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PROFILE
MARTIN STEPHENSON
English Landscape Watercolour Artist & Tutor Age 57 Born York, England
Martin Stephenson (also known under his pen name of ‘Stevo’ his nickname at school, and also his proudly Christened Bulgarian name of Stevanov) was born in York, Yorkshire, England in July 1954. Heis a self taught artist & teacher, in his preferred mediums of Watercolour, Pen and Line & Wash.
He now lives permanently in Bulgaria, with his girlfriend, and inspiration, Yoga teacher Sarah,sharing their time between their rural village house, and a small studio near Sozopol. They both teach their respective subjects,to individuals and groups, and run Yoga & Art Holidays at the 4 star Green Life Resort in Sozopol, Bulgaria, and elsewhere in the World where he finds himself. Martin also hosts several, regular Art clubs, in his village, at the 5 star Grand Hotel Primoretz in Burgas, and also in Sozopol.
Since arriving in Bulgaria, to ‘semi-retire’ he took up his brushes and started to paint, a hobby he hasenjoyed since childhood. Initial subject matter was, copying toothpaste tubes, Jimi Hendrix & Marlyn Monroe posters, and the like by Andy Warhole, and others. He explains "When leaving school I wanted to be, either a draughtman, or a Graphic Designer (influences still seen in his work today), but I found myself copying popular posters at the time and those Black & White pictures of my guitar heroes, in music papers like Melody Maker and NME, It seems odd that all these years later I find myself painting bent Coca Cola cans once again".
He now paints and teaches, full time, and his work can be found in Private Collections Worldwide, and in Galleries throughout his adopted home in Bulgaria. He paints outdoors whenever he can, and can usually be found painting ‘plein air’, and selling his work at resorts along the Black Sea Coast, during the Summer Months, 'begging' as he calls it !
The Winter's are spent teaching elsewhere in the World, including Bali, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Martin’s favourite subject matter, includes recording Nature, Atmosphere and Weather, The Female Form and Decay in all it’s guises, like peeling paintwork and rust, in his favourite medium Watercolours.
EXHIBITIONS
Karnobat, Burgas
GALLERIES
Biserra Gallery, Kotka & Kotka, The Fairy Gallery, Sozopol
Natalie & Greta Galleries, Sofia
Autograph Gallery , Old Town Plovdiv
ART HOLIDAYS
Bulgaria & South East Asia
ONLINE ACTIVITY & VIRTUAL GALLERIES
Just search Martin Stephenson, Stevo or Artstevo
Quotes
from the Artist
‘My
life-drug and adrenalin fix, is my watercolour painting and watching paint reacting
on rough watercolour paper. When this unpredictable magic fails to make the
hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, I know I will have indeed, met my
maker ’.
‘A dawn
chorus of birdsong and a feeling of being at one with nature, can life really
get any better than this’?
‘I try to
keep my paintings clean and fresh with luminescent washes and delicate subtle
colours, contrasted with the textures and counterchange we all see in Nature
every day. I also like to capture decay seen in many other man- made objects,
which I also like to portray. Sometimes combining the two’
‘As a plain
speaking, native of my beloved Yorkshire (God’s County), We are no lovers of
Rules and Dogma that can inhibit one’s development and freedom as an individual
and as an artist. What I lack in academic achievement, I more than make up for
in pure enthusiasm for my subject. Not knowing the ‘rules’ gives me total
freedom from constraints, together with an openness to soak up new ideas like a
sponge. I therefore have no hesitation to use whatever comes to hand to capture
that beautiful, fleeting moment and atmosphere. Watercolour painting is all
about abandon and working fast and loose. I use rocks to paint rocks and I draw
trees with twigs and quills’.
‘Paint for your own pleasure. If someone else likes it
too, consider that a great compliment. If they are prepared to part with there
hard earned money, then that is indeed the ultimate accolade’.
‘Paint
for you, and not for critics’.
‘It’s a life long journey, so relax and enjoy
the ride’ !
Martin now lives, works and teaches in
Bulgaria, with his partner, Yoga Teacher and Massage therapist Sarah, and has four children, Ashley, Russell, Katie and Connor, and is a recent Grandfather.
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