Tom Steigerwald, The Artist
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"I became dissatisfied with the general direction of Modern Art. I decided fifteen years ago to paint nothing but the things that I loved, which were plants from my garden." (from the American Rose magazine article, February, 1997) "I use masonite so that I am not confined to the limits of a rectangle. It allows the image to become part of the room." |
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Personal Information
Tom Steigerwald was born in Philadelphia, PA on September 12, 1945.
Some Quotes On His Work "Steigerwald's techniques and concepts are unusual, floral paintings with a new perspective, botanical depictions are larger than life." "A 16-inch plant, through this painter's skill, had become a 10-foot beautifullyaccurate botanical study. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is lost in the enlargement." "Again and again we see the delicate beauty of flowers and buds emerging from healthy fresh foliage made more vibrant by the proximity of a faded flower, a dying stalk, with seed capsules ripening, and withered leaves about to join the compost rich soil from which the plant spring. It is full cycle that Tom paints." (Taken from the article in Sept./Oct. 1990 GREEN SCENE by Joanna Reed)
"I don't work from photographs or slides. That just gives you a photographic look to your paintings, which I find repulsive." (Taken from an interview by Albert Fried-Cassorla from May 5, 1997)
"His acute sense of perception keeps the purity of plants intact and that accuracy, combined with the grand scale of his work is what gives it a surreal and spellbinding appeal." (From HOME Magazine, September, 1993, article by Elana Frankel)
Tom quotes William Blake as a source of inspiration. "As I confront the mysteries of nature, Blake's words come to mind -'To see the world in a grain of sand and the universe in a wild flower'."
"Tom Steigerwald ... has realized that mother nature is a supreme and subtle designer to garner inspiration from orchids to roses, to fuchias, to hibiscus, to ferns, to poppies, to sunflowers, even the lowly bean are the root of the botanical art Tom creates." "His style, techniques, and concepts are original and fresh creating floral paintings with a new perspective as botanical depictions larger than life." (From Home/Life magazine, September/October, 1996)
From an Albert Fried-Cassorla interview from May 5, 1997: Albert: "There's so much variety in your imagination as to the background surfaces." Tom: "That's why I'm not a botanical painter, per se. I try to keep the integrity of the plant, but they're still paintings first. That's why I place them in playful or moody environments." Albert: "How do you chose a sculptural face to use in your paintings?" Tom: "I use them as a counterpoint to the flowers. No matter how spectacular you make a flower, human beings always go to the face right away. I make the face small so it doesn't overwhelm the flower. Fifty flowers equals one head, on a scale! The dynamics keeps you interested, visually."
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