Windswept Fine Art Gallery
Jan 3, 2026
Plein Air landscape paintings by Steven R. Hill
Steven R Hill moved to Lopez Island in May, 1974, fresh out of Graduate School at Washington State University (MFA), with two other artists, Shirley Wright and Bernie Sundell, as a business partner to build and establish a private art school, known as Grayling Gallery. They were all following a big dream to make Lopez Island their permanent home and a place where they could teach and create art full-time.
The reality of the project, was that it was going to take many years to finish, not the few months they had all envisioned.
After 8 months with the project, non-stop 10-12 hour workdays, Steven left the partnership to become the first ever full time art teacher at Lopez High School, where he also met his wife, Judy. They were married in 1975 and have raised 3 sons on the island. He taught art there for 5 years, before starting a successful graphic arts company,Island Graphics, which also led to establishing the first newspaper on Lopez in 1983,The Islands Weekly. He sold the newspaper to Sound Publishing, in 2001, to become a full-time artist.
His artwork has since won over 114 top awards/honors in international level juried art competitions, resides in countless homes, permanent museum/national parks collections and has been published in leading contemporary Fine Art Magazines and books. He has also participated in many invitational juried exhibits, including the Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy,(2011) representing the U.S. and The Annual Chelsea International, NYC, 2009, among others. Perhaps his most prestigious honor was to win "The Superintendent's Purchase Award" at the 2014 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, which put his pastel in the permanent collection with iconic artists like Thomas Moran, Maynard Dixon and other notable artists,over the past century. In 2018, he was nominated and voted into the Salmagundi Club, NYC, Americas oldest and most prestigious art organization,founded 1871.
He works in pastel, oils, drawing & watercolor and paints all over the islands, the U.S, Europe, and even Cuba in the style of "plein air" which literally translates to outdoors, on-site - always in front of live subjects and ever changing light conditions.
His primary goal is to make the viewer feel like they are immersed in his painting, through his creative and spontaneous use of color. As one NYC review put it . . . "Hill's vibrant colors run like an electric undercurrent throughout his works, making them tremendously exciting and fresh" (Artist Spectrum Magazine review, August 2010).
Visit his water-front art gallery at 783 Port Stanley Rd.,where well over 100 of his original works are always available for viewing and purchase. Open 11-5 daily, unless we're travelling. It's always best to call or email/text ahead to ensure a private appointment. 360-472-0468
The reality of the project, was that it was going to take many years to finish, not the few months they had all envisioned.
After 8 months with the project, non-stop 10-12 hour workdays, Steven left the partnership to become the first ever full time art teacher at Lopez High School, where he also met his wife, Judy. They were married in 1975 and have raised 3 sons on the island. He taught art there for 5 years, before starting a successful graphic arts company,Island Graphics, which also led to establishing the first newspaper on Lopez in 1983,The Islands Weekly. He sold the newspaper to Sound Publishing, in 2001, to become a full-time artist.
His artwork has since won over 114 top awards/honors in international level juried art competitions, resides in countless homes, permanent museum/national parks collections and has been published in leading contemporary Fine Art Magazines and books. He has also participated in many invitational juried exhibits, including the Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy,(2011) representing the U.S. and The Annual Chelsea International, NYC, 2009, among others. Perhaps his most prestigious honor was to win "The Superintendent's Purchase Award" at the 2014 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, which put his pastel in the permanent collection with iconic artists like Thomas Moran, Maynard Dixon and other notable artists,over the past century. In 2018, he was nominated and voted into the Salmagundi Club, NYC, Americas oldest and most prestigious art organization,founded 1871.
He works in pastel, oils, drawing & watercolor and paints all over the islands, the U.S, Europe, and even Cuba in the style of "plein air" which literally translates to outdoors, on-site - always in front of live subjects and ever changing light conditions.
His primary goal is to make the viewer feel like they are immersed in his painting, through his creative and spontaneous use of color. As one NYC review put it . . . "Hill's vibrant colors run like an electric undercurrent throughout his works, making them tremendously exciting and fresh" (Artist Spectrum Magazine review, August 2010).
Visit his water-front art gallery at 783 Port Stanley Rd.,where well over 100 of his original works are always available for viewing and purchase. Open 11-5 daily, unless we're travelling. It's always best to call or email/text ahead to ensure a private appointment. 360-472-0468
"Morning Sun Shadows" was painted en plein air near Center Church on Lopez Island, June 2023 and was selected in the Top 100 finalists in the Plein Air Salon Competition published by Plein Air Magazine, September 2023. It is available at Windswept Fine Art Gallery on Lopez.
"Fisherman Bay Winter Sunset" was awarded best plein air pastel in the annual August 2024 Salon Competition by Plein Air Magazine, our of 865 worlwdie entries
Time Flow at Dubrovnik, Croatia
Time lapse painting with Steve.