I am often asked if I tire of paddling the Silver RiveR.
I don't tire of the wonder of my own backyard and the river never disappoints. My goal is to share the beauty of God's creation through my handcrafted art and photography. You can purchase these here.
About Steven Andrew Maze
Experience
I am an IT professional by day. Kayaking the Silver River in Florida is my way to unplug and rejuvenate. It is my River Therapy. I paddle the river all year long. In fact, I am on the river so often that I have been dubbed the "Unofficial Mayor of the Silver River" by local paddlers.
My art has been featured in various locations including the Silver Springs State Park Friends Welcome Center Gallery, Ivy House, Ocala, the Work Space Collective 1st Avenue., Ocala and the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic House at Cross Creek, Florida.
Style
My most compelling images evoke the emotions that I feel while I am on the Silver River. My artwork is generally impressionistic with attention to shapes and color. I often incorporate the raw wood grain of my substrate as negative space within the art. I prefer to paint images from about 24” up to no more than about 48” in width or height.
My photographs are more often of wildlife on the river. I enjoy capturing detail and texture in my images, like the light reflecting on particulates floating in crystal-clear waters or the textured skin of a manatee.
Process
I primarily work in acrylics and prefer to paint on thin plywood veneers and reclaimed wood. I also repaint abandoned canvases, allowing subtle color and texture from the old work to show through.
My handmade frames are often rough-cut or made of furring strips. Natural wood knots, grain and irregularities are often present, and I use these to my advantage. I like to say that I make art, not furniture.
I capture photographic images with various DSLR’s and an older Sony action camera in an underwater housing. I have also captured compelling images with various iPhones. I post-process with the DSLR vendors RAW developer and then work in Affinity Photo.