STEPHEN HENRY

I was born in the Dallas suburb of Lewisville, Texas, to MH and Ruth Henry.  MH Henry, a WWII veteran and professional rodeo cowboy, was a master sign painter, as well.  He was also an accomplished western artist, and was a magnificent storyteller with his work.  Needless to say, his influence "rubbed off" onto me, and I grew up with an interest in drawing and painting.

We moved to the town of Bowie, Texas when I was 11 years old.  Bowie was geographically located where the rolling Texas prairie meets the edge of the cross timbers, and was home to the hardscrabble ways of life familiar to the oil fields, farmers and ranchers.  It was in the heart of "Comancheria", or the territory frequently raided and terrorized by the "Lords of the Plains", the Comanches.  To say the least, I was steeped in the traditions and lore of the rural west, and I was enamored by the history of my home.

Of the many advantages of growing up in a small town, there was one disadvantage: I did not have a formal Art class in my secondary school.  Nonetheless, I held on to my love of drawing and painting, and learned what I could from my father.  After high school, I joined the US Army, hoping to pay for a degree in Commercial Art after my enlistment period.

It was during my first years at Midwestern Sate University that I discovered my passion for teaching.  I felt a "calling" to help young people who yearned to be creative. It happened after volunteering to teach at a youth summer camp.  I guided a group of elementary aged kids through a pinch-pot making process, and it was an incredible experience!

Twenty-two years later, after teaching art to kids of all ages,  I find myself in the mountains of Northern Utah. I am beginning to shift the focus of my efforts from the journey of young creatives to the journey leading to my own artistic destination...

The Rockies have enchanted me.  I am spellbound by a landscape that at times is soothing and soft, with incredible presentations of rolling hills and back-lit meadows.  I am awed by power of the rivers as they move through the deeply-carved canyons, bathed in the dramatic shine of the half-light afternoon.  The juxtaposition of the beauty of snow alongside the bitterness of winter creates in me a melancholy sweetness. The peaks of the grandmother mountains, which stretch above the tree lines in naked, rocky abandonment, stop me in my tracks as they scrape the evening sky, set aflame by the light of the sinking sun.  The mountain-desert vistas, with their vast arrays of flora and fauna, are proof that beauty can be created by harsh conditions.  These are but a few of my muses found in the area in which I now call home.  Coupled with my fondness of the cowboy and rural ways of life, I have been gradually composing the notes of my visual song.

My creations, which include a variety of paintings, drawings, hand-made prints and occasional 3D pieces are meant to be reflective of my journey, and spiritually speaking, my destination.  I pray that what I make and have made will not only fulfill my creative needs, but also bless the lives of those who have made my art a part of their homes and families.

God bless you and yours, and I hope to see you down the trail! 

Visit my Studio at The Monarch

Located in the heart of the Nine Rails Creative District in downtown Ogden, Utah, The Monarch is a community where artists, creative businesses and makers connect, inspire and create together. Join us the first Friday evening of every month for Ogden City’s “First Friday Art Stroll”, to view available works, current works in progress, or just to chat!

Where in the World is Plein Air?

Snippet about WITWIPA, and what year you were featured. Will link to the website