We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Steven Kean a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Steven, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I mostly discovered my purpose towards the tail end of an Independent Study in Printmaking at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. There were no credits involved, however, I was entertaining the idea of building my portfolio and applying to a master’s program. I was working in a restaurant at the time and was teaching art part-time in between the days and nights of waiting tables and bartending (I had to wash dishes first before moving up the ladder!) Talk about a humbling experience! I actually cooked for a bit as well (written in my 8th grade yearbook is that my dream job was a chef on a cruise boat.)
I’ve always liked creating and building things. Working with my hands. Bringing something new to life that otherwise would have remained a thought. It’s special, that feeling of ‘this thing exists because of your prior knowledge, mentors, experiences, thought processes, etc. but ultimately, your hands.
Rather than applying to the master’s program at UH Manoa, I opted to have a crack at giving it a solid effort of working as an artist, professionally. I rented and was a member of a shared studio space in Honolulu and had built up a large enough body of work from there and the Independent Study, to have my first solo exhibition. It was a pivotal moment in discovering my purpose. Seeing my work hung on the walls in a public space filled me with a sense of pride and accomplishment. I knew in my heart of hearts, that my passion for creating was the road I was supposed to be traveling on. It is a laborious one, and I am constantly grinding. Pushing myself to expand my creative and critical thinking and artistic development. There is no end of the road or finish line, only pauses and moments of reflection to dive deeper into the expansion of my art form.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an artist working primarily in the woodcut method of relief printmaking. My primary source of inspiration is the ocean, however, I have been studying landscapes in some of my recent work. I explore the dichotomy of stillness vs movement, translating a symbiotic connection of man and water into visual language. The sense of peace I have while in the ocean aligns with the feeling I have while creating. I seek to convey this in my work, depicting moments of time standing still yet somehow moving. It is a meditation of sorts and I have a passion for the process. The imagery at the root is created as a form of self-expression, the fact that some people enjoy it enough to purchase it, is just such an honor. I’m so humbled and grateful to be doing this. And even though it’s definitely not the easiest career path in life, for me it is the most fulfilling.
A couple of years ago, I acquired my own printing press and converted a space where my wife and I live into my home studio. (She’ll often remind me that my work has been spilling out into the surrounding hallways and other areas of our home, hah! Thanks for understanding Megumi!) My studio is the size of a small bedroom but has everything I need. The decision to purchase a press and the necessary tools/supplies was an investment in myself as an artist. And though I am super excited about being able to work at will from home with my current equipment, I’m already thinking about how and when I will obtain a larger press and more studio space. I’ll continue to crank out framed original woodcut prints and create products from them (t-shirts, giclee prints, stickers, etc.) This way, my work is accessible in a variety of formats and can be enjoyed by all ages and walks of life.
I am excited to say that I recently executed my largest commissioned project to date. It will be unveiled sometime in the coming months of 2023, so stay tuned if ya dig what I’m putting out there into the world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Work ethic. This was instilled from a young age by my mother and father while watching them raise me and my seven brothers and sisters. I reflect on my upbringing often and am so grateful to have come from a place full of love. There was a lot of work involved, in many different aspects. You have to put in the work. There is no way around it. It makes accomplishing a goal that much more fulfilling. And once you accomplish one goal, move on to the next. ‘Execute and move on’ my brother (and best man) Shaun likes to say. Sure enjoy what you have done, but don’t get stuck in the celebration. Keep moving forward, use it as fuel.
Do it for the love. Find your passion and go for it. Go all in. If you go halfway, you’re likely to stumble. There will be speedbumps along the road anyway but it’s how you navigate the ebb and flow of the process that matters. Enjoy the process. Find excitement in the small victories and accept the difficulties as opportunities to overcome. I can’t wait to figure out how to do this type of thinking. Strive for the ‘aha’ moments and don’t give up or give in. That said, rest and recovery are essential. That would be my third area of knowledge to share.
Find an activity or some kind of physical activity to clear your mind. For me, it’s surfing. It’s also time spent on the beach or in nature, going for a hike, snorkeling and swimming with my wife. Find something to release the chatter in the mind and the wear and tear of everyday life. Find time to relax.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
In the most recent years, it’s been my wife. I’ve had several mentors and teachers over the years, but ever since I started working from home, she has become vital in providing constructive criticism, unfiltered truths and words of encouragement. She keeps me honest and humble and supports me in so many ways. I am forever grateful to have her in my life and by my side.
Contact Info:
- Website: keanarts.com
- Instagram: @keanarts
Image Credits
Personal Photo (working in studio) by Lila Lee Additional Photos (portraits with/of artwork) by Megumi Kean
