My name is Steve Larson. There are a lot of Steve Larson’s and several Larson Fine arts in this world, so which one am I? First of all, I am the product of Helen and Albert Larson of Benson and Truman, Minnesota. My father was a hobby painter his entire adult life. I have memories of his oil painting set-ups in the basement of our home in Truman and more recently in his retirement home in Benson. His paintings hang in our home in Starbuck, Minnesota today as a memorial to his talent and imprint on my life.

I have studied art at the University of Minnesota, Morris and Mankato State University, Mankato, Minnesota. My real art study came later in life, when I was ready to accept my gift from a place in my Heart, not just my head. I began to study text books from libraries, painted in isolation and took workshops at the Albert Lea, Minnesota art center. During this time I met Stu Botten, a really special watercolorist from the White Bear Lake area of St. Paul, Minnesota. He became my mentor, teacher and good friend. He died a few years ago at the Minneapolis Veteran’s Care Center. The night he died, I had a very odd dream. Stu walked me through a landscape with trees, a shaded lane and a small home. It wasn’t until I woke up that I saw the dream landscape and architecture was in his style. I turned to my wife, Eileen, and said “Stu Died”. We found out the next day that Stu had died that very night. This wasn’t just a random firing of neurons in my brain. It was a real time transaction between two physically separated friends, an affirmation of the seamlessness between this world and the next.

My work is intended to give visual pleasure. Once in a while I will throw in a humorous or philosophical piece...I am very much that person too. I blame my heritage for the occasional eruption of humor. (7/8 Norwegian and 1/8 Swedish) (Picture a big dog chasing his little tail) Really, who am I? I am the product of a loving family, secure home and summers at a small cabin in West Central Minnesota. I have been inspired and changed by Jesus, Joel S. Goldsmith (do a web search), M.C. Escher, Stu Botten, the Moody Blues and the word “ALL”. A lot more people have influenced my life (insert my wife and 3 children in the above list) but I didn’t want this to start sounding like a Christmas newsletter.

So, if you have taken the time to read my personal information, maybe you could also take the time to contact me. I would be happy to discuss commissioned work or any other questions you might have regarding my art. Thank you.

Steven Louis Larson