Evan Stephens

I'm a hobbyist landscape painter living in the mountains of the American West. I was born and raised in Utah, where I still live today.

Many of my paintings begin their life en plein air—painted on location. This traditional approach brings a vitality to my work that's difficult to achieve when painting from photographs. Plus, I love being in out of doors. I've always had an artistic streak and a desire to make things. I picked up oil painting in 2012, and while I’m proud of the progress I’ve made, I know there’s more to learn. That’s part of what keeps me coming back.

Some artists paint to express themselves or to make a statement, which is great. But for me, the motivation is simpler: I’m inspired by the beauty that surrounds us. Most often, that beauty is found in nature, but sometimes it appears in quiet, everyday moments. My goal is to capture it in ways that photography alone can’t—creating work that moves people, second only to being there in person.

People often ask if painting is relaxing. It’s a fair question. For some, it might be. But for me, each painting is a challenge—an attempt to create something beautiful. It’s never easy. Sometimes I'm satisfied with the results. Other times, I wonder what the heck I'm doing. But there’s joy to be found in the struggle.

In real life, I work as a project and operations manager with a busy family. I'm fortunate that my understanding family occasionally lets me sneak away—either into the mountains or the studio—to spend some time at the easel.

I hope you enjoy my work.

If you would like to follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/evan.stephens.art