Stephen Schubert

Inhaling the scent of a water lily at the age of eight at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens was, I believe, the first time I experienced intoxication. I was in the Japanese exhibit and I remember getting down on my knees, bending over a water pond and leaning toward a bright blue, purple tinged flower and breathing in. The combined beauty and exotic fragrance imprinted in my mind forever.

And so began my love affair with the Japanese culture, which led me to the phrase, ‘Kohan ni Shitagau.’ It literally means to follow the request.

At age 33, I had a dream…and so began my art career. Kohan ni Shitagau…

‘Kohan ni Shitagau’ is a basic principle in Japanese garden design which asks us to listen to the land to see what action to take. I love that; it seemed natural to apply that to all areas of my life.

I studied everything from garden design to Judo. I had a crazy sense of balance when I was younger and although I didn’t formally attend, became the lead sparring partner for the West Point Judo team. I found myself studying many of the principles borne of this culture that surfaced in unexpected and profound ways.

At age thirty-three, I started painting. I literally woke up from a dream and pursued the creation of wha...

Hmmmm, I am a self taught artist and would love to share some insight...TECHNIQUE:

One of my greatest pleasures is cooking. I read a book on neuro gastronomy and realized certain pairings work because their molecular structures are similar, so I started playing with that idea. I began to combine elements such as sea salt and olive oil into my paintings. Salt, mixed with pigment and water creates crystallized patterns in paint, which become very interesting to the eye. Cooking, like painting, is a matter of blending the right combinations of things together. Good creative acts are an amalgamation of the right combination of things in relation to each other; whether it’s a great sauce or a painting, my approach is the same.


I work on birch panels, they remind me of a stage, which is where I started my first career as an actor. After prepping the front and back of a framed birch panel, I have a semi-circle of gallon paints opened at the ready.

Kitchen tools, foam, rags, boards and anything from Home Depot can make interesting painting mates, although primarily, I use a spackle knife.

Dragging, spraying, dripping, smearing and scraping are all part of the process. Varying amounts of pressure applied with my spackle kn...

Charities

Beverly Hills Fireman’s Association Fireman’s Backdraft Ball silent auction

Beverly Hills Police Association black tie ball silent auction

The Make-a-Wish Foundation

West Hollywood Art Walk, Pacific Design Center’s silent auction for charity, CA




Commissions
American Lung Association, Washington ,DC 2009
Created piece entitled,”Breathe”, which was purchased and donated; now gracing the lobby of the new national headquarters

North Hollywood/NOHO Gateway Sculpture 2000-2003
Commissioned by the City of North Hollywood/CRA for a 15 foot tall bronze installed prominently at the 5-way traffic island “gateway” to the new NOHO Arts District.

San Diego International Landscape and Design Expo, San Diego 2002-2003
Commissioned to create signage for the exhibitions on site headquarters.

Community of Angels Project 2001
Selected to design and produce one of Los Angeles “Angels” for the Community of Angels Project. Created “Tara” sculpture, featured seated in a boat in downtown Los Angeles renowned Cal Plaza. Auctioned for charity by Sotheby’s Los Angeles.

ADEX Award 2000
Received Design Journal Award for Design Excellence in ...