When I was in 5th grade, I bought a used Jon Gnagy Art Set from my cousin at a yard sale under the condition that she would show me how to use all the stuff in it, which included pastels, charcoal, sketching pencils, blending stumps, etc. She agreed. As she began to describe the kneaded eraser to me, she cautioned me that, "...this won't work unless you knead it." I was confused; I didn't understand. Sensing my confusion, she reworded her explanation. "You have to knead it before it will work." I was really confused now; my fifth-grade brain was full of questions: "If I need it, why wouldn't it work? How does the eraser know when you need it?" Well, I'm happy to say that I'm well past fifth grade now, and that I can deftly use a kneaded eraser. Especially when I need it. :)
I feel most like the real me when I’m drawing or painting. I do art because I love the feel of creating, the simultaneous excitement and calm it bestows, and because I am being true to this curiously wonderful ability, in whatever measure, that was given me. My goal is to someday instruct others in watercolor by writing books and conducting workshops.
I often work from photographs; however, I greatly enjoy plein air work and strive to do more of it. My current work is typified by landscapes, my favorite subject; I’m drawn to all landscapes, but especially to mountains and pastoral scenes of rolling hills. I’ve recently been exploring the portrait and the figure; I participate in a local life-drawing group to develop my skills. I constantly struggle to loosen up my work, and am putting more emphasis on value: getting more light into the painting, balancing values, and composing based on value.
Artists who have influenced me include Danny Gregory, Anne Elsworth, David R. Becker, Joseph Stoddard, Tom Lynch, Charles Reid, and Cathy (Kate) Johnson.
Contact me at steve [AT] stevepenberthy [DOT] com
