Pencil Artist of the Week: Steve Mills

This week’s featured pencil artist is Steve Mills, an artist, photographer, guitarist and songwriter living in Hermiston, Oregon who spends his time “being creative 24/7.” Steve’s realistic pencil portraits capture the essence of his subjects in ways that photography often cannot, fitting since he worked in photography for over 20 years. Here’s a short bio written by the artist himself describing his creative process:

“I began drawing in pencil as early as I can remember. Formal training came in junior high and high school, where I studied art and architectural engineering. I strive for precision and realism in all I do. My junior high art teacher (Mrs June Hansen) was the most influential person on my creative life. I have no college training, or any other formal art education since leaving school. The style I developed started about the age of 20 (I am now 58). Portraiture has always been my specialty.

My love for portraiture also grew into being a professional photographer for over 20 years. During this time my art took second place to making a living. Now, in the years since closing my studio for good, it has moved back to the center of my daily life, and I create constantly. Anything from portraits to flowers, but primarily faces. I also dabble in ink stippling, and have decided I can do color.. Although not in portraiture just yet.

My work has been published in JADE magazine, and has won several awards in local exhibitions. I can be hired for commissioned art. More can be seen at www.pencilartist.com or on my Google + profile https://plus.google.com/114504022490238986254/posts”

If you want to see more of Steve’s work, check out his Google + page.