Siouxland Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 6 - version 2

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“At that time, Europe was just a better place for a career
as an artist,” explained Blenderman.
He left college and returned to Europe to pursue a career
as an artist.
“When I was in my early 20’s, I was in Europe. It was
during more of a pop art, abstract period, but I never
fully embraced that. I wanted as many people as possible
to have immediate access to my art. I wanted them to
be able to view my work, and not have to go through
any intellectual explanations or learning processes,”
explained Blenderman.
Sturm and Drang: This is a landscape painting by Steve.
It is symbolic of the Sky God’s in cloud formation, fighting
over the Earth Goddesses.
“I finished high school and went to Germany with the
YFU Exchange Program. If I hadn’t had that experience
to live and study in Europe, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
That was the most important, crucial experience of my
life!” Blenderman stated.
From 1973-76, Blenderman lived and worked as an artist
in Berlin, from ’76-’78 he lived and worked in London,
and from ’78 to ’83 he lived and worked in Paris.
“When I lived in West Berlin, I realized that I had to make
a decision as to what style of art I should pursue. My true
desire was to reach as many people as possible in the
easiest way. Therefore, I knew that the figurative form
(portraits) was the most accessible to anyone. My works
have multiple levels of content which can be understood
Returning to the US, he worked as a courier at St. Luke’s
hospital. He had met a woman in Germany and fallen
in love with her. His goal was to earn enough money in
order to purchase a ticket and return to Germany and
marry her. After a year of working at St. Luke’s, he had
the money he needed. His father gave him some sage
advice when he left.
“My father had told me that if things didn’t work out, I
could return to the US, and he would pay for me to go
to any school I wanted for college. I had already been
accepted at the University of Iowa,” said Blenderman.
Unfortunately, things did not work out with the young
woman in Germany. That, however, did allow him to
travel extensively in Europe with his friends and visit
many well-known art pieces. But he knew he needed to
return to the US to go to college.
“I went to the University of Iowa when I was 20, which was
1971. I had so much experience seeing the world the
two times I was in Europe that nobody else had. That was
a great advantage there. You get a more realistic grip on
life as well,” said Blenderman.
He majored in print making, and went to classes for two
whole years, summers included. Although he loved his
time at Iowa, he longed for life back in Europe.
Steve likes to build his own frames, housings as he refers to
them, for his paintings if at all possible. It allows him to use his
passion for architecture with his artworks. Left, The Queen of
Sheba: The Queen of Sheba is the first figure mentioned in
the Hebrew Bible. In the original story, she brings a caravan
of valuable gifts for the Israelite King Solomon. Right, Joseph
and His Coat of Many Colors:. This is based on the Biblical
story of Joseph, and how he was betrayed and abandoned
by his brothers due to their jealousy of him being his father’s
favorite son.