Artists' Faire Fine Art Gallery & Gifts

Richard Stewart

            Tampa-based photographer/artist, Richard Stewart, has worked as a journalist and photographer for more than 30 years.  He received his BA in Communications from UC Berkeley in 1972 and has traveled extensively.
            He has worked as a photojournalist, portrait photographer and commercial photographer.  A travel book on Istanbul, that he wrote and illustrated with his photographs, was published in 1975.  More recently, he has focused on fine art photography, which he prints on watercolor paper and canvas, using archival pigmented inks.  Large-size, multi-panel canvas works are stretched and finished in a gallery wrap.  Subjects include florals, land and seascapes, wildlife and European travel scenes.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

            To me, a fine art photograph starts with a compelling image that captures the viewer's attention and imagination and evokes some feeling or emotion.  Creating it involves controlling light and tonal values and eliminating elements that distract.
            I've embraced digital photography because of the wide range of creative options it offers.  I use computer tools in much the same way I once used darkroom tools to achieve similar results.  With a digital pen and digitizing tablet, plus an array of software programs, filters and digital techniques, I work to create images that are unique.
            Occasionally, I take digital technology a step further, using the digital tools to create painterly, impressionistic effects to enhance my photographs.  I soften lines, mute the colors and alter tonal values to impart the look and feel of watercolors, while maintaining photographic realism.
            My large-size, single and multi-panel photographs are printed on canvas with pigmented inks and sealed with UV-protective coatings.  Gallery-wrapped photographs are stretched over deep wooden bars, with the image continuing down all four sides, providing an added dimension of depth.  My portfolio also includes black and white images dating back to 1968, when I lived and worked in Istanbul, Turkey.

Please Note: All images are copyrighted and belong to the artist.