Steven Nederveen
i. I work as a mixed media artist, merging my photography with acrylic paint.
ii. I do this creative work:
Because I want to share an interpretation of nature that reveals a deeper, more spiritual connection to people. Meditation informs these visions by giving me a sense of universal belonging and being part of something much larger. I use my work to distill parts of nature like waves and trees into emotionally engaging images that imbue a sense of shared inner spirit emerging from within.
iii. Personal qualities that help me in my work are:
Two fold: first is perseverance, to follow my creative impulses and see where they lead. Some are dead ends but each iteration builds on the overall direction and development of the work. Second, is trying to cultivate openness. I use meditation and time spent in nature to heighten my senses and take in my surroundings. It helps me as a person and as an artist. I try to use these insights to inform my work.
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Electric Clouds 2
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Evening Rest
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iv. The greatest challenges around doing this work is:
Articulating my vision in writing. I am an image maker and translate my intuition and insights visually. To put them into words is difficult for me.
v. Creative childhood hobbies:
I was obsessed with drawing and sculpture growing up, but I didn’t know where to look for proper inspiration. As a kid, I snuck off to the home decor section of the mall and thought: “these must be masterpieces.” I spent hours copying them. In fact, they were terrible ‘80s prints of flamingos and parrots. It wasn’t till a family vacation to the Rijksmuseum in Holland that opened my eyes to the likes of Rembrandt and Vermeer. From that moment, I was hooked.
vi. Other creators who inspire you:
I am fascinated by any artist that focuses on the art of the sublime. Marc Rothko was my first and biggest influence. I saw his Seagrams paintings at Tate Britain back in the early ‘90s. I had such a profound experience standing in front of those paintings that it reshaped everything I thought art could be and started me in a new direction. My latest obsession is with Olafur Eliasson, the Scandinavian installation artist. His creativity around the sublime, nature and audience engagement is endlessly inventive.
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Heart Of The Sea
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The Merging Of Water And Sky
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vii. Training that has helped me in this career:
My photography training during university was key. The painting part is largely self taught. My mother was a painter and I naturally picked it up from her.
viii. A common trap that can hurt people in this career:
Being dogmatic about your creative vision can really do yourself a disservice. I think it’s necessary to develop your own vision, be able to explain it and defend it, but also keep an ear to client and gallery feedback. Sometimes one painting in particular will get a ton of praise so it’s important to find out what they are responding to. Art should be about engaging with an audience in a kind of dialogue.
ix. Some proud career moments:
I work with some amazing galleries and I’m very proud to have developed such long, fruitful relationships. They become like family after time.
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Seaside Escape
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Sacred Tree
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x. If you want to work in my field, I suggest that you:
Cultivate your work to be uniquely you. Try to develop your artistic vision both technically as well as verbally. It’s YOU people want to see, so don’t be generic.
xi. A professional goal I have for the future:
Having my work in a museum is the pinnacle of success for me. Ideally I would like to do a collaborative project that brings in real life data about rising oceans combined with my own ‘inner spirit’ perspective.
xii. If you want to see my work, go to:
Opening Reception in Vancouver. May 4th
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Treasures of Light 1
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www.creatorsvancouver.com
Header: The Cascading Sunlight
