Rightfully recognized by art critics as one of the best artists modern watercolourists. Details, colors, emotionality of his works are simply amazing. Steve calls his style "emotional realism". He often does not show the faces of the models to leave the viewer free rein for the imagination.
Of course, women in the art of Steve Hanks are the main ones. And we are sure that he made the right choice.
1. “Emotions are what I portray. Realism is how I do it."
5. “I try to be very responsible and add to my creativity positive images into our world."
7. "I hope that my work brings people a sense of greater comfort, enjoyment and understanding of life."
8. “Sunlight is one of my favorite things to work with. I am fascinated by how it affects the perception of things, how it floods the whole room, bringing its own color, transforming it. Often my paintings are really more about sunlight than anything else."
Steve Hanks (Steve Hanks) is recognized as one of the best watercolor artists of our time: he managed to achieve realism, detail and color reproduction unheard of for this complex technique. With the help of watercolor, no one can so accurately convey the softness of a slightly worn checkered tartan, the play of light on the lace of sand, or all the tenderness of a baby's face.
Myself Hanks calls own style"emotional realism". The faces of the characters in his work are often hidden in the shadows, sometimes he generally draws people from the side or from the back, so that the faces are not visible. This is done not so much to allow the viewer to think out the face of the hero, but to try to convey emotions through the figure, body, silhouette. Part of "handwriting" Hanks- back light. “Sunlight is one of my favorite objects. I am fascinated by the way the rays shine through objects, how the light floods the room and fills it with color. In fact, often in my paintings, light is the main thing. actor, everything else - insofar as.
Was born Steve Hanks in 1949 in San Diego, in a military family. His father is a veteran of the Second World War, a naval pilot who has earned many orders. Hanks grew up on the coast of southern California, played tennis and surfed. “The ocean has greatly influenced my life. human soul you really need to be in the water: swim, sail, in any way come into contact with mystical power ocean."
When Steve finished school, the family moved to New Mexico. There he decided to study applied art. However, at the Academy of Arts, he discovered that he was attracted by the difficult task of depicting human body. He ended up graduating from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. And the sixties raged around ...
Judging by the works, the chaotic time and the reassessment of values by the whole society also influenced the young artist. He took a job as "caretaker" at a girls' holiday camp near Cuba, New Mexico. They paid mere pennies, but they gave free housing, and all winter Steve was left to himself. At first he drew with a pencil, then painted with oils. Oil paintings were made in the style of impressionism, pencil drawings- pure realism. But then an allergic reaction to oil paints appeared, and Hanks I had to try watercolor. The experiment was a success - using the tricks he learned while working with oil paints and pencil, the artist created watercolors no less perfect than oil paintings. His first work was the romantic painting "Daisies and Lace" - it depicts a lace dress in calm sunlight.
Having married and becoming the father of three children, the artist discovered new source inspiration. During these years, many domestic scenes were added to his paintings, painted with great love and tenderness.
Critics, galleries, collectors - all have long recognized the achievements Steve Hanks. He was awarded the awards of the National Watercolor Society, the gold medal of the National Academy Western Art, and the U.S. Art Magazine consistently lists him as one of America's Top 10 Artists.
Art is born from an inner sense of direction. It all starts with overestimating your life, looking for the source that gives rise to this sacrament. I consider myself an "emotional realist". Emotions are what I portray. Realism is how I do it.
One Step At A Time
A World For the Children
The Beauty of the Hot Tub
Beyond the Path
All in a Row
In Mid Stream
Steve Hanks (Steve Hanks) is an amazing artist, he is recognized as the best, contemporary watercolorist in the world. About the work of Steve Hanks, you can only talk in superlatives, the degree of his art and talent is so high. The artist managed to achieve the unheard of for watercolor technique realism, detail and color reproduction.
Steve Hanks was born in San Diego in 1949. After leaving school, he entered Art Academy in the city of San Francisco, studied for a year, worked as a graphic designer. Later he graduated from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland.
Steve Hanks experimented with different types colors, with various techniques(watercolor and acrylic paints, pencils, oil). But the artist became allergic to paints, he began to paint in watercolor. Steve Hanks has created watercolors as perfect as oil paintings, achieving incredible craftsmanship and realism. He created his own unique style, which Hanks himself calls "emotional realism." “Emotions are what I want to portray. Realism is just my way of doing it.”- Steve Hanks.
All of Steve Hanks' work is permeated sunlight. He brilliantly conveys light, shades, shadows. His watercolors are saturated with color.
“Sunlight is one of my favorite objects. I am fascinated by the way the rays shine through objects, how the light floods the room and fills it with color. In fact, often in my paintings the light is the main character…”- Steve Hanks.
Steve Hanks has received numerous awards, prizes, and titles for his work, including National Watercolor Society Awards, the National Academy of Western Art Gold Medal, and U.S. Art Magazine consistently lists him as one of America's Top 10 Artists. Steve Hanks was one of five Americans selected for the U.S. Art Hall of Fame in 2000.
The artist currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife and three children.
Children and women are depicted in the paintings of Steve Hanks with special tenderness and sensuality.
Steve Hanks was born in San Diego, California, USA in 1949. WITH early childhood he spent a lot of time on the ocean coast, he later admitted: "The ocean made a strong and lasting impression on me. It was good for the soul to be out in the water-surfing, swimming, or simply getting in touch with its mysterious power".
When the boy was already in school, the family moved to New Mexico. After school, Steve enters the Art Academy in San Francisco, which he graduated with honors. In 1976, he began working as a decorator at Campfire Girl's camp (New Mexico). For several years, Hanks has been experimenting with different techniques: paints in oils and watercolor paints, draws in pencil, works with acrylic paints. Gradually, he develops his own style, which the artist calls "emotional realism." Most often he paints people, and these are not just portraits, but complex compositions in which details play a big role.
Speaking about lighting, for example, Hanks emphasizes: "Sunlight has become one of my favorite subjects. I'm fascinated by how it filters through things, how it floods a whole room with color. Often my paintings are really more about sunlight than anything else".
Hanks is consistently in the top 10 American artists(according to polls by U.S. Art Magazine). "I've tried to be responsible and put positive images out into the world. I hope that my work brings comfort, pleasure and insight into people’s lives", - these words probably contain the most accurate description of his work. Many critics recognize Steve Hanks as one of the best contemporary watercolorists.
