creek, and the sheep he is guarding graze in the midday shade.
Lost in Thought
Acrylic and gel on old wood. Framed 14 1/2 x 12 x 1 1/2 inches deep. Women and flowers Series. The young woman in the painting is holding a delicate flower, and yet, it in turn is not holding her attention in the least.
Young Musician
Acrylic and gel on old wood, Unframed 9 1/2 x 12 x 1 1/8 inches deep. This small study, features a young inquisitive child beginning his journey into the world of music. It starts with curiosity and builds. This painting is created without a full frame. The 1/2 inch wooden border leaves the framing entirely up to the buyer.
Plein Air Concerto
Acrylic and gel on wood and canvas. 21 1/2 x 23 1/2 x 1 3/8 inches, framed. Combining musicians into the painted landscape has long been a fascination of Steve's. With them, an immediate stillness and peaceful presence emerges. Steve works intentionally to create a reflective and tranquil image that evokes peace and serenity. The young musician is not the primary focus of this piece, but rather she blends into the forest, not taking away from the grandeur of the natural geometric shapes and movement of water in the landscape. She is an accompaniment in this composition.
Enveloped
Acrylic and gel on wood. 161/2 x 17 1/2 x 1 3/8 inches, framed. This painting is all about the things that are important to Steve. "Enveloped" shows a woman glancing out from the encompassing forest, where she presents a subtle smile of content. She wears this emotion based on her circumstances. She is completely at peace where she is. Surrounded by the trees that give her security. For Steve the forest symbolizes the pillars in his life: Family, Commitment and Faith. With these he is forever enveloped.
Soft Meadow
Acrylic and gel on wood. Framed, 10 1/4 x 13 x 1 1/2 inches deep. Finding a quiet place to enjoy a letter is a common theme in many of Steve's paintings. This bright and inviting painting is all about the enjoyment of being in the landscape.
With Reflection
Acrylic and gel on canvas and wood. Framed, 21 x 27 1/2 x 1 7/8 inches deep. This painting takes a deeper look at a previous work titled "Enveloped" and develops the concept further. It captures the moment of a woman gazing off into the distance with a look and feeling of utter contentment. It takes the smaller "Enveloped" image and portrays her in a full length setting giving the viewer a larger sense of the forest and the landscape.
Suonare
Acrylic and gel on canvas and wood. Framed, 18 1/2 x 22 x 1 7/8 inches deep. "Suonare" is Italian for, "To Play". It's a painting that presents a delicate balance between a dedication to mastering something, while enjoying it intensely. The flute is the perfect instrument to showcase this. It has a simple design, a mouth hole and 6 finger openings, yet when played to perfection the instrument has the ability to melt ones heart with it's whispering and graceful sound. Enjoyment is at the heart of this painting. The figure has a hint of a smile while remaining engaged and dedicated in the moment. This emotion is what Steve is striving to achieve in each of his pieces. It can be difficult at times, but when it does appear it is found in this image of contentment.
Forest Rehearsal
Acrylic and Gel on Canvas and old Wood 30 x37 x 2 1/4 inches deed. Framed. This painting is a weave of undulating and heavy rich wood form. It presents four musicians practicing for a recital, within the privacy of the woods playing only for a curious audience of ducks, far away from critical ears.
Harmony
Acrylic and gel on wood and canvas. 27 1/2 x 32 x 1 1/8 inches, framed. A lone musician plays and practices her piece of music to perfection before presenting it to others. She is alone in the forest, hidden away and shielded so she may remain focused. With it's heavy wood design, this shallow relief sculpture presents the viewer a format of multiple levels, full of textures and form.
Symphony of One
Acrylic and gel on wood and canvas. 22 x 28 x 1 1/2 inches, framed. This Winter scene is narrative or a moving window as it depicts many moments displayed in a crisp snowy landscape. A lone musician plays a top a stone bridge as she engages and provides a musical background to all the many activities taking place on and around the ice. Steve loves this winter pallet and enjoys moving into his winter series each year.
Serene
Acrylic and gel on wood. 14 x 12 x 1 1/8 inches, framed. This summer landscape provides rich warm tones throughout and encapsulates the beauty of nature. In it a lone boater enjoys the views from the water, content in the activity of the slow bobbing motion of his wooden vessel.
Tranquil
Acrylic and old wood. Framed 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches deep. This painting is part of the women and flowers series, it is one of the many themes that Steve has been developing over many years.
Tranquil #4
Acrylic and old wood. Framed 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches deep. This painting has a richness to it that encompasses so much of the heavy layering that Steve loves to explore. The rough glazed wood and the warmth of the wheat fields, connected with the tones and values in the young woman's face, all tell a story.
Prussian Blue
Acrylic and old wood. Framed 12 x 15 x 1 1/4 inches deep. This small painting is part of a continuing series of woman and flowers. The image is done with heavy gels and multiple layers of washes, providing a rich overall appearance.
