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I strive to create images that evoke an emotional response from the viewer. If people feel the chill of the early morning light in a plein air landscape or the weariness of a woman's glance caught in a charcoal sketch, then I've succeeded." -Steve Atkinson
Steve didn't start oil painting until 2002, however, he's been an illustrator for more years than he cares to remember. Steve says, "I love doing illustration and it pays the bills, but painting feeds my soul." His training as an illustrator has given him a solid foundation for his art. The same thing that goes into a successful illustration, goes into a successful painting. But for Steve, something was missing. "Painting has opened up a whole new world to me. Now I'm able to make pictures of the things that matter to me. I'm not interested in painting the trendy or the shocking, it's purely about what moves me as an artist and a human being. Hopefully, it's the same thing that moves all of us who are in this human experience we call Life." He finds he is as comfortable painting the figure as the landscape. For him it's all about the story and emotion behind the painting. To Steve, the pursuit of excellence, is, in itself, exciting. Growth as a Person, and as an Artist, is the ultimate goal. His paintings are a thrilling byproduct of that goal.
Raised in a small steel town in Eastern Ohio, Steve now lives and works near Minneapolis Minnesota. His family and friends have been behind him from the start. His wife Ann, continues to be his biggest supporter, his best critic, and his constant source of inspiration. He finds endless variety in the landscape, and feels most alive when painting on location (en plein air) in the midst of getting down a fleeting light effect before it changes. When he paints, there is no other concern that seeps into his consciousness. It requires his complete focus.
His years of illustration experience have been enhanced through workshops by some of today's best artists, as well as by the work and examples of countless other painters both past and present.
In 2007, Steve won the Jones Purchase Award at the Bosque Conservatory in Clifton, Texas. for his painting, "The Promise of Another Summer". In that same show his painting titled, "Come Back to Bed", took Second Place in the Oil painting category. He also won First Place for his drawing titled "Mending" in the Pastel/Color Pencil division. The Awards Juror for this show was noted painter George Hallmark.In the 2006 Oil Painters of America National Show in Missoula Montana, he received an Award of Excellence for his painting, The Gunsmith. The Awards Juror for this show was OPA master signature member Peter Adams. Steve has participated in many juried exhibitions and has won Awards of Excellence for his fine art as well as illustration. His work has been collected and exhibited throughout the United States.
Feel free to email him with comments or questions, and as always your feedback is welcomed and much appreciated.
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