Bio
Ron Stephens
General Information:
Age: 67
Gender : Male
Location: Irving, TX
Education: I received my art training some 40+ years ago first at UTA then Arlington State College and finished with a BA from North Texas State University, now UNT. My art career started in Dallas as a staff artist at Southwestern Life Insurance. My next 33+ years would take me through several small advertising agencies as an Art Director. Later as the industry changed, I found that the production side of the business appealed to me more as a Production Manager, buying art, photography and printing
for agency projects.
I retired from a 33 year career in advertising in 2004 and began thinking about a retirement career. I began painting in watercolor in May of 2006 after reading many books and taking a weekly watercolor course from Tom Wellman at the Irving Heritage Center. Since then, I have taken workshops from Nita Leland, Carl Dalio, Naomi Brotherton, Arne Westerman, Mark Mehaffey, Ratrinda Das and Jane Jones.
AWARDS
1st Place Irving Art Assn. Wildlife Show 2007
1st Place New & Emerging Artist Show, Trinity Arts Guild 2007
Peoples Choice Award, New & Emerging Artist Show, Trinity Arts Guild 2007
1st and 2nd Place Award for Painting of the Month, IAA and ATA 2007. 3rd place SWS Painting of the Month April, 2008.
2nd Place Watermedia ATA Member Show 2008
2nd Place Watermedia, IAA Members Show 2008
1st Place, IAA Members Show 2009
SHOW ACCEPTANCE
Irving Art Assn. Member Juried Show 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Wildlife Show 2006, 2007, 2008
Irving Art Assn. Texas & Neighbors Show 2007 & 2008
New & Emerging Artist Show, Trinity Arts Guild 2007
Grand Prairie Arts Assn. Show 2007
Association of Traditional Artists Member Show 2008
Southwestern Watercolor Society Member Show 2009
Inspiration & Technique:
My inspiration comes from nature and the endless variety
of its textures, shapes, values and colors. From the most complex
to the simple scenes anything is possible as subject matter for
a painting. I like the complexity of architecture and how it
relates to it's natural surroundings. The challenge comes in
combining the various elements into a harmonious blend of
color and values.
I am still fascinated with the amazing qualities of straight
watercolor. The feeling of the brush on paper and seeing it mix
with other colors and the excitement of the outcome is exhilirating
