Peachy the Magazine October November 2014 | Page 20

Artisan Spotlight

SPOTLIGHT:

Steve McKenzie
Steve McKenzie has been painting for
over 15 years. In his current body of
work, Steve drew from history by using
19th century French and Czech letters
and documents found in flea markets.
According to Steve, this inspiration gave
him “a chance to capture the thoughts
and souls of others that would be lost,
were they not present in the work.”
Steve starts his beautiful studies of
shapes in walnut ink on paper. The
studies then inform his larger paintings
that are panel-wrapped in Belgian linen.
He applies Venetian plaster and dry
pigment on the grounds, then builds up
layers and sands to create a surface for
the painted abstractions. At this point,
Steve sometimes includes an old letter
or relic and then finishes the painting
with wax. “The process of art making is
what is meaningful to me. I approach a
blank paper, panel or canvas only with
an attitude of discovery.”

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