Steve Hanks: scenes from American life

Mom with a baby in her arms, a baby doing his first guitar tests, father and son returning to the ranch, a thoughtful girl by the window ... These are the plots of the paintings of Steve Hanks. Simple, everyday and at the same time bewitching.

Biography

American artist Steve Hanks was born in a San Diego veteran family in 1949. However, the son did not follow in the footsteps of his father, a naval pilot, holder of orders and medals. He grew up an ordinary boy, enjoying the proximity of the ocean: swimming, surfing, playing outdoor games in the sand.

steve hanks

When Hanks was a high school student, the family moved to New Mexico. There, away from friends and the ocean, he drowns the pain of parting through painting. It is here that the future artist enters the Academy of Arts. But soon he showed an unprecedented interest in the image of a man, and especially the female body. Then he continues his studies at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Auckland.

For some time after graduation, Steve Hanks worked as a decorator in a camp for girls near New Mexico. The small salary did not bother him. The main thing is that here he had a lot of free time and could experiment in search of his individual creative style.

Having gained first recognition as an artist, Steve got married. Today he lives with his wife and three children in Albuquerque, all in the same state of New Mexico.

Creative Searches

steve hanks artist

Steve Hanks tried different techniques. He painted with a pencil, but the pictures were too realistic, flat. He made attempts to paint works in the spirit of impressionism with oil, but after a while an allergy to paint appeared, and the idea had to be abandoned. Then the artist tried to work in watercolor. Thanks to his experience in working with a pencil and oil, he develops his unique watercolor painting techniques . The works written with these paints look so realistic as if they were made in oil.

Technique and storylines

There are artists who express their demons through creativity. Steve Hanks is an artist who brings light and harmony to the world. In his works, he adds a touch of positive to everyday life. The works are filled with comfort, tenderness, pleasure, bliss. That's the whole Steve Hanks. The photo of the artist, from which he looks at us with a kind, inspiring faith in the future look, once again emphasizes his true essence.

steve hanks photo

A distinctive feature of Steve's works is a skillful play of light and shadow. He began literally practicing the techniques of clearly conveying the game of sunlight to the first watercolor work. The painting "Daisies and Lace" is filled with a romantic atmosphere and calm rays of the sun. Steve Hanks in almost every picture conveys the nuances of lighting. Sunlight is an independent topic in his works. Rays manifest everywhere - they seep through things and objects, fill with themselves the entire space.

The genre in which the artist creates, he himself calls "emotional realism." He depicts real pictures of our life, as if illustrating a family photo album. Moreover, each work is filled with emotions - not vivid and stormy, but pacifying. And that is why most of his paintings depict girls, pregnant women, and children. After all, this is what saturates the world with emotions, which makes life vibrant. His works seem to snatch pictures from everyday, everyday life and allow you to look at them from a different angle. Appreciate the present moment, hug loved ones, enjoy life and thank God for the small but daily happiness that we have, but often don’t appreciate - that’s what you want to do by looking at the artist’s paintings.

Confession

american artist steve hanks

Radiant, life-affirming watercolors have long earned worldwide recognition. Twice winner of the Arts for the Parks Marine Art Award of Excellence, Hanks is one of the most respected artists of the end of the last century. And for three consecutive years, from 1994 to 1996, he was honored to be the best master in the United States. Steve was awarded the National Society of Watercolorists, and also entered the top five residents of America, elected by the Art Hall of Fame. One of the most significant awards for the artist himself is a gold medal awarded to him by the National Academy of Western Art. In addition, Steve Hanks just settled in the top 10 best artists in America. US Art Magazine annually includes him on this honorary list.


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