From blank paper to a window into the soul
Constantia Kloof resident debuts collection of hand-drawn masterpieces
Through the stoke of a pencil and the shade of a line, some are able to replicate the very things that make us human.
The ability to turn blank paper into a striking artwork is surely a gift reserved for the virtuosos. For the past three years, Steve Lowery has been painstakingly compiling his interpretations of the human form into a collection he can now proudly display. Steve has produced an ensemble of hand-drawn portraits that bend the association between expert photography and pencil strokes into a powerful illustration of emotion.
His luxury apartment on the slopes above Constantia Drive has been transformed into a quaint art space that matches the splendour of the view from the balcony. The flamboyant artist debuted his portfolio on Sunday, 18 April, at a stylish yet understated exhibition of excellence. Wine and an assortment of hors d’oeuvres lubricated the senses as Steve elaborated on how the pieces came to life and what drives him to put pencil to canvas.
With a penchant for male erotica, Steve studies the essence of magnetism in precise detail. “The word I would use is ‘sensual’, not necessarily sexual,” explained Steve. Great artists are not defined by genre, though, as he has done several commissions of family pets and portraits of near and dear loved ones. “It is about capturing the personality of the subject. It is about achieving perfection through shading, contrast and knowledge of your tools,” he said.
Each portrait takes between four and five days to complete and contains as many pencil strokes as there are fibres in the subject’s being. A linear image is projected onto his canvass where after the left-hander begins his process of manipulating the spirit of the piece. He admits that each piece is getting easier to complete, but knows exactly what the crux of each drawing is. “It is all in the eyes,” he said with a wide-eyed emphasis.
His Sunday afternoon soiree was an opportunity to gather close confidants and industry influentials to release his passion upon the world. After 41 years in the marketing and design sphere, this deeply personal change of pace can be viewed by appointment, and Steve welcomes interaction at stevel@mweb.co.za or 082 851 4854.
New to the art scene, Steve is showing that all hidden talents need an avenue of expression.
