Stephen Wysocki

I love to paint and am always painting, even when I don’t have a brush in my hand, I can’t get away from it, it's that simple. When I’m in my studio and run out of ideas I know it’s time to get out and do some Plein Air painting; then the subjects just appear.

My mission is to show beauty in the ordinary, to allow the viewer to experience an image they see every day in a new way. I gravitate to ordinary scenes and structures. I see the hard edge contrasts these everyday objects convey, and try to portray that in the hues and shadows of my paintings.

I am always looking to create an atmosphere in my work. I believe color can stand alone to convey a mood in a piece of work. I like to explore an image by playing with the many warm and cool tones.

This is what drives me to paint. I like to let the paint tell the story that I am trying to convey. I don't like to dwell on every detail for someone to see my intent, but I also don’t like my paintings to be muddy. I like them to be loose, wet on wet, what ever you call it, my painting style is not controlled—it's more of a discovery.

In the spring of 1990, I studied at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design for one semester. However influential, city life was not for me. I longed to be back in the Northwoods, and decided to continue my schooling at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, WI, where I spent five semesters. I finished my Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996 at the University of Wisconsin of Green Bay. During this time, I studied art abroad in England.

I have the honor of having works in the permanent collection of University of Wisconsin Green Bay, and in Bay College, Iron Mountain, MI.

I currently work at our family business, operating the Armstrong Creek Bison Ranch along with my father and brother.

           You can find my work at... 

Moondeer Art Gallery in Boulder Junction, WI.

The Bell Street Gallery in LaPoint WI, 

JCO’S Art Haus in Los Gatos CA. 

Sanctuary Handcrafted Goods in Traverse City MI. 

Montana Trails Gallery in Bozeman MT. 

Yellow Bird Art Gallery in Duluth and Grand Marais MN. 

Education

1996 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Major in Studio Arts, Minor in Graphic Arts

UWGB, Green Bay, WI

Upcoming Events

2022 Lighthouse Plein Air in West Palm Beach FL March 27 - April 2

Past Exhibits and Competitions

Paint the Town Plein Air Plymouth, WI. Best of Show 2014. 3rd place 2020.

Honorable Mention 2021.

Richeson 75th Art Competitions Third Place Landscape. Online Show. 2021.

Grand Maris MN Plein Air competition, Awarded POEM (Painting Of

Excellent Merit) top five paintings of the show. 2021. Juried in....

2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021.

Randy Higbee Art Gallery Costa Mesa, CA. Awarded "Collectors

Choice" in the show "Artistic Impression Exhibition"2021.

31st Annual Midwest Seasons, CVA Wausau, WI.

"Award of Excellence"2021.

Lighthouse Plein Air Fest. West Palm Beach FL, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021.

Awarded "Best Urban Landscape" 2020.

2019 Bluff Strokes IA Plein Air Competition October 6-12 2019.

2019 Door County Plein Air Festival July 21 -28.

2018 Collection Invitational Hardy Gallery, Fish Creek WI.7-20 to 8-26.

Harford County MD Plein Air Competition. Honorable Mention in

2016.....participated 2017 and 2018.

Telluride CO Plein Air Festival 2014.

Aspen CO Plein Air Competition 2014.