A picture is said to be worth a thousand words and that is true when you view a painting by Steve Hills. Yes, he's back in Florida, painting the local scenes while capturing the melancholy memories of the way it used to be, and how it looks now.

Steve's paintings present a spectrum of this areas varied ambiance from the natural beauty of the white sands of Florida to the ram-shackled enchantment of weather-beaten gas stations and beach houses. There is a constant demand for his boat and house portraits.

Although a modest man, Steve Hills' background is extraordinary. He sold his first watercolor to his fourth grade teacher. Steve was enrolled at John McCrady Art School in New Orleans and at the same time, worked for Bryant Galleries. He was responsible for the graphics department of the Berlin Brigade during his service in the army.

Steve's watercolor paintings are held in private collections in Europe and throughout the U.S. He received his formal art education with a BA from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. He has received numerous awards from juried shows and also has a teaching background.

For several years, Steve was involved with commercial illustration and design agencies in New Orleans and in California. He worked with such clients as Bell Telephone, Mo-Town Records, Mattel Toys, Continental Airlines and many more.

Whether it's the East Coast or the West Coast, Steve's favortie subjects are the ocean, boats, people on the beach, houses with character and old gas stations. He is a master colorist. He knows color and just how far to push it. He enhances every subject with a sensitive and fluid touch. The viewer has the enjoyment of discovering that they sort of relate to the paintings and put themselves into it. Steve wants to convey a feeling in his paintings. He paints subjects that we might assume ordinary or take for granted, and then will show you even more beauty through his painting. For example, Steve will take a rusty old boat in a harbor, with scattered shadowed highlights of light blues and purples and then lure you with his warm hospitality of colors into the boat for a ride or fishing trip. His beautifully painted skies and reflections in water are enhanced by his masterly controlled "wet-into-wet" technique. Subtly, he details and accents certain specific areas of the painting. Somehow, he always seems to successfully leave some white showing through his watercolor paper. It is intentional in order to make water look like it is sparkling; or it may create a light direction to intensify emerald and cobalt blue water. And it is refreshing! Whatever he paints, you want to be there, and you are, through his painting!