I was recently down in Palm Desert, California doing the tourist thing along El Paseo. The shops that line the street do beg that phrase from the credit card company ad…”what’s in your wallet?” Not enough for these shops….window shopping and counting how many ‘refined’, coiffed blonds in black Mercedes one can count. But, I walked by an art gallery and in doing so, I saw some amazing oil paintings by Stephen Stavast on display.

 These were canvases that were mesmerizing in their reality. The paintings depicted river rocks, the type us fly fishers see, where the water is calm, clean and gin clear or high and dry…the water retreated. I stood gazing at these works and was most impressed. Impossible for my imagination to grasp how a person can paint with such exacting capacity. To me, it’s as if I am looking at the perfection of a photographer.

Now the paintings were outside my capabilities to purchase….perhaps not yours…but I made note of the name and title of the one spectacular work, which I most enjoyed (Stephen Stavast & Rivers Rest). I knew I would want to do some additional research.

So, Mr. Stavast also has works available (prints and screensavers) that might be more affordable. Check out his site and learn more about his works and philosophy on creating such beautiful images. (more information)