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 various series over the years and his "women reading" focus is one that remains constant. There is a quietness to this theme, one that promotes peacefulness and calm while being viewed. This painting introduces a new aspect to the genre, pheasants. With their presence you witness their intrigue in the young woman's reading activity. They provide a secondary narrative with their 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 still painting. A hill with a shade tree provides the perfect inviting location to sit and enjoy the day, complete with a 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 common throughout Steve's career. In this work he displays bright yellow fields, which encompass virtually 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, complete 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 SOLD
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 SOLD
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 developes the concept further. It captures the instant a woman gazes off into the distance, with a look and feel of utter contentment. It takes the smaller "Enveloped" image and portrays her within a full length setting, giving the viewer a larger sense of the forest and 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. They are 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 moving window, which captures many moments all displayed within a crisp snowy landscape. The lone musician plays atop a stone bridge providing a musical background to various activities happening on and near the ice. Steve loves the winter pallet and enjoys transitioning 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.
Bouquet
Acrylic and old wood. Framed 14 x 14 x 1 1/4 inches deep. This painting is lush with rich greens and warm summer tones. A young woman holds a bouquet of flowers from someone special, she holds them delicately with an expression of reflection and affection.
The Letter
Acrylic and old wood. Framed 12 x 12 x 1 1/4 inches deep. This rich vibrant painting shows an image of a young woman encapsulated within an endless landscape, however her attention is not held by its beauty but the words within a letter.
Twilight
Acrylic and old wood. Framed 14 x 14 x 1 1/4 inches deep. This image captures the light changing as the day slowly comes to a close. The vibrant blue and green tones are heavy with drama and emotion and they present as a warm backdrop to the young woman deep in thought as she breaks from reading her book.
