Editor’s Note: Last spring Washington state artist Steve Hill introduced himself to us on this blog with his post on May 26th.
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Steve, what’s new in your world as an artist? “As you know, I live in a magical place: Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands, 90 miles north of Seattle and equidistant from Vancouver, B.C. to the south, and Victoria, B.C. to the east. I moved here with a couple artist grads from Washington State University when I was 27. Some people thought I was crazy. What about New York or LA? Well, I took the risk and I was right. Now 50 years and many ‘brush miles’ have gone by. The local library, which is famous in its own right, asked me to do a 50-year retrospective. I was thrilled! It’s presented as ‘Steven R Hill – Plein Air Landscape Artist: A Retrospective’. I included many works I’ve done over the years, plus some historic pieces by my friends.”
Before we talk about your exhibited works, for our library friends, let’s give the Lopez Library a shout-out. What’s notable about the Lopez Library? “The history of the building for one thing. I invite readers to go the library site and see what an amazing architectural structure it is. On the library site it says that the circulation statistics have skyrocketed, the library has been featured in The Library Journal as a ‘star library’ in Washington state, and the New York Times declared the library as an innovator in its 2014 article ‘Breaking out of the library mold’. As I said, I was thrilled to have my 50-year retrospective at this library.”
What changes have you made in your artistic style over the 50 years? “I was an abstract painter working in oils/acrylics and watercolor back in the day, barely selling a half-dozen originals each year. Since 2002, I have become a successful plein air landscape painter, having earned over 97 awards and honors in international juried fine art competitions. I travel the world to paint using pastels (pure earth pigment) and I have taught over 100 workshops in plein air painting.”
What difference has it made as an artist to live on Lopez Island? “The ‘island influence’ has changed everything about my art by giving me a new direction — to find my voice as a landscape painter. It’s impossible to ignore the beauty of these islands, so I’ve chosen to keep that at the center of my work.”
Besides all your wonderful artwork on display at the library there is a rare portrait of you from your private collection. Who is the artist? “The name of the piece is ‘Portrait of Steve, Hill, artist’. Shirley Wright-Johnson (1928-1996) is the artist. She was one of my college artist pals who I set up shop with on Lopez Island so many years ago.”
Congratulations on 50 inspired years of creating remarkable artwork. How can readers see your artwork? “I invite them to visit my website Windswept Studios windsweptstudios.com
All the art on this post are Steve Hill’s originals except for the portrait of him by Shirley Wright-Johnson.
Copyright © 2024 by Steve Hill
Kudos on following your passion. And to have this magical place, namely Lopez Island. For that you must be most grateful. The artwork on your website is captivating! Definitively worthy of checking out and spending time contemplating many of the wonderful original art pieces you have posted there.