Steven Howard Artist

I'm sat here, just waiting to call the hospital. Already called them at 16:00 to find out if Susan has left theatre. I'll call back at 19:30 as they advised. It's such a long wait, I know it's a big operation and I know it has to be done. See you later Susan. I 💕 you. We need to do all the things we talked about. Just get better soon. My turn tomorrow for the MRI Scan. I think just lately we spend more time at the hospital than anywhere else. Steve

It's been a while since my last confession! ... Er I mean my last blog! 🤣 I've got a few hospital appointments coming up, scans, investigatory probing about etc. My partner has also been poorly and goes into hospital for an operation. This has got to be the busiest month of our lives, hopefully everything will be resolved and sorted so we can get back to planning event days soon. Event days are the days that Steven Howard Gallery promote everything that is art by Steven Howard, that's me. So as a quick introduction, for those of you that have just dropped by, here's my website  it's what we do! If you are lucky enough to live locally and want to view showcased art on an "Event Day"  Trentham Makers Market Trentham Estate, Stone Road. ST4 8JG Our "Event Days" offer savings of up to 30% on our website prices! Now that's nothing to be sneezed at! Right? Subscribe to our newsletter and we'll notify you of any news, offers and where we'l...

  "No one will own that original!" Apart from that one person that bought it! Let's just think about that for a moment. There's more than 8 Billion people in the world and you own an original! Ok, not everyone would have seen it while it was promoted, not everyone would have been engaged in the publicity or even remotely interested in the subject matter! Despite the none engagements, there is a great deal of interest generated when an artists work is released. Social media platforms, websites, press releases, blogs and even those event days organised for the artist to showcase in person. They all play a very important part in the communication and announcement of new releases. Promotional and saleable products will all accumulate in promoting an artist. When an artist makes the decision to offer an original, it is important to consider the rarity of that original piece of work! It's never likely to come round again! Who can afford original art? Not tha...

  I've got a really busy couple of weeks and Art will not be the priority. It's that boring subject "Health". It is important to look after yourself, no one knows how you are or what you are going through! So for just a while I'll be concentrating my efforts on getting myself and my partner back to full health.

Good morning! Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you're all ok? I've got an absolute stinker of a cold, what makes it worse my partner Susan also has it. So we're looking after one another. 💕 Due to the sniffles, aches and pains i've not been in the studio now for a couple of days trying to get rid of it, to quote a famous lyric by Taylor Swift i'll "Shake it off". I've taken all the recommended medication, some herbal, it's just all a waiting game! I hope it clears up before my Friday appointment at the eye clinic for more investigations as to why I had suffered a central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO). In layman's terms a stroke to the eye, a clot, blockage whatever you want to call it! It really has knocked me for six! I suppose i've got to think myself lucky it didn't travel further up north. Painting with sight loss in one eye is one hell of a challenge, but apparently it's not classed as a disability. So I don't get diddl...

 Whether you paint for pure enjoyment or to sell your creations it's important to enjoy the process. In the beginning my thoughts were just to enjoy what I painted, if people liked what I did, they'd buy it! It's not that easy! Trust me you will find people out there that will take advantage of your skill (Know your worth). Artists are soulful people, often they are passionate for their art but blinkered to the fact that they need to make a living. There are many individuals working for organisations that make money on the back of artists, be mindful of this when you sign a contract and be sure to have a clause that allows you to spread your wings, artists are free spirits and don't like to be tied down. There is a phrase... "The Sky is the limit", why settle for that? I'd like to find what's beyond! You may decide to provide a commissioned based service? That's absolutely fine, it's how I started, a great way to test the water and see if your ...

Hmmm, Artificial Intelligence! I honestly can't see what all the fuss is about! If you are an artist producing quality artwork, you will get your work admired and this will attract some unscrupulous individuals that'll want to make a quick buck. AI is just a tool like a pencil or paintbrush, a stylus for a tablet or a mouse for a computer. Yes I think it needs to be regulated, but so does the internet!. Take for instance "Ain't no fish in 'ere" it's no "Mona Lisa" but it has been duplicated, downloaded and printed on items, none of which I would ever endorse. By the time the plagiarists had copied the image I had completed all four original pencil sketches, printed giclée prints and offered directly to my faithful collectors. Copies only enhanced the true value of my originals and prints, not just prints but limited editions which are  faithfully reproduced, individually numbered and all individually signed. I suppose the subject "The Way We...

I've done a lot of fairs, although I should be saying "We" because without my partner Sue, I really couldn't do them without her. Susan is brilliant at sales and engages with everyone she meets. Fairs, Makers Markets, Artisan Events or whatever you want to call them? The most important thing is to enjoy them, if you get it right they'll beat any website or social media selling sites for sales. Don't get me wrong, websites are important, I have a  Website   and social media plays a big part in getting your brand out there and getting you noticed! Do your homework Go and visit an Artisan Market. Maybe the one where you plan to physically trade is a great idea and speak to other traders. Find out what works for them, they'll be pleased you're taking some interest in their pitch and for sure you'll get other stallholders visiting your pitch when you finally showcase your products. Displaying your produce Try and showcase your products to the best of yo...

The final painting of the series was inspired whilst out walking. " Salute to the Skies " captures everything about getting together. I wanted to put as much in the painting as I could but without going over the top. Watching the Spitfire flypast was a very emotional event and a wonderful tribute to our NHS workers for their work during the coronavirus pandemic. The " Potteries Nostalgic " series of originals were now complete, unframed and framed limited editions were promoted on social media, our website and showcased on event days. As well as the release of " Greeting Cards " to further promote The Potteries Nostalgic Collection, the introduction of " Canvas Framed " prints as an additional product proved to be a great success too. I have actually fulfilled a lifelong ambition, a goal that was set so many years ago to create original art that people would admire, love to collect and cherish for years to come. It literally does take a lifetime ...

I normally sketch out the idea before painting but I approached " The Oatcake Shop " differently. I had the image in my mind beforehand, so I went straight in with oils and completed it pretty quickly. Restrictions of Covid-19 were lifted, the furlough scheme had been retracted and we were free to travel and visit places further afield. "Eat out to help out" was the plea to everyone that could go out! Those that could go back to work, returned but still aware that social distancing was in place and some chose to work from home. I chose to carry on painting and going for plenty of walks along the canal near to where I live. One particular day on my walk, there were kids fishing near to a bridge as a barge gracefully moved with little or no effort... Now there's an idea! Could I be finally achieving that dream I'd set out as a goal all those years ago?

It was clearly apparent that followers and customers were eager for the release of the next original. " Shotties Before Tea " was taking a little longer due to the amount of cobbles and brickwork in the painting. It may be called "Short Street" it certainly didn't feel short when I painted the cobbles. Longton brings back so many memories, from when I moved to Stoke-on-Trent in the early 1980's. There was a little relaxation of rules as Covid-19 numbers started to drop, we could meet up with family and friends which was a relief. I had to get originals photographed to produce giclée limited edition prints. By this time the signed limited edition prints  Cobbled Alley , Togetherness and Best Friends were selling fast. There was the added bonus of House to Home Interiors in Congleton selling framed limited edition prints which proved to be a welcoming second string to the bow.

The third original oil painting in the series of the " Potteries Nostalgic " series was near to completion, just some final touches to " Best Friends " and my signature. Oil painting can be tedious, the drying time between layers can be several days. The drying time for a finished piece continues to cure upto and beyond six months, so no varnish to be applied before this time and certainly no framing especially with glass. Join my Patreon platform. It's the only place  to make offers on Originals and get discounts on limited edition prints. People have been asking for years, "Is it somewhere we know?" Not necessarily, it doesn't have to be of a particular place, it's usually created from memory, even a bit of artistic licence thrown in. If I painted exactly what I saw I may just as well have taken a photo, that doesn't inspire me. I paint to create a story. Art that speaks a thousand unheard words. I was aware that during the pandemic the ...

I was preparing the canvas for my third original in the " Potteries Nostalgic " collection when news of the Sentinel publication showing my original " Cobbled Alley " with " Togetherness " in the background had been published. Readers were asking "Where can I buy the limited edition prints ?" Stoke-on-Trent artist shows his support for NHS during coronavirus pandemic with amazing painting of city street - Stoke-on-Trent Live. Click here for full story The idea of producing prints from my originals was a little daunting, I just wanted to paint. This is where my partner Susan took the bull by the horns and began the huge task of getting prints underway. To start off we decided to produce open stock prints to celebrate and to Thank the NHS for their continued efforts during the pandemic. We donated a percentage of the sales to the kidney unit at the Royal Stoke UHNM where Susan worked before she retired. Having a little more time on our hands we dec...

The second original in the " Potteries Nostalgic Collection " was " Togetherness ". I was now on a run, I was already thinking what the subject matter was going to be for the third and fourth in the series. Although I was still working on "Togetherness" the ideas were flowing and thoughts sprung to mind how I would structure the paintings as a collective series and in an order that would make sense. Togetherness was painted as we were all told we could go out during the first lockdown of the pandemic but stay locally and only with family members. I was quite content just to paint in solitude in my studio while people were fighting over toilet rolls and hand sanitizers. I suppose it took a pandemic to show how selfish some people can be, society really did take a step back, but that's just my opinion.

I've been creating one way or another for such a long time. Coming to terms and finally after so many years admitting to myself that "I am an Artist". This was one of the hardest hurdles I had to face. " Cobbled Alley Original " was the first real oil painting I produced whilst in lockdown. I was working at Michelin Tyres plc in the warehouse as a forklift truck driver/picker/loader. My intention was to take on a part time job until I became established as an Artist. I certainly didn't plan that right! Almost 17 years later and facing a pandemic in which we were reminded almost daily "We are living in unprecedented times" (I hated that phrase). During the first lockdown I started painting because there was nothing else to do. I was on the vulnerable list because of my diabetes and I couldn't actually work from home, but I had to stay at home. This was the time I spent painting and set about creating " The Potteries Nostalgic Originals ...

It was in the Summer of 2023 that I noticed my vision began to deteriorate. Each day my eyesight became blurry and I just thought I needed to rest. In late August of 2023 I woke up with eyes blistering and pain to the right eye, my partner suggested I go to the doctor. The drive to the health clinic was a bit scary, my vision began to worsen in particular my right eye. I was not seeing clear lines and everything was converging to the left. I was sent to the emergency eye clinic in Stoke-on-Trent uhnm.nhs UHNM where I was treated for conjunctivitis, it was not conjunctivitis! After a week or so and medication that just didn't work I was admitted for more investigations. Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) was the diagnosis. It's the sudden blockage of the central Retinal Artery, resulting in Retinal hypoperfusion, rapidly progressive cellular damage and vision loss. It has been a struggle and I've had to adapt. Painting has been slow and tedious but I will get there with...