Artist Interview With Steven Romm

Today’s Artist Interview Is With Steve Romm From Wainscott NY, the Hampton’s.

Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Steven: Since the age of 11. My first show was at Associated American Artist’s Gallery in New York City.

Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Steven: At the age of four, I was home sick. My parents gave me some clay to play with, but I ended up making animals that were very realistic.

Whopple: Do you make a living with your art?
Steven: I taught art for seventeen years, in both the Darien school district (one year) and then in Roslyn for 16 years. During that time I was always exhibiting in galleries, and always sold my work. In 1981 I left teaching and became an artist agent. Two years later I was doing public relations, and started a poster publishing company. I worked with my wife Judy and a partner, and we became one of the largest art companies in the world in a very short time. In 1986 my wife and myself left that company and started our own company, Romm Art Creations. We moved the business from Glen Cove LI to the Hampton’s. My wife passed away in 2002, and I sold the business two years later.

Whopple: How many hours a day do you create?
Steven: My day is pretty well set. I go to the gym every day, get home about ten, and start working. Sometimes I will paint till one or two in the morning, but generally I work about 5 to 6 hrs every day.

Whopple: How did you pick your creative medium?
Steven: I went to Boston University to major in sculpture, but they never started the program. I learned painting, and have been doing this ever since 1962.

Whopple: What are your inspirations?
Steven: My environment. That was the main reason we left Sea Cliff, LI and moved to the Hampton’s. I needed to see open vistas, farms, the ocean, and most importantly the incredible color of the sky out here. It is because we are surrounded by water that we have such incredible evenings, and that is my inspiration.

Whopple: How do you recharge when your creativity hits the wall?
Steven: Frankly, it doesn’t happen. I do have “fights” with the painting, when it tries to do something that I don’t want, but it is a battle that I rarely loose! Most of my paintings have many different versions of the clouds, I just keep working at it until I finally get what I see as something that glows, that has harmony and balance, and is both moving and inspirational.

Steven Romm's Art Studio

Whopple: What was your first job?
Steven: Delivering newspapers.

Whopple: What are your favorite snacks when you are creating?
Steven: Seven years ago I gave up eating meat. I also gave up most of my interest in food, it just doesn’t do much for me. I guess that if there was something that I rewarded myself with when I am finished with a painting it would be a root beer float with vanilla ice cream!

Whopple: What gives you hope in the world?
Steven: That the earth will do very well once mankind is gone. I attempt to bring about some beauty for people through my art, and also with conversations that I have with friends. I do unofficial counseling, based upon my own life experiences, and try to help people get through the hard times, with a family loss, the loss of a pet, or just the difficulties of every day living.

Whopple: What do you wish you could do?
Steven: Right now I would love to be in an open field, with tall grasses, and the afternoon sun warming my face. To hear the wind, and no sounds of cars or people. To be totally and completely relaxed.

Whopple: What are your artistic goals?
Steven: Paint my masterpiece! It is the goal that an artist strives for, but once accomplished the downside is that there isn’t any place left to go.

Whopple: What has been your most exciting moment as an artist?
Steven: To complete a large painting that took almost two years to finish, and actually exceed what I thought could be done.

To See More Of Steven Romm’s Artwork Please Visit The Following:

stevenromm.com