Since childhood, Steve Sorrell has enjoyed drawing cartoons and sketching. In the early 2000’s, Steve attended a number of Adult Education painting courses in Tasmania to learn techniques painting with oils and watercolours. He has also been interested in minerals for more than 25 years. In 2010, he combined both hobbies and began painting minerals. He is now best known for his realistic images of minerals painted in watercolour, gouache, water-mixable oils, coloured pencils, or other media with black, white or grey backgrounds. He has developed techniques to successfully create a three-dimensional feel to the images. Painting minerals has a flow on benefit for Steve in that the close inspection of specimens improves his overall knowledge of the minerals themselves.

Steve was invited to exhibit some of his work at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (Tucson, Arizona) in 2010, and again in 2015, and was invited to the June 2012 Joint Australasian Mineralogical Societies’ Seminar in Perth to show and discuss his works and techniques. His work has been published in mineral-related magazines, and hangs in private collections around the world.

Whilst minerals are the primary subject for Steve’s art, he also enjoys painting wildlife, portraits and occasionally landscapes.

In 2012, Steve started a double degree, Batchelor of Arts and Visual Culture, and despite achieving distinctions and high distinctions has had to put it on hold for the time being. It was too difficult for him to find the time to undertake the study, work full-time, and enjoy his hobbies.

Steve is available to undertake commission work and can be contacted by email (artist [at] crocoart [dot] com) or by phone (+61 419 369 483).