Steven Howard Artist

 " Monday, Monday, so good to me  Monday mornin’, it was all I hoped it would be..." that was the opening lyrics to the hit song for The Mamas & Papas in 1966.  Monday 4th November 2024 was the day of my biopsy. It went well, well, as well as it could have gone, I do look like I've gone a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson with my hands tied behind my back.  I have to wait 3 weeks for the results, so fingers crossed it's not something major! Before my biopsy I was told to decrease the steroids along with other medication so that the procedure could go ahead. Medication have kept the inflammation at bay for up to 14 months, but now all medication has been restored to the prescription levels that were prescribed before the procedure.  I'll be keeping busy in my studio and looking forward to a hectic upcoming event days throughout November and December with Steven Howard Gallery  at Trentham with The Makers Market. Click image to learn more

 I have waited such a  long time for my biopsy slot and finally the date has been set for 4th November 2024. The procedure will only go ahead subject to my HbA1c being below 69 which is considered to be safe in the control of infection for any medical procedure.   My  HbA1c  level has been high, a reading of 74 for quite sometimes but has now come down to 64. I've no idea what I've done differently to get my  HbA1c down but it's, I suppose, a good position to be in.   Thank you to everyone who has sent their good wishes and support. I will hopefully get more originals out there soon. I've certainly got some time now, I've got to keep away from crowds to minimise infection for 72 hours before my biopsy so I'll be painting to pass the time away over the weekend. If you want to see my latest work "What's on the easel?" Join my art group:   Stevens Art  Framed Originals can be purchased from the website:  Website All completed unframed originals and fi

 Although I've always had the creative ability. I haven't always had jobs that stimulated my creative ambitions. The biggest risk I've taken was the decision to become an entrepreneur, a decision that wasn't taken lightly. When you enjoy what you're doing and working a 100 hour week it certainly doesn't feel like work. When you're working so many hours for someone else and you don't enjoy it! Then it's time for a change.  School, college or university doesn't teach you how to become an entrepreneur! That's something you and you alone can only bring about. To some people it's a natural ability, I just knew that I needed to make money from something I enjoyed doing.  I enjoyed drawing and painting, it's something that came naturally, I didn't really have to think about the process. The difficult part was selling my art for profit and that proved a huge task, a task that I had to learn fast.

 Well, the condition affecting my eye has got a lot worse, it's now affecting my good eye! How the hell these experts cannot detect the problem I have and diagnose the cause from the symptoms without performing a biopsy is beyond me! Surely there are other people that are suffering or have suffered the same or similar symptoms worldwide?  All the scans, appointments and the many answers i've provided to the questions asked must have led to some discovery. It's bloody frustrating and upsetting me on a daily basis now. I'm not religious! But if I thought it would help regain my sight, I would follow that cult.  I have a biopsy pre-assessment on 19th September, hopefully I'll get a date and what is entailed in the procedure. Click image to View the full picture.  It may be taking me a lot longer to create the detail I was once renowned, but I'm determined to provide the same standard of accuracy and detail in my paintings.

Back in the late 60's early 70's, I must have only been 6 or 7 when I used to play football with friends in the street and back alley ways of Manchester. I remember there was a girl that used to hang around but not having the confidence to ask to join in, she would just kick a ball against the wall close to where we were playing. One day when we turned up to play and as we were placing jackets and jumpers for goalposts, we noticed we were a man down, only 7 of us! I suggested the girl (who had shown up again) make up a team? "A girl?" said Bunker who was, let's just say a large boy for his age and always black from helping his dad who was a coalman. Bunker finally succumbed after some bickering and we put the girl on the weaker team. The girl scored 7 goals! The very next time the girl showed up, she was first pick to play on our team. 😁

 So I'm waiting for a biopsy and the feeling of anxiety won't go away, which I suppose is understandable. I've been instructed to reduce the steroids so the biopsy can go ahead. Steroids may help to reduce the inflammation but unfortunately they also  blanket the source of the problems. I've received a letter for a pre-assesment 19th September, so hopefully the biopsy should be performed a week later.  I've not really been that active in the studio to date, I've dabbled, but nothing that I would consider a work of art. I just can't concentrate on anything, I pick up a pencil or paintbrush and I get enthusiastic, then my mind fills of thoughts.  Hopefully In the meantime I will keep busy with some creative days.  I've got some plans in place to take Steven Howard Gallery to the next stage. Plans that are very ambitious and will be unveiled soon. Follow the link and subscribe for news and updates in October: Newsletter