Welcome to the gallery of
Steven W. Lush
Marine Artist/Illustrator/Model Shipwright
Steven was born in 1949 into a family that had its roots in both art and the sea. His mother is an accomplished portrait artist and his grandmother was a concert pianist. His grandfather, from Newfoundland, was one of the last Boston Fish Pier trawlermen to have worked aboard the trawlers "Red Jacket" and "The Swallow". In the 1950's and early 1960's Steven spent many weekends aboard these old trawlers with his grandfather while they were tied up along South Boston's Commonwealth Pier. By then his grandfather, too old to fish, was the night watchman assigned to care for the trawlers while their crews were ashore. Steven remembers exploring these old vessels from bridge deck to engine room bilges. Steven made a trip one weekend from Gloucester to Boston, aboard the "Swallow" after a week spent in a Gloucester repair yard (a most impressionable event for an 11year old!).
Steven was always drawing boats, cars and even comic characters when he was young. Steven attended the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1968 a year after working as an "outside machinist helper " in an East Boston shipyard. Steven graduated from MMA in 1971 with an Assistant Engineer's license in the Merchant Marine, a degree in Marine Engineering and a commission in the USNR. Steven "shipped out" for a few years with American Export Lines, NYC and Standard Oil Co. of California. During these few years Steven visited ports around the Mediterranean, India, Africa, the American west coast, Alaska, and several Pacific island groups. Steven made 3 trips from NYC to India via the Cape of Good Hope when the Suez Canal was closed to transit shipping in the early 1970's. Steven left the merchant marine to pursue a profession, "ashore", as a construction project engineer.
Steven and his wife, Nella, lived in Bilbao and later Tarragona Spain for several years while Steven worked on various construction projects. Steven began building model ships in 1978 while renewing his love of ships and the sea. Steven began painting in watercolor in 1992. He sold some of his work and also gave his work away to family and friends. In 2007, Steven began exhibiting his work in various public venues and has been gaining notoriety quickly.
"I have been influenced by Winslow Homer, Arthur Briscoe, Carl Evers and William Gilkerson. Homer for his bold and colorful brushwork, Briscoe for his ability to portray expressive human motion, Evers for his incredible seas and ship portraits and Gilkerson for his most unique WC style and flare for history. I also admire the illustrative work of N.C. Wyeth and Howard Pyle. I love strong colors and strive to impart a sense of drama, movement and contrasting light in my work.
I believe that an artist should listen to all advice but practice that which fits his or her own mental process. Most importantly, keep on creating, keep moving forward and don't stop experimenting."
Steven is a member of:
- North Shore Arts Association, Gloucester , MA. (Artist Member)
- Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA.
- International Society of Marine Painters (Professional Member)
- Newburyport Art Association, Newburyport, MA.
- American Society of Marine Artists
- USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild (Master Modeler)
- Concord Art Association, Concord, MA.
- New England Watercolor Society
- The Arts League of Lowell, Lowell, MA.
- Custom House Maritime Museum, Newburyport, MA.
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Steven's 1st illustrated children's book, "Never Again! The Adventure of Gracie and Belle" and authored by his wife, Nella, is now available at Barnes and Noble, Borders and Amazon.com
Contact:
Phone: 978-975-0015