“All art is an escape to somewhere you
want to be or a feeling you want to have. People see different things in my
paintings because we all have different backgrounds and feelings.”
- Steve Hanks
Steve
Hanks, whose paintings sensitively portray women and children, spent his
childhood on the coast of California. His inspiration to paint developed in
his late teens, after his family moved from Ventura County to New Mexico.
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Contemplating the Necessary Steps
The beauty of a painting by Steve Hanks is just as often matched by the
thought and story behind it. Contemplating the Necessary Steps
is one of a series of paintings that Hanks created as expressions of the
healing process. Throughout, as the model makes her journey, she climbs
higher and higher up the staircase. Both One Step at a Time and
A New Beginning are other fine art editions that are part of
this series.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“Most people will look at Holding the Family
Together and see it as a reminder of a happy family vacation,” says
artist Steve Hanks. “but for me it is about the man in the painting, his
position in society and how the pendulum has swung the other way and put
men in this position—trying to keep the family together while they’re
all going in different directions.
Limited Edition Masterwork Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“This painting is not about a woman I’d like to be
with, but rather it’s homage to a town that is so very close to my
heart,” says artist Steve Hanks. At the risk of sounding like the
Chamber of Commerce, Aspen is a very special place, averaging over 300
days of sunshine year and yes, the skiing is legendary. It’s also home
to Steve Hanks’ original painting gallery and decades of wonderful
memories for the artist and his three children. Hanks’ command of
watercolor craft is on full display in this portrayal of confident
anticipation of a great day on the slopes. If you’ve ever been here, or
hope to go, this love letter to Aspen will ensure that you hold onto
that dream.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
Like
most of artist Steve Hanks’ paintings, there are rich layers of meaning
and emotion in Field of Dreams, his entry into the 2012 prestigious,
national invitational Prix de West. Everything in this vertical
composition points to the young girl’s dreams as the eye is drawn from
her Western boots to her hair to the horse’s face to the road that
carries you finally to the shining mountains on the horizon. The
connection between the girl and her horse is intimate and we can
practically smell the animal and feel its breath on her shoulder. Strong
and absolutely trustworthy, the beloved horse is her most faithful
confidant. “This painting is about hopes and dreams that are shared and
communicated in silence. Art can do that, too,” says Hanks. This
spectacular landscape of a young woman’s dreams will inspire everyone
who sees it and warm any room in your home.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
Two artists
make accomplished perfection appear effortless. We see the
dancer’s mastery of balance and grace through the artist’s
command of shape and form and the play of light on and about her
through his superb mastery of watercolor paints. This Fine Art
Edition is the finishing touch in the creation of a truly
elegant living space.
Limited Edition Giclée on
paper
handsigned by the artist
This truly beautiful painting captures the
essence of the concept of starting anew. Sitting on a porch
overlooking the Pacific, a new day arises around an obviously
introspective woman.
Limited Edition Anniversary Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
The carefree step of a barefoot young girl
expresses the hope of youth and innocence as the breezy summer
afternoon dries out all that remains of the rain. The graceful
architectural details frame her pathway as she strides into a
bright future.
Limited Edition Anniversary Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“On the
surface, the story behind this painting is straight forward,”
begins Steve Hanks. “This young woman has decided that it is
time for her to leave home and make her own way in the world.
The choice is hers and she is confident and self assured in her
decision. But as it is with most of my paintings, there is a
deeper, personal story to it.
“Years ago I
painted a piece called Traveling with Dad. It showed me holding
my daughter on an empty platform at a deserted railway stop. I
painted that image at what was, without a doubt, the lowest
point of my life. I was on my own raising two kids and the
painting truly captured that feeling of the unknown future that
we were heading toward. You’ll notice that this young woman
carries the same suitcase I had on the platform.”
“Today, I am
a long way down that track and it turns out our stop was in New
Mexico. I have always painted the mountains, the sea and rivers
and lakes so it seemed to me for the longest time that
Albuquerque was a place that I was going to either pass through
or leave from. Well, the years passed and time has revealed that
this was our destination. Albuquerque is our home. That little
girl I once could easily hold in my arms is now grown up. The
future is hers. She is going to be making her own decisions,
which will determine the places she is headed toward.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
Nestled in the
splendor of Banff National Park lies a Canadian national
treasure¯the emerald colored waters of Lake Louise. “Until you have
the chance to go there, you can’t understand just how beautiful
Canadian Rockies are. To me,” emphasizes Steve Hanks, “this place is
Canada.”
Hanks is
renowned as one of the finest figurative artists painting today.
That description understates his skills as a landscape artist and
the importance he puts on the specific environments he creates for
the figures he paints. “The title of this painting really says it
all, Canadian Beauty. A striking woman with auburn hair relaxes at
the water’s edge in mid-summer, with Chateau Lake Louise and the
jagged snow-capped mountains in the background. The blend of
serenity and majesty that this place radiates is awe-inspiring.”
The character of
Banff and of the Canadian Rockies is completely different than that
of their American counterparts because of their geography and
geology. Most dramatically, they appear steeper and more jagged
because of the extent to which the limestone and shale has been
carved out by glaciers. The cooler and wetter climate that enhanced
the formation of these glaciers created moister soil for lush
forests and larger rivers as well.
The Chateau Lake
Louise is one of the iconic railway hotels built in the early 1900s
by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The lake itself is fed by mountain
streams and is given its turquoise hue by fine particles of rock
ground to nearly microscopic size by the glaciers above.
Limited Edition Masterwork Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“This is a recent
painting I did on Clayboard,” says artist Steve Hanks, “a surface that
still amazes me as a watercolour artist. The colors are brighter, the
rainwater and reflections are even more realistic.”
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
"Time of Wonder" conveys the unknown possibilities
in the future of a single young life as he faces the seemingly infinite
ocean. “What I like most about this painting is the way the overcast,
misty sky affects the light and colors, like the clarity of the waves
breaking behind the boy and the fog sitting on the mountains in the
background,” says the artist. “It’s a very solitary, magical place and
this youngster is not standing still in this vast landscape. He’s moving
forward.”
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
Much of Steve Hanks’ art carries subtle symbolism
with children as the focal point. These paintings are filled with his
hopes for the young. After all, what is more pleasing than a baby bath,
except possibly two babies in the bath and in this particular painting,
they are a friend’s fraternal twins, a boy and girl. Curiosity and
fascination with water begins at the very beginning. These two are
splashing, patting and swirling their way to figuring out the physical
world and each other. Is one leading the way or is the other giving
orders? This simple summer backyard scene by artist Steve Hanks will
find a home in your playroom, nursery or bathroom.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
Recently artist
Steve Hanks has been working on a series of paintings he refers to
as “There are Angels Among Us” wherein he explores the idea of
guardian angels in our lives. These may be angels of inspiration,
angels of beauty, angels who provide direction or protection in our
lives and the spirits of angels who lift us and sometimes even carry
us. Mostly he is creating a tribute to the great role models and
influences in his own life.
Boundless has a
compelling composition. Her gesture like a metaphor for the cross,
this joyous beauty leaps into a shaft of sunlight on an otherwise
dim and foggy beach. Viewers are left to wonder, will she come down
or is she on her way, eternally up?
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“I didn’t grow up in the South,” says artist Steve
Hanks, “but I love the feel of it, especially Savannah, Charleston and
New Orleans. These places fit the emotions I use in my art. The young
woman in this painting is lost in a moment of reflection but her posture
is relaxed anticipation. She’s ready for what’s coming her way.”
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
This young lass isn't sure if the rain is really
stopping or if it is going to continue and thus interrupt her journey.
With her boots, at least her feet are dry.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
I find those straight, long roads that transverse
the barrenness of nowhere so intriguing. Who lives out there, what do
they do? Imagine having grown up in one of those small Midwestern towns
and what it is like to decide it is time to leave that small-town life
behind?” asks Steve Hanks. “I think we all want to believe we would take
the road less traveled, but are we prepared for the inclement weather or
the time that may pass before opportunity offers us a ride? Certainly,
this girl radiates inner confidence and everything about her, right down
to her off-beat clothes, represents one who would choose to take the
road less traveled.”
Limited Edition Masterwork Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
Hold onto the
Gate is a darling portrait of a child's first glimpse of life
outside the family. The elaborate wrought iron gate makes a dramatic
backdrop to the fragility of the little ballerina standing before
it. She won't be like this for long.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
With Reflecting on
Indian Beach Steve Hanks shows just why he is regarded as the best
watercolor artist painting in America today. It is a definitive
combination of beauty, emotion and environment. “There is a big
difference between the beaches of the Northern Pacific Coast and
those down in Southern California,” says Hanks. “The surf rolls in
over long shallow flats. The waves pound and boil for great
distances, creating in the air thick moisture. This subtly diffuses
the light creating an atmosphere palatably different than that on
the beaches farther south.”
What began in his
mind as a relatively straight-forward painting took Hanks over a
month to create. He became absorbed in building the large reflective
areas of the tidal flats. It seems as if we can reach in ourselves
and run our fingers through the cool, moist sand at this serene and
magical place where tree-lined mountains slip beneath the surface of
the sea.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
It's show and tell time and this innovative group
of children have each created their own unique cut-out. They are,
however, bound together since their individual patterns are all
interconnected, just as they are.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
As we grow older our perspective
broadens and nowhere is this more obvious than with children. And,
as is so often the case with a painting by Steve Hanks, the beauty
and seeming simplicity of the work gives no hint of the complexity
beneath. Each child interacts with the beach as they do the world.
The youngest boy in the back is focused on his older sister. She in
turn is picking up a shell, something in her immediate vicinity.
The next oldest, standing slightly
behind the group is focused on the actions of his immediate family.
The third, grasping some seaweed makes the connection between it and
the ocean from which it came. The oldest stares down the beach
toward a group of surfers, the opening of the next phase of life
beyond the immediate family.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
She’s at the edge of a low wall with no
clear path ahead but her eyes are drawn to the sweep of white foam
from the crashing waves in the cove below. From there her dreams can
soar. The turn of her head contributes to the painting’s expression
of solitude and yet we share her view. Everything about this woman
says “confidence” and the beautiful composition of physical and
geographic curves presents an elegant portrait for any room in the
house. Scenic View is published as a giclée on paper, virtually
identical to the watercolor of the original painting.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
"This private dance on the foggy Oregon beach
expresses joy and freedom," says Steve Hanks. "As the young dancer
twirls, we learn that we are not the audience this dance is meant for."
From the girl's simple yet powerful reflection in the water to the
sunlight dissipating through the misty sky, this beautiful work of art
will make an uplifting and inspiring addition to any wall.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
“As this family enjoys a walk along the beach in
Del Mar, California,” says artist Steve Hanks, “a discussion with the
younger daughter takes the full attention of her parents. This gives her
older sister a chance to pursue her interests. I’ve heard it said that
when you raise a boy you only have one boy to worry about, but when you
raise a daughter you have all of them to worry about. To illustrate this
in 'Raising Daughters,' the two girls and their mothers are the only
females on the beach. I carried the story further by making the older
daughter and the boy she is admiring into a couple in the far distant
background, walking away.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
The couple in "Young at Heart" has discovered a
valuable secret to staying young: companionship and laughter. As they
travel the mountain road together enjoying the scenery and one other’s
company, their time-tested love brings them great happiness.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
"Life has many levels and this painting shows many
of them," says artist Steve Hanks. "At the bottom are the people making
a living on the street. The next level is the sidewalk, where the
couples safely walk the perimeter and share their lives together. The
only people on the balcony are an elderly couple who have made it
through their life together and are observing everyone else. They have
made it to the highest level and I view them with envy and pride.
Fine Art
Limited Edition Masterwork
Anniversary Edition
Hand signed by the Artist
“The Pacific Ocean is one of my great loves,” says
Hanks. “It’s the ultimate edge. It’s a place for contemplation and reflection, a
place to remind us of the scale of our one life against the great forces of
nature. ”The ocean, with its vast horizons and pounding surf, has been a source
of endless inspiration to Hanks. As with many Hanks paintings, the scene is
layered with mystery. Who is this woman? Is she pressed against the edge of the
earth or is she contemplating her wide-open future? Beyond the Horizon,
with its spectacular sea and landscape, make a provocative and
sophisticated statement.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
When a child is learning a musical
instrument, it’s difficult for the student as well as their family
to patiently endure the practice time. The presence of the cat in Duet shows that practice has paid off and now the music
is so comforting that even the family cat will stay around to enjoy
it.
“My paintings of children are about
my hopes and dreams for them, and about my desire to expose them to
the arts: literature, art, music, dance and theater. I want to
encourage them to make decisions for themselves, to stand on their
own two feet, to think for themselves and to reach for their
dreams.”
Limited Edition Anniversary Edition
handsigned by the artist
After a period of
personal loss, Steve Hanks began a series of paintings visualizing
his healing process. This inspiring series, which can be found in
its entirety in the new book Moving On: The Art of Steve Hanks,
follows the artist’s emotional journey from despair to hope. Waiting
in the Rain is one of the last paintings in the healing series.
“At this point I had
come out of my sadness. I began to think about the future. I thought
about the kind of person I would want to come into my life.
Waiting in the Rain is the visualization of that person, someone
supportive and faithful. We would all like to have someone there
waiting for us when we return from a trip.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
Steve Hanks is first and foremost a figure painter.
His watercolor paintings are infused with emotion and a kind of
poetry formed by light and shadow in his compositions. He often
paints what he refers to as "moments of introspective solitude,"
with deep respect for the privacy of the individual lost in
reflection. Each painting holds a mystery that is also a personal
story about the artist as he expresses his own emotional unfolding
through art.
Just as writers are urged to "write what you know," Steve Hanks
paints what he lives. When his children were born his work was
filled the profound intimacy between infants and parents the
unexpected joy of toddlers, and the wonder of youngsters finding
their way in the outside world.
The emotional impact of these detailed
and highly realistic paintings is undeniable. Whatever the
subject—children, families, women, nudes, landscape, moving water,
or textile patterns—the paintings are also about light and shadow,
and reflect a personal challenge, pain, or joy of the artist
The paintings in this volume represent
the most extensive collection of the artist's work in over ten
years. Some time after his divorce in the 1990s, Steve began a
series of paintings about healing. The paintings in this series are
both deeply personal in their symbolism of the artist's own life and
universal in their emotion and experience. "I want my whole body of
work to tell a story when I'm gone," says Steve. "It will tell the
story of my life emotionally."
Hardcover Book with shrink wrapped jacket
Image Size:
11” x 14" 176 pages
over 160 full color paintings
"I believe that art can be more than
just pretty pictures. Art should bring comfort to people. It should
be by our side when we go through good times and hard times,"
art should elicit a thought provoking examination of one's own life
and place in the world."
"We all experience pain, but there
are great moments of pleasure all around us too. These moments may
often be fleeting and get by us before we are able to fully
comprehend their beauty and importance. I have tried to capture a
few of these moments in paintings that can be savoured for years to
come."
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
While in downtown Santa Barbara, California, Steve
Hanks happened upon a Halloween parade. “It really just fell into my
lap,” he says. “It’s a great thing to paint. Children in costume have
become a favorite subject of mine because they wear them with such
comfort and pride. I love their innocent unselfconsciousness.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
The setting is Cannon Beach, Oregon. The woman is
indoors, the window overlooking the sea, it's overcast outside and she
is consumed with her troubles. The objects surrounding her, such as the
crystal ball and the shells, enhance the sense of introspective
solitude. It's a moment in time where she looks into herself to figure
out where she's eventually going to be.
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
"I often paint women near the water," says artist
Steve Hanks, "and each body of water has a different meaning, a
different feeling." A painting of a woman in the ocean, for example,
offers perspective and the sense that "your problems are no larger than
a grain of sand." The subject of a lakeside portrait may be seeking
solace and a sense of security. A river painting, however, is different.
"A river is heading somewhere, it's got direction, "says Steve.
"'Listening to the River' is about listening to the world you're in and
waiting for its guidance. The woman is thinking about where she's
headed."
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
A woman stands in the shallow water, lost
in contemplation. As the cool waves wash gently over her feet, she feels the
warmth of the sun on her back and shoulders and is thankful for her
surroundings, for the blessings in her life and for new beginnings.
New
Shoreline, like all of Steve Hanks' work, is rich with layers of symbolism
and meaning. His titles are often the key to understanding the deeper
message waiting to be discovered in each painting, and they often have more
than one meaning.
This young woman stands on a new
shoreline that is unfamiliar and yet it opens a new world of opportunities.
Waves wash away the superficial layers of her past as she prepares herself
for the many challenges and possibilities the future offers. She stands
ready on the New Shoreline.
“When a painting occurs at seaside, often
the subjects are contemplating significant passages in their lives."
"Bathed in the glow of a warm sun, the
woman in this painting is connecting
with nature and the uncomplicated joy of life. Poised and confident she dips
her foot beneath the surface, an overture to exploring the unknown.”
Limited Edition Giclée on paper
handsigned by the artist
“It is rare that I paint a piece with no
background. Since there is no competition with the image, the angel, my
daughter, appears to be floating within the white of the paper,” says Hanks
of his fine art limited edition My Little Angel. “The piece is about
treasuring times when your kids are still young and innocent and like to
dabble in make-believe. The colors are soft and subtle and create a feeling
that the angel is gliding. A lovely way to revisit the charms of childhood.”
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
"Country Girls is simply about enjoying
the times when your children are small," says Steve Hanks. Sometimes his
pieces convey layers of meaning, this piece, however, in a smaller scale
than Hanks usually paints, conveys the beauty of two tow-headed girls
enjoying a moment outdoors in the country. In what could be Anytown, USA,
Hanks captures an innocent time of pretending and the simple joys of
childhood.
Limited Edition Giclée canvas
handsigned by the artist
"Any healing process can be a lengthy
one," says Steve Hanks. "Often it can be helped by attempting to visualize
the future. Such is the inspiration for A New Beginning. This is, in fact,
the final painting in a series of three that have used the ascent of the
staircase to track this woman's passage. By reaching the landing at the top,
she has completed her growing process and is ready to move on. This
staircase reminds us to take things in life one step at a time, that a
promise of reward and satisfaction-the top of the staircase-and a new view
of the world around you, is a situation you can help create for yourself."
Limited
Edition Masterwork Giclee canvas
Hand signed by the Artist
(Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery)
The art of Steve Hanks is rich with
symbolism and metaphor. His titles are a key to understanding the deeper
message waiting to be discovered in each painting, and, often have more than
one meaning. “From a Higher Level is, on one hand a relationship piece, and
on the other, about the necessity of getting above the messiness of life’s
daily grind. Simple but conscious acts can lift us out of the toil and
finally place us on a higher ground,” Hanks says. “The piece is also about
communication, and how the rider and horse converse without necessarily
using words. The rider and horse can also represent the relationship between
art and the ability of art to communicate beyond words—From a Higher Level.”
Limited
Edition Giclee canvas
Hand signed by the Artist
These two angels, all ready for their annual
school pageant, don't realize how astounding the view in front of them
is but rather are caught up in their own private game. They are truly a
blessing.
Limited
Edition Giclee on paper
Hand signed by the Artist
As the two girls in "Shelter for the Heart" stand
together in a downpour, they are perhaps able to see the beauty in a
rainy day for the first time without fear. Helped by the shelter of an
unbrella and the comfort of a friend comes the knowledge that there will
always be sunshine after the rain. It's metaphor for hope in daily
lessons. Often the simple steps we have already learned can be applied
to other, seemingly more difficult events in our lives
Limited
Edition Giclee canvas
Hand signed by the Artist
As any parent knows, it's important to pay
attention to their children when going into town. Any small motion or
object will distract the child's attention and draw them away to
investigate. This teacher has a unique way of maintaining control,
keeping all her little charges on a string, insuring the safety of even
the worst wanderer.
Limited
Edition Masterwork Giclee canvas
Hand signed by the Artist
"The title 'Daughter of a Great Romance' comes
from a Dar Williams song and it is true of my daughter in this painting.
The heart in the sand is like a sand castle or anything else at low tide
- you know it's going to wash away but the feelings are true and the
romantic idea of what love should be, young and innocent."
Limited
Edition Giclee on paper
Hand signed by the Artist
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