🌠 Steve Hanks Biography

A Knight of the Legion of Honor, a universally recognized master of conservative style and mythological subject matter, the artist Pierre Auguste Cote.

What do we know about Steve Hanks as a person? Probably not much. He was born in sunny San Diego, California, seventy years ago. His family was nothing special - they were ordinary people living a measured life on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The only thing young Steve could be proud of was his father - a veteran of World War II, a naval pilot with many awards for his service.


Since childhood, Hanks felt a deep affection for the ocean. If he were asked what captivated him most in his youth, he would mention the sea: its noisy waves, fresh wind and endless spaces. This sea filled him with energy when he stood on a surfboard, rushed along the waves, to the cries of seagulls, to the very horizon.

His muse was always next to him, inspiring him to create watercolor masterpieces. He first met her under unusual circumstances: one day, finding himself in a difficult situation on the water, he helped an inexperienced surfer get to the shore. This experience, meeting a mysterious and beautiful girl, awakened sincere feelings in him. He plunged headlong into creativity, creating a series of sunny watercolors inspired by this moment.


Steve Hanks is called one of the outstanding masters of watercolor painting. He was unable to work with oil paints due to allergies, but it was watercolor that became a means of expressing his soul. His works are imbued with warmth and realism, achieving a softness in the depiction of objects and living figures that others rarely manage to achieve.

When Hanks was asked what style he considered his paintings to be, he replied that he had created a unique “emotional realism”. His works are recognizable: the faces of the characters remain in the shadows, without coming to the foreground. The artist conveys feelings through posture, the position of the hands and the play of light, which becomes a special participant in each painting.


Hanks found new sources of inspiration in his family life. Raising three children opened up the themes of motherhood, childhood, and care, which were also reflected in his watercolors.

Hanks has received numerous awards for his achievements, including the Gold Medal of the National Academy of Western Art. His works continue to inspire and touch the hearts of viewers, leaving a mark on art and reminding us of every moment lived.