Steven Heward

 

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1956, to Grant and Phyllis Heward.

In the spring of 1961, I had my first lesson in art; I clearly remember walking home from church and my father asking me what color the mountains were. I told him mostly purple with blues, browns, pinks and grays.  He told me that the grays were the most beautiful of all. Another time he asked me "what color is a banana?"  Then he showed me all the subtle colors mixed with reflective light.

My bedroom walls had poster size drawings by my father hanging on them. I remember looking at them, seeing how simply he could draw a face.  Between my father's paintings and drawings and his great collection of books on art, of all kinds, I truly had my own personal museum. 

In 1969, I took private oil painting lessons after school, from my Junior High School teacher Jerry Durant. There is no finer teaching method for a young mind than the system he used. When I would ask him a question on something I didn't know how to paint, he would always say, "You're the artist. How are you going to paint it?"  It would force me to think deeper and figure out how to solve the problem.

My two High School Art teachers, Wayne Killpack and David Montgomery, also gave me great encouragement.

I first studied with Doyle Strong and Farrell Collette at Weber State College, and then transferred to the University of Utah. At the University of Utah I studied primarily under Alvin Gittins, but also took classes from Doug Snow, Gregory Hull and Paul Davis.

 

In 1963, at age 9, I won first place and $50.00 in Deseret News Pinocchio coloring contest.

In 1963, I won the Disney coloring contest, of Old Yeller.

In 1972, as a junior at Hillcrest High School, I took 2^nd place in the Springville Museum of Art, State High School Competition in Oil painting.

 

1974- Won four Art Scholarships.

1975- Won another Art Scholarship.

1975- Elton John’s portrait autographed.

Multiple, 1^st Place, State Fair Professional Oil Painting.

Multiple, 1^st Place, Salt Lake County Fair Professional Oil Painting.

Multiple, Grand Prize Honors, Salt Lake County Fair Professional Oil Painting.

1978 Hired by Alex Hailey (of Roots) to draw his ancestors at different ages and also to produce an artist’s concept of his ancestors farms and plantations.

Multiple one man shows.

A few years back, MTV interviewed me to document Painting Portraits on teeth.

 

Recent Awards:

2006 Grand Prize of $2,000.00 in Midway Plein Air Competition.

2006 Zion’s Bank Purchase Award.

2006 Midway City Purchase Award.

2006 Wilkerson Plein Air Competition 3^rd Place.

2006 Salt Lake County Fair Best of Show and Grand Prize.

2006 Salt Lake County Fair Professional Exhibitor of the Year.

 

2007 Second Place Midway Plein Air Competition - Earlier Work.

2007 Best in Show Ogden Valley Plein Air Competition.

2007 Best in Show Spring City Plein Air Competition.

2007 Best of Show and Grand Prize Salt Lake County Fair.

2007 Professional Exhibitor of the Year Salt Lake County Fair.

2007 Second Place Escalante Canyon Plein Air Competition.

2007 Best in Show Sandy Art Show.

2007 Sandy City Purchase award.

2008 One Man Show for March-April at AVH, Thirteen Oil Paintings on display.

2007 One Man Show for November –December at SCSCC, Forty Oil Paintings on Display.