Steve White     
Artist of the Eighteenth Century Frontier
By Charles Hays

Steve White, the artist, is as comfortable and competent holding a brush as Steve White the eighteen century re-enactor is comfortable and competent sighting his flintlock rifle. A major reason for his familiarity with both the tools of his trade and the tools of his hobby.  Steve works with both sets of tools to the point that they become an extension of him rather than simply objects he holds.

Steve White doesn’t simply pick up accouterments; he uses the accouterments until its second nature to him.  An excellent example is his 1770’s period hunting coat, patterned after the La Mauer coat in the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia.  He wore the coat around the house, gallery, and community until he became thoroughly accustomed to the feel and weight of the garment.  Now when he wears the coat, it is like adding a second skin rather than putting on a garment.

Steve treats all accouterments in this manner.  His museum research has left him with the knowledge of what is appropriate for the items he uses both in living history events and for props in his paintings of 18th Century American Indians.

Steve’s research is not limited to museums.  He is an avid reader of Dale Payne’s books which Dale took verbatim from accounts in the Draper manuscripts.  He has the artist eye for detail in gleaning facts from print as well as from museum artifacts and line drawings.

He is currently working on a series of pictures of Eastern American Indians and pioneers.  Many of his models are American Indians or serious re-enactors.

Steve and his wife, Susan, live in a 1790’s log home in Mason County, Kentucky near the Warrior’s Trace.  He is represented by Eisele Gallery of Fine Art, Cincinnati, Ohio and White Gallery of Fine Art, Maysville, Kentucky.  His historical work is also exhibited at invitational museum and gallery shows nation wide.

He is a member of the Contemporary Longrifle Association, the Kentucky Corps of Longrifles, and the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, the Kentucky Crafted Market, and Watercolor U.S.A Honor Society.

In 1977 Steve earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in art education, from Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky.  He has taught landscape painting, figure painting and figure drawing.  He has been a professional artist since 1991.
 
His work has won many awards which include, The Medal of Honor Award from the American Artist Professional League, Salmagundi Club, 47th Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.  His painting the “The Marble Players” was purchased for $6,500.00 by the Dunagan Museum, Bolivar, Missouri, from a Watercolor U.S.A. exhibition, Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri.  Other awards include an Honor Award from the Butler Institution of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio and Best of Show award from the Northeast Kentucky Artist Guild.

His art has appeared on the cover of national magazines and books. He is a published author of short stories and historical essays.

Steve’s paintings can be found in museums, corporate, and private collections.

You can view Steve’s historical art at www.stevewhiteart.com