Steve Hanks
Born in Ventura, California, Steve Hanks moved to New Mexico with his family while in his teens but returned to California in the 1960s to study art at the University of California at Berkeley and the Academy of Art in San Francisco. This was the period where he discovered life drawing and Hanks completed his degree at Oakland's California College of Arts and Crafts. As a teenager, Ha
...see more »nks loved sports, especially tennis and surfing, feeling that he had a strong spiritual feeling for the sea. That connection is still evident in his portrayals of the ocean in many of his works.
Hanks began publishing his art in 1973 in various forms, including posters, drawings, limited edition prints, water colors, oil painting and stone lithographs. An allergic reaction to oils directed him toward watercolors as a consistent medium. As a child of the 60s, he still enjoys listening to Bob Dylan and other 60s musicians while painting.
Hanks is ranked today as one of America's top artists by U.S. ART. His paintings show realistic and sensitive images of women and children, often members of his own family. The love he has for his subjects shows through in the creative and luminous details he portrays in each picture. His watercolors are soft and flowing with an intricate display of light. They evoke emotion and inspiration and challenge the viewer to become involved.
His book "Poised Between Heartbeats" contains 170 of his paintings and has won many tributes from collectors and critics alike. He was recognized with the Arts for Parks Marine Art Award of Excellence in 1990 and 1994, has been one of the Arts for Parks top 100 artists since 1989, and received the National Watercolor Society's Merit Award in 1992. The National Academy of Western Art awarded him a gold Medal in 1992, was named Artist of the Year in 1999 by the Pacific Rim Show and was selected to the U.S. Art Hall of Fame in 2000. Continuing recognition includes recognition in the June 2002 issue of Décor Magazine and Feature Artist selection for the 7th annual Andre Agassi Grand Slam for children in 2002. Hanks lives in New Mexico with his wife and children.
Partial list of works:
Candle in the Wind
Centered
Count Your Blessings
Her Time
Hold On To Your Dreams
Interior View
Like Diamond In The Sun
Moving On
Nature's Beauty
On the Warm Side of Winter
Peeking Out
Picking Daisies
Sharing in Silence
Sheer Grace
Time with Dad
Time with Mom
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Darla D. of Carmel, Indiana says:
"Hi! Wanted you to know that we did receive the Norman Rockwell print yesterday afternoon. You worked so hard on this for us and I wanted to be sure to send you a special thank you for all that you did to make our celebration so special. The matting & framing make a beautiful combination. Thank you for your expertise in selecting the very best combination!"