As an avid outdoorsman, Steven can be found in the woods any time of the year. Growing up in northern Minnesota provided ample opportunities for him to foster his love for the outdoors. Whether he has his bow in his hand, is on the prowl for shed antlers, or is just hiking with his wife and kids, one thing is certain—he is always on the lookout for winged creatures. This love for birds is something that was passed down to Steven from his late grandfather. “He was always doing something related to birds” Steve said of his grandfather. “Building a birdhouse or designing a heated bird bath, hanging things in his picture window to keep birds form flying into it, or trying to scare hawks away from his martin houses. He just loved his birds! And I guess that is just one of the qualities I inherited from him.”

Steven’s introduction to sculpting birds from wood came in a less likely fashion. He was 12 at the time. He was returning home from a late-night wrestling practice with his father when they noticed a dog running down the road and immediately recognized it as Chippewa, a black lab that belonged to some neighbors down the road. When they stopped by their house to return the dog, the neighbor lady was sitting at her kitchen table applying a coat of paint to bird she had just finished carving. “My interest was instantly piqued!” says Steven reflecting back on that night. “I had always enjoyed art. I liked creating things. And I loved birds. What she was doing brought all those elements together in a single form of art. I went home asked my mom purchase me a book on songbird carving.” After carving a wren from a 2x4 block of wood he found in his dad’s garage, he began attending a weekly carving club with the same neighbor that had introduced him to the art. And it quickly became a passion that would remain with him.

Steven’s passion is to not only continue creating lifelike wildfowl sculptures himself, but also to foster an interest in the art form among others and draw to it the attention it deserves.

Steven resides in Waterloo, IA with his wife Kayla and his two children, Avalyn and Stevie.