Steven White

Introduction

Steven White is an undefined, self-taught, true artist. He is a contemporary tonalist painter. His work, created with brushes and palette knives, is done in a blend of representational and impressionistic style. From dramatic skies to whimsical animals, his paintings capture the beauty of nature and evoke heartfelt emotions and joy. His traditional landscapes of Pennsylvania farms and woodlands, Schuylkill River Heritage areas, and the Adirondack Mountains have awarded him with regional and national recognition.

Artist Background

Gifted with a natural ability, his urge to paint became overwhelming in the late 1980's and he began to paint in watercolor. Almost from the beginning, his watercolor paintings were show-worthy and were accepted into prominent shows on a national level. Awards followed as did publications in books and magazines. There comes a time in an artists life when they feel the need to evolve and move in new directions. Within the past ten years Steven felt the need to work in a more opaque medium and in a more representational, impressionistic style. He took some time off and studied impressionistic paintings and techniques. After extensive research on the impressionists interpretation of color theory and experimenting with acrylics and oils he now has ultimately embraced oils and is enjoying a rebirth and a fresh look at nature. Watercolors will always remain a special part of his creativity and he will continue to work in that medium.

Accomplishments and Major Awards in Watercolor

Steven was selected as a finalist in the Landscape category of The Artist Magazine’s Annual Art Competition in 2000, 2003 and 2009. He gained more success earning the Allied Artists of America Award at the Salmagundi Club 24th Annual Juried Art Exhibition for Non-Members and the Trails and Streams Medallion at the Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors 2001, both for his painting titled “Saturday Morning”. His painting “In For The Winter '' received the Edgar A. Thronson Award sponsored by Hardcastle Gallery in October 2003. In March 2004, he was awarded Best of Show at the Perkiomen Valley Art Centers’ 42nd Annual Membership Exhibition for his painting “Sweet Corn”. He was presented with the Violet Oakley Award in May 2004 at the “Side by Side Exhibition '' a joint show held by the National Watercolor Society and the Philadelphia Water Color Society for his painting “Where The Heart Is." He was awarded The Ruth G. Rosenau Silver Medallion for his painting “Keyser Mill '' at The Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors 2004. In 2004 and 2005, he was awarded the Edgar A. Thronson Award, and in 2006, the Schoonover Studios Ltd. Award at the Annual Evening & Afternoon of Fine Art sponsored by Hardcastle Gallery in Delaware. His paintings have been featured on the cover of the Montgomery County Town & Country Magazine and the Equine Marketer and in the April 2004 issue of American Artist. His painting “Saturday Morning” has been published by North Light Books in Splash 7: The Qualities of Light. "Nice Catch" was selected for "Scenes of the Schuylkill Calendar." Exhibitions in Watercolor, Steven has held solo exhibitions at The Hardcastle Gallery, Delaware, The Looking Glass Gallery, Hawley, The Radcliffe Gallery, New Hope, The Living Light Gallery, Lancaster, and The Blue Willow Design Gallery, Blue Bell. He has participated in “two man” exhibitions sponsored by The Arts Guild of Old Forge and the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in NY, as well as a number of group exhibitions including The Chaddsford Gallery, The Goggleworks, The Torpedo Factory, The Reading Public Museum, Immaculata College, Berman Museum of Art, Yellow Springs Art Show, The Audubon Center at Mill Grove and at The Phillips Mill.

Exhibitions & Awards for Oil Paintings

Since his transition to painting in oil, Steven's painting "Spring Thoughts" was accepted in the 2014 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Show. In 2021, his painting "All That's Left" was accepted in the OPA's National Exhibition held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum. That same year, his painting “Sentinel” won the Award of Excellence at The OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition that was held at The Art Center Manatee in Bradenton, FL. In 2022 the OPA accepted “Working On The Railroad'' into the National Exhibition held at The Steamboat Art Museum in Steamboat Springs, CO. Steve’s painting “Sentinel” won the Rayma Spaulding Award at The Hudson Valley Art show exhibited at the Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme, CT. “Sentinel” was also awarded Best of Show by The Berks Art Association in the 2022 Exhibition held at The Goggleworks in Reading, PA., and in 2023 his painting "One Day at a Time '' was awarded Excellence in Oil. This year, “Swamp Things" was accepted in the 2024 OPA National Exhibition held at Mark Arts in Wichita, Kansas. “The Silent Season” was accepted in the 91st Hudson Valley Art Show and was awarded the Georgie Read Barton Memorial Award. It was on Exhibit at The Lyme Art Center in Connecticut during June 2024. "Ice Blue" was accepted in The OPA Eastern Regional Show at The Centerpiece Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina. "Sentinel", one of Steve's most awarded paintings, was accepted in The Stover Mill Gallery Tenth Juried Art Show, where it won Best Submission this October. Steven has been awarded Signature Membership by The Oil Painters of America.

Associations

• Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Signature Member
• Philadelphia Watercolor Society, Signature Member
• Oil Painters Society of America, Signature Member
• American Impressionist Society
• Berks Art Association
• Art Plus Gallery, Member

Artist Statement

"I am a self-taught artist. My paintings are primarily landscapes done in oil or transparent watercolor. I have always been emotionally drawn to render scenes and events where I live. My attachment to the outdoors motivates me to record scenes on paper as a way to preserve what I see disappearing. I feel that an artist should not be afraid to venture outside his comfort zone and explore new water. I believe doing so can only improve his artistic ability. Before an artist can paint, he needs to learn how to see! An artist’s gift is his ability to see something special in an otherwise ordinary scene and, with absence of elegance, dares to repeat nature in all its intricate simplicity." — Steven White