Steven Stanley Artist-Painter

Hi, I’m Steven Stanley, a painter based in the beautiful city of Bendigo, Australia, where I work from my home studio (usually surrounded by coffee cups, brushes, and the occasional burst of inspiration).

I’m 41 years old and have been a professional, self-representing artist for the past five years. My journey into painting hasn’t been a straight line, more like a colourful, messy path with a few splatters along the way. Like many artists, I’ve spent a lot of time asking, “Who am I as an artist?” The answer changes, but I’ve learned to embrace that.

I’ve always been drawn to nature and landscapes, but portraiture is where my heart really comes alive. There’s something about capturing human emotion on canvas that keeps me coming back. I love creating work that feels romantic, raw, and energetic, not overly polished, but relatable. I want my paintings to feel like a conversation with the viewer, one that invites reflection or shifts perspective, even just a little.

My work explores themes of colour, beauty, and emotion. I use a mix of materials, inks, acrylics, oils, pastels and glazing. I often layer in flowers, birds, and expressive female forms as a nod to nature and the inner world. My style is intuitive and emotive, more about feeling than perfection.

Ultimately, I paint to connect with myself, with others and with something bigger than all of us. If a piece happens to make someone smile, feel seen, or tilt their head and say, “I don’t know why, but I love this,” then I feel like I’ve done my job.