Steve Loya is an artist and art educator who grew up in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region. For the past ten years he has worked as a professional art educator in the Northern Virginia area. His work is inspired by the natural world and attempts to achieve a sense of balance and duality, residing somewhere in between the realms of realism and surrealism. Loose, meandering watercolor washes set the stage for tightly rendered pen and ink drawings depicting brief, quickly passing moments in time. Certain color combinations express strong emotions, both positive and negative, many times illustrating a sense of hyper-awareness and surging life. Through these works, Steve tries to make sense of our own connection/disconnect from nature and the inhabitants we share our planet Earth with.

In addition to Steve's more serious pieces, there are his more playful, experimental artistic exercises, many of which can hold their own as valid works in and of themselves. These more "whimsical" pieces are also very much inspired by nature and the animal kingdom, however their focus is more often than not an expression of joyous play and childlike imagination. 

Steve is a true believer in the power of art and creativity and makes every effort to explore this in his own life. His work is motivated by a strong desire to communicate and express visually something beyond words or spoken language, however serious or playful his approach and subject matter may be. His work has been exhibited in juried exhibits, group shows and small businesses throughout the Northern Virginia region, as well as in Japan and the UK. He has also been featured in a handful of online interviews and artist showcases during the past several years. To contact Steve regarding exhibits, purchases, etc. , go to his contact info featured here at his website.