Steve Mueller at his home-studio

Continuing with my studio/ shop visits for the series on Contemporary Sculptors of Chicago..

May 6, 2013: Visited home-studio of sculptor-painter Steve Mueller

This was more than my usual studio visits , as Steve Mueller is a co-owner of Vector Custom Fabricating;
and I am making a website documenting the Art of Fabrication at Vector,  click here..

 

I wanted to visit Steve’s studio for three specific reasons: One, to see the High Lake Sculpture Garden, that he and his wife Debbie owns, two, to see his paintings, and three, to meet his wife Debbie.  All three equally important to me!!!  Luckily the day we fixed for the visit, Monday, May 6, turned out to be a beautiful spring day. My half-an-hour drive to his house was most gorgeous, with clear blue sky, fresh green grass and pink and white flowers blooming all through the driveway.  Spotting the house was the easiest thing to do with so many sculptures in the yard, especially eye-catching is the huge “Buffalo” by Mike Baur [image below].  By 12.30, I was there. Steve and Debbie showed me their wonderful sculpture garden, and I enjoyed hearing the stories behind each one of them. We stopped for lunch. Steve made some delicious sandwiches and salads which we had with white wine.  Then I took some more photographs of the sculpture park and saw his paintings. These paintings are amazing, with the vibrant sunburnt and rust colors and rugged appeal. I will write more about his paintings later in the post..   But that was not the end of my trip.  When I was almost ready to leave,  in the most pleasantly unexpected way, Steve asked, if I would be interested in visiting Mike Baur’s  home-studio.  I was more than happy!  Overall a fantastic day! I reached home by 6pm, with plenty of photographs to share.

Thank You Debbie, Steve and Mike for a wonderful day!

This day-trip will result in three posts:
High Lake Sculpture Garden, click here..
Visit to Home-Studio of Steve Mueller
Visit to home studio of Mike Baur

 

 

In front of “Buffalo” – by Mike Baur

For more on High Lake Sculpture Garden,  click here..

 

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May 6, 2013:  Paintings by Steve Mueller

 

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One of the most remarkable aspect of these paintings are the vibrant colors. These are neither from oil-paint, not water-color, but Natural Earth Pigments (Ochre) which he uses for painting

 

 

 

Another prominent feature noticeable in his paintings is the recurrence of “mounds”.  He explains that these originate from his childhood impressions of Australian Outback, where oversized termite mounds are an integral part of the landscape.  He emphasized that  what we see in his paintings are not termite mounds,  but in a strange way influenced by it.  Probably the effect of Australian Outback  also explains the sunburnt, deep rust colors and the rugged looks of his paintings.

 

 

 

 

While I am at this, I would also like to mention an exhibition last year [2012],
“Rugged Elegance – by Mike Baur and Stephen Mueller”, at Fermilab Art gallery  click here..

 

Rugged Elegance – by Mike Baur and Stephen Mueller
Fermilab Art Gallery [July 16, 2012 – September 17, 2012] For more, click here..

 

By 5.30 pm all the three specific reasons, for which I took the trip to Steve’s house were accomplished: I saw the High Lake Sculpture Garden, saw Steve’s paintings and most importantly, I enjoyed meeting with Debbie and spent some time just chatting about our lives. In addition, I also saw Mike Baur’s home-studio and photographed many of his work!!!
So the day was good, beyond my expectations!!
Thanks Again to Debbie, Steve and Mike for a wonderful, memorable day!

 

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