Biography
J. Steven Hunt’s rural Montana childhood gave him a love for the vast expanses of Western landscapes, and that love continues as he includes land and sky themes in his work. He began his professional work as a painter in 1978. Simultaneous to that his professional life had produced a variety of creative ventures, including the establishment of the Steve Hunt Design Group which was also started in 1978. His work in the design world helped him to establish visibility and networking for his efforts to begin producing fine art pieces.
He is comfortable in expressing his vision through acrylics, oils and mixed media projects. As a child he was encouraged by his parent’s creative skills and at the age of fourteen established his own sign painting business. While putting himself through college with his graphic design work, the love of painting never left, as he continually looked for opportunities to paint.
His persistent efforts to practice and learn painting skills essentially made for a self-taught approach, but he also studied oil painting with Northwest artist David Ewart. He has produced a multitude of paintings, some which have hung in businesses and galleries in Seattle; Salem and Sisters, Oregon and a brief show on Santa Fe’s famed Canyon Road. Three-dimensional works, including the Resurrection sculpture on the Corban University campus, are also a part of his portfolio.
“My subjects range from buildings, rural homesteads to landscapes, but the works that move me the most are those that take the viewer to another place—down a country road or across a massive Western landscape. I sometimes work large so that the full effect of that experience can take place,” he states.
After retiring in 2017, his work continues to evolve as he finds new opportunities. His favorite times are when he is able to rise early on a weekend to travel to a high point and watch the sun rise and cover the valley below with warm light. Subtleties of warm and cool light, delicate value shifts and rugged terrain textures all are favorite discoveries and subjects for his camera.
He and his wife, Kathy reside in Salem, Oregon.
He is comfortable in expressing his vision through acrylics, oils and mixed media projects. As a child he was encouraged by his parent’s creative skills and at the age of fourteen established his own sign painting business. While putting himself through college with his graphic design work, the love of painting never left, as he continually looked for opportunities to paint.
His persistent efforts to practice and learn painting skills essentially made for a self-taught approach, but he also studied oil painting with Northwest artist David Ewart. He has produced a multitude of paintings, some which have hung in businesses and galleries in Seattle; Salem and Sisters, Oregon and a brief show on Santa Fe’s famed Canyon Road. Three-dimensional works, including the Resurrection sculpture on the Corban University campus, are also a part of his portfolio.
“My subjects range from buildings, rural homesteads to landscapes, but the works that move me the most are those that take the viewer to another place—down a country road or across a massive Western landscape. I sometimes work large so that the full effect of that experience can take place,” he states.
After retiring in 2017, his work continues to evolve as he finds new opportunities. His favorite times are when he is able to rise early on a weekend to travel to a high point and watch the sun rise and cover the valley below with warm light. Subtleties of warm and cool light, delicate value shifts and rugged terrain textures all are favorite discoveries and subjects for his camera.
He and his wife, Kathy reside in Salem, Oregon.