Steve Huston studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and embarked on an illustration career while still in school. After graduating he worked in illustration for 10 years, acquiring a client list that included MGM, Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures.
He then started to teach drawing, painting and composition at the Art Center, and later in corporate classes at Disney, Warner Brothers and Dreamworks. He has since transitioned into gallery art.
Though he occasionally does landscapes, the majority of Huston’s paintings are of figures. Of these his fascination with the complex geometry of the human form, and the surface topography of musculature, takes its greatest expression in his series of paintings of boxers, wrestlers and laborers.
He presents these in dramatic chiaroscuro combined with areas of smudged, “lost” edges, rough paint textures and gestural expressions of motion.
Huston lists among his influences Titian, Rembrandt and the early American Tonalist painters. I personally see the influence of Thomas Eakins in his work. Huston also cites American comic books for their graphic qualities and exaggeratedly heroic treatment of the figure.
Huston apparently no longer has a dedicated website, but is represented by several galleries. The Eleanor Ettinger Gallery has the largest selection of his work, though the reproductions are frustratingly small.
Skotia Gallery has fewer pieces, but they are presented somewhat larger, along with a bio.
Thanks for the heads up. Haven’t been there – won’t be visiting, either.
Thanks, Dave. The notice about theft of content will appear in my articles until the articles show’ up on the content thief’s blog, and then be removed from my post. It’s an attempt on my part to “poison the well”.
This is a good post and reminds me that I wanted to know if you’ve seen a 1984 Olympics book illustrated by Robert Peak with about 50 sports illustrations all by Peak. They are great!
Thank you for featuring him. It’s so frustrating when really excellent artists have no website and a small online presence. I would LOVE to see more of his work!
(as a side note, article theft seems to be the new thing for scammers online. Steal articles through RSS feeds, then advertise like mad and rake in the cash. I’ve seen other sites do this and like image theft, I’m at something of a loss as to what to do about it. You could notify their hosting providers, I suppose.)
Thanks, Randall.
For the benefit of other readers, here is my post on Bob Peak: http://www.linesandcolors.com/2009/06/12/bob-peak/
Thanks for the comment, JewelD. I agree, it’s frustrating when artists you like don’t have a web presence. It looks as though Huston had one for while but let it lapse.
In reference to the note about content theft (that has since been removed from this article), I have notified the host and am waiting for a reply. Next stop will be Google, as the purpose of the site is obviously to sell Google Ads.
Great work, full of energy.
I would say Thomas Hart Benton is more of a reference than Eakins, even though the boxing makes you think of Eakins. If you look at the other work that’s on the gallery’s website it just sings of Thomas Hart Benton who is long been forgotten. Happiness! Thank you for sharing and having such a wonderful website.
Nicole
That first painting took my breath away.So glowing and full of life.
Eakins all day, also inspired by one of Eakin’s top students my hero, Henry O. Tanner. Take note of how the figures seems to be lit from within. Simply masterful, wow!?!
the last one looks like Enki Bilal work, great french artist…
Interesting thought.
For the benefit of other readers, here is my post on Enki Bilal.