Steve Hanks

Steve Hanks

Steve Hanks – explore von Essen Galerie for the artist reproduction wall art prints. Whether it be wall prints or other art media you will find just what you are looking for.

Hanks is recognized as one of the best watercolor artists. The detail, color and realism of Hanks’ paintings are unheard of in this difficult medium. A softly worn patterned quilt, the play of light on the thin veil of surf on sand, or the delicate expression of a child, the artist captures these patterns of life better than anyone.

Hanks was born into a military family in San Diego in 1949.  His father was a highly decorated WWII Navy flyer.  Hanks grew up playing tennis and surfing along the beaches of Southern California. “The ocean made a strong and lasting impression on me. It was good for the soul to be out in the water—surfing, swimming, or simply getting in touch with its mysterious power.”

Rather than conveying a specific message through his paintings, Hanks prefers to explore memories and emotions. “All art is an escape to somewhere you want to be or a feeling you want to have,” Hanks says. “People see different things in my paintings because we all have different backgrounds and feelings.”

Hanks highly collected nudes convey an introspective solitude that prompts the viewer to think about his or her own life and path. “Women occupy a special niche in my sensitivity. They express more storytelling ability. There’s more magic in them,” he says. Art jurors began recognizing the quality of his work in 1973.

Steve Hanks – 1949-2015