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Steve Solomon’s State of the Art
FRONT & CENTER
Portlander Steve Solomon’s State of the Art
By Ellen Braunstein
STAR OF
Steve Solomon can’t draw by hand, but that hasn’t stopped him from lighting up Instagram feeds with his daily postings of colorful and mesmerizing digital art.
The Jewish resident of Portland makes rich, abstract and complex fractal collages with a mouse and computer – a creative endeavor he launched late in life.
“I’ve been trying not just to grow my business, but to develop as an artist with new ways of expressing myself,” said Solomon, who is 64.
He loves digital art as opposed to hand-painted art “because you start seeing all kinds of free-floating images that weren’t there to begin with. You can bend, stretch and reshape a digital image.”
Solomon is also a singer/songwriter and video artist. “I get to combine my artwork with original music and that’s pretty well received.”
The Jewish Star of David and the chai are images that finds their way onto his digital canvasses. “I find that especially in the digital realm the Jewish symbols come up,” he said.
Solomon’s artwork was featured in a Jewish magazine in the Netherlands. “They got a hold of me through Instagram and it’s kind of cool because I’m on the cover.” The image is heavenly, blue and ethereal, like the ocean and sky combined, he said.
Solomon’s connection to the Jewish community extends to his presence on Facebook groups. “If it’s a Jewish group concerned with exposing antisemitism and protecting Israel, I join it. My hope is that the United States will once again become an ally to Israel. I want to make sure that Israel stays Israel.”
Solomon became a bar mitzvah at Congregation Neveh Shalom and was taught by Rabbi Phillip Kleinman. “I was his favorite student because I could sing and all the other little boys were going through puberty and couldn’t sing. So, he liked me a lot.” Until he was in his 40s, he sang like Boy George, Solomon said.
Music remains a big part of his life. Solomon sings and plays the keyboard and synthesizer keyboard, which can create the sound of any instrument. “I’m very eclectic. In the past four years, I’ve been creating atmospheric and relaxation music. I do like synthetic pop sound and I love folk, country and ballads.”
Solomon used to perform in clubs up and down the west coast. From 1989 to 2014, he was the owner of a video rental store chain, Impulse Video.
He combines music with his art. “You can transition from one effect to another and choose appropriate music that fits that video. Most of mine are very soothing and meditative.”
The process of creating art begins with a starting point, he said. “You never know where you’re going to end up. When writing music, you hit a note on the piano and the next thing, you’re writing a song. The same thing with digital art. You start with a basic concept, and, as opposed to someone who actually is painting, they are limited to their strokes and their easel and the colors at hand. I have an infinite array of tools and all kinds of programs.”
His digital artwork is available on coffee mugs, tapestries, canvas, wood, jigsaw puzzles, posters, framed print and more. Check out his work on Instagram at @Steve757 or www.artpal.com/ Steve757 and www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/4-steve-solomon STEVE SOLOMON
