Roy Stever

An early passion for nature and wilderness exploration throughout New England led me to landscape art, but only in the past five years, as an oil painter.

In a journey through the liberal arts, science, and business education, I developed a discipline of observation, informed inquiry and problem solving that were central to successful careers in industrial marketing and strategy, higher education, and now art. In 2018, I was invited by a friend  to attend a plein air session offered by Maine Artist Margaret Gerding. Margaret’s instruction in classical process and her enthusiasm became an enabling artistic complement to my deep appreciation of nature.

Whether en plein air or in the studio, my paintings are interpretive of composition, color and tone in the style of an impressionist. These elements are accentuated by a distinctive mark, made with a painting knife and various thicknesses of mixed, uncut paint. The works in my portfolio speak to personal experiences. All are painted through observation, from my own sketches and photos and, in no small part, by my memory.  I have climbed to the summits of all 4000’ peaks in New England and traveled extensively along the New England coastline. My simple intention has been to recreate an original moment, pulling the viewer in to what excites me most about time in the wild. Whether or not someone has stood on the same shore or peak, I am hopeful that being drawn in to the frame invokes my own deep concern for keeping these natural areas healthy.

I live with my wife, Debbie, on an historic 160-acre farm at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. We have conserved nearly all of our land for wetlands and habitat protection, further inspiration for my artistic adventure.