Stephen Walker recently unveiled his original artwork that will now be featured in marketing materials for the 38th Festival of Trees.
Presented by Friends of Hospice, the 38th Festival of Trees will take place in Easton on November 25-28, 2023. In addition to the signature event, Festival of Trees, other highlights include Carols by Candlelight on November 25, Santa 5K Run, a Poinsettia Sale, children’s activities and much more.
This year’s theme is “Caroling, Caroling Through the Town,” with a nod to the Victorian era. Recently, this year’s official artwork by national award-winning artist Stephen Walker of Easton was unveiled. Created to complement the 2023 theme, Stephen’s vibrant oil painting features lovely evergreens and carolers heralding from Victorian America.
Stephen considers his artistic style to be rough impressionistic and traditionally seeks out fishing, boating, hunting, and crabbing scenes. He is honored to be selected as this year’s Festival of Trees artist. The artwork will be prominently featured in the festival’s marketing materials.
Working in no fewer than five mediums in his esteemed career, Stephen is relatively new to oil painting. When he retired from a 20-plus-year career teaching high school and college art students, Stephen started dabbling in oil about seven years ago because he liked the medium. And in the last year or so things started coming together for Stephen. “I can’t explain it, but things really started taking off for me,” he admits.
Retiring to Easton with his art director wife, Maire McArdle, the couple wanted to live in a vibrant arts community. In the last year alone, Stephen has participated in the Oxford Business Association’s Picket Fence Auction, Oxford Community Center’s Oxford Fine Arts, St. Michaels Art League’s Banner program, Tred Avon Players’ set design, and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Changing Chesapeake exhibit. Later this year, he will again teach a sculpture class at the Academy Art Museum.
Stephen admits that he is “living the dream.” An avid angler for 50 years, Stephen has yearned for a boat, which is finally kissing the water this summer. He has always wanted to be involved in an active arts community, which he has clearly accomplished. “Retirement has been busier than ever before, but it is a good kind of busy,” Stephen explains. “I guess ‘my time’ after working for 50 years as an artist is meant to be now.”
To view more of Stephen’s work, visit www.squarehousestudio.com or call him at 240-388-3807. To learn about volunteering for the Festival of Trees, contact Festival of Trees Chairman Karla Wieland-Cherry at [email protected] or 410-310-8421. Sponsorships are always welcome. Visit www.festival-of-trees.org to learn more.
Festival of Trees is the largest fundraiser for the Friends of Hospice to benefit Talbot Hospice. Since 1984, Friends of Hospice has donated to the Talbot Hospice Foundation over $3.7 million, all generated from the annual Festival of Trees events.
Talbot Hospice provides compassionate care, comfort and support for patients and their families and caregivers wherever they call home. Talbot Hospice serves patients facing life-limiting illnesses through hospice and palliative care, as well as its pathways and bereavement programs. Services are available to patients and caregivers regardless of ability to pay. Learn more at www.talbothospice.org.
Marian says
Nice to read about Stephen’s involvement with the Festival of Trees. I took one of his classes at the Academy of Arts and am now creating my own work with what I learned from him. I moved to Easton because of the vibrant artist community so always appreciate knowing what’s happening in the art world here in town.