I’ve had a long and blissful art career working with pastels, fiber, clay, glass and photography. I used my photography as reference material in each media and now that I’m semi-retired simply want to be outdoors, immersed in nature. On Fridays, you'll find me at Made in the Gorge, a gallery I co-own, downtown Hood River OR. The more time I spend outside in nature, the more I want to be there. I want to capture everything I see with my camera so you can see it too. Something spiritual combined with luck and circumstance lead me to wildlife viewing opportunities, mostly in the Columbia Gorge. I feel incredible gratitude for each gift of a photograph that I receive. I’ve sold my work since I was 16 years old, starting with macrame tie-dyed belts at the Rose Bowl Swap Meet back in the 60’s. I also sold them to my high school teachers, neighbors and relatives. To this day I can’t stop making things. Although still making art glass, I’m mostly in the field with my camera now. I’ve taken pictures since I was ten when I received a Kodak Instamatic camera for my birthday. I used my photography as studio reference material for 25 years until friends told me that my photos should be seen and hung on their walls as prints. I’m beginning to think that my ultimate goal is sharing nature with people who can’t go where I go to see the magnificence of our natural world. Not just shut ins, wheelchair bound, too infirm or too young, but also those that spend all their time at work or at home taking care of others. I especially want people who can’t get out to know how spectacular nature is, in our back yard and beyond. My photography and original art glass designs make a creative statement in your home and my hand made jewelry is fun to wear. Artful Nature Photography prints on metal, canvas or paper as well as All Occasion Greeting Cards. You can purchase my work 24/7 at www.steiderstudios.com
