Wild About Art - Art in Devon meets wildlife artist Steve Burgess who gets close up and personal

Wildlife art may not have universal appeal but Steve Burgess is universally admired for bringing Africa to life on canvas.

Steve Burgess was born in Bristol but as the son of a serviceman was educated in various schools around the world, this no doubt instilled in him an unquenchable thirst for travel. An artistic aptitude was also evident from a young age and he recalls his art teacher encouraging him to draw in ‘far greater depth and detail than his classmates’, a discipline which was to stand him in good stead for painting the natural world.

Deciding that a career in art was only for the select few, Steve joined the Royal Air Force as a ‘Ground Photographer’ where he received a comprehensive training in all photographic disciplines. This again would prove invaluable in future years enabling him to capture reference material to a professional standard. In 1984 he was awarded Associateship of the British Institute of Professional Photographers, two years later he left the RAF and joined the Avon and Somerset Constabulary and it was a further eight years before he finally decided to concentrate on an artistic career. Initially he painted aviation subjects for the USAF and RCAF but began to focus on wildlife until he was painting the ‘natural world to the exclusion of everything else.’ In 2003 he was juried into the American Society of Animal Artists, and in January 2004 was invited to join the Worldwide Nature Artists Group whose limited worldwide membership is just 500. ‘Being a signature member of these select groups helps me keep on improving my work as you need to be regarded as ‘one of the best’!

Steve’s inspiration inevitably comes from the places he has travelled and the wildlife he has seen; ‘Nothing can compare to witnessing animals ‘up close, and personal’ in their natural habitats such as the plains of Africa, I try to remember everything, storing in sketch books and cameras, details of rocks, trees and insects, and when looking at animals I study them as though I may never see them again.’

A particular pose of an animal might inspire him to paint but as Steve explains, ‘95% of the moves an animal makes will not make for a good painting; ‘if the pose or the lighting do not compliment each other, there is always artistic license, allowing you to transpose an animal or animals into a painting or background to make the best picture you can.’

Using fine Belgium linen canvas or gessoed board, Steve works in oils and paints in what he describes a ‘tight controlled manner’ although he recognises this is not to everyone’s taste those who buy his paintings prefer ‘realism rather than an impression’.
Before applying the first stroke of paint, Steve will sketch an outline for the composition; he may bring together three or four ideas from different scenes relying on field sketches, photos and memory. Unlike many artists, Steve works on one painting through to completion before starting another. ‘I paint the picture in acrylics first, not in any great detail but to get a feel for the colour and how the subject works. This takes only a few hours then the detail has to be overlaid in oil which can take a few weeks depending on the subject and size of painting. I always strive to make my current painting the best I have ever done but at the same time do not wish to reach the point where I am completely satisfied - where would I go from there?.

Although the animals are always painted in minute detail the foliage and background are slightly more impressionistic. ‘I know a painting is finished when I start to ’fiddle’ with different parts of it. That’s the time to put the brushes down.’
Its not often Steve isn’t without a brush in his hand, starting at 9am each morning he will often work a 15 hour day. ‘Painting in the winter is sometimes difficult due to the lack of natural light, he says, ‘I often resort to halogen lighting but this can lead to very tired eyes after a few hours. If I am not painting I am usually formulating ideas for new paintings or trawling through endless reference material’

On the rare occasion when Steve downs his brushes you will most likely find him at the zoo with his family – it seems his family share his passion for animals too. ‘My thoughts are never far from Africa, he concludes, ‘ my Masai friends have bestowed the honour of a Masai name upon me ‘OLAISHORANI’ meaning ‘one who paints and draws pictures’.