Stephen is a Classical Realist through and through. His first training introduced him to drawing via studies of plaster casts taken from antiquities. Draughtsmanship remains paramount to his working method. Having created with a variety of media - gouache (opaque watercolor), casein, oil, acrylic, gold leaf (gilding) and egg tempera - he has produced murals, portraits, decorative painting (architectural and furniture), small illuminated images, painted fabric (for pillows) and etchings. The project suggests which specific media to employ and throughout, he strives for an uncompromising, high level of excellence of execution.
Art education began in the local studio of Mirenda and Gordon Keyte and continued at The American Academy of Art (Chicago, Illinois) and in the private teaching studio of Minnesota artist, Richard Lack. A year living in London (England) and Athens (Greece) provided invaluable experience studying in museums, private collections and directly from antiquities. In the 1980s studies at The Isabel O’Neil Studio For The Art Of The Painted Finish introduced him to the fine craft of decorative painted finishes and gilding while a grant from The Iowa Arts Council allowed the amazing opportunity to study and work with the restoration painters at The Iowa Capital Building in the Governor’s private office. His work can be found in diverse locations: public spaces and private collections all over the US including St. Agustin’s Church and St. Agustin’s School, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Equitable Building, Iowa Savings Bank (Carroll, Iowa) and FirstBank (Dallas,Texas).