Steve Stein has been an artist "almost from birth", An extraordinary statement from an extraordinary man.  Born in Chicago in 1935, he was displaying paintings in the Chicago Art Institute at the age of six. From that moment on, Steve was rarely seen without a paintbrush in hand.  From 1955 to 1958 he attended Chouinard Art Institute (now known as the California Fine Art Institute in Valencia) along with fellow student acclaimed painter, Ed Rusha. A Self proclaimed "man of many hats" Steve practiced commercial art for several years before opening the Steve Stein Gallery in 1963, on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks California. While raising his family and making a success of his gallery, Steve never forgot who he always was, an artist of cheerful proportions.  His own art is a reflection of his whimsical journey into feeling good about life.  It is a story told in color and light that leaves you feeling strangely hopeful about humanity. His primary mediums are acrylics, felt pen and oil pastels on paper and canvas.  He also uses parts and pieces from his discarded work and in doing so creates beautiful compositions and collages.

 

Of his work Stein says…”I am fulfilled when I paint in my own primitive, impressionistic style.  Either consciously or unconsciously I am expressing all the happy and humorous events that I see around me.”

 

Julian Lennon,

“When you buy something from an artist you’re buying more than an object.  You’re buying hundreds of hours of errors and experimentation.  You’re buying years of frustration and moments of pure joy.  You’re not buying just one thing, you are buying a piece of a heart, a piece of a soul…  a small piece of someone else’s life.”