Riskirati sa snom i napustiti profitabilnu karijeru u tom procesu nikada nije lako, ali se isplatilo Steveu Hamricku. Godine 1981., Steve je ostavio karijeru u nekretninama kako bi vikend hobi pretvorio u karijeru umjetnika divljih životinja.
"Uvijek sam bio zabrinut da ću biti izgladnjeli umjetnik, ali živiš samo jednom, a za mene je to značilo da radim nešto profesionalno što volim", rekao je Steve. "To je bila jedna od najboljih odluka u mom životu."
Steve crpi inspiraciju iz vremena provedenog na otvorenom, uglavnom u lovu i ribolovu. Dirnut je prirodnom ljepotom oko sebe i često će snimiti nekoliko fotografija dok je vani, što će mu poslužiti kao inspiracija kada se vrati u svoj studio.
Osim slikanja, Steve stvara bronzane skulpture, rezbarije u drvetu i odljevke od smole pataka, ptica i drugih životinja koje ga okružuju.
Steve koristi svoj talenat da služi većem dobru donirajući slike Ducks Unlimited i drugim konzervatorskim grupama za aukcije. On to vidi kao način da pomogne u očuvanju prirodnih resursa koje voli i koji inspirišu njegov rad.
"Sretan sam što se novac koji prikupe vraća u zemlju - to nam je danas potrebno više nego ikad. Smatram to svojom dužnošću. Imao sam velike koristi od naših prirodnih resursa", objasnio je Steve.
Neka od Steveovih dostignuća kao umjetnika uključuju:
- Pobjednik Minnesota Trout and Salmon Stamp, 1986, 1992, 2004, 2015
- Pobjednik Minnesota Pheasant Stamp 2003, 2015
- Minnesota Turska Stamp winner 2004, 2014
- Pobjednik Minnesota Waterfowl Stamp 2012
- Pobjednik Minnesota Walleye Stamp 2015
- Minnesota Deer Hunters Association Umjetnik godine, 2000
- Best of Show na National Wildlife Art Showu u Kansas Cityju
- Izloženo i demonstrirano u Muzeju umjetnosti u Minneapolisu
- Dva puta odabran za Ducks Unlimited National Art Package
- Minnesota Ducks Unlimited Sponzor Umjetnik i Flyway Artist
- Best in Nation Wine Label za vinariju Hells Canyon
- Najbolji u kategoriji originalnog rezbarenja drveta "Ruffed Grouse and Birch Stump" na Northern Nationals u Minneapolisu
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![Leslie (Wilcox) Johnson]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1694473112/minnetonka/zuvcst7u6zkz80bzjp7z/LeslieWilcoxJohnson.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1694473112/minnetonka/zuvcst7u6zkz80bzjp7z/LeslieWilcoxJohnson.png","width":400}])
![Timothy Dawson '08]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1694471688/minnetonka/vjul95uwdnmbbggjev2k/tim-dawson.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1694471688/minnetonka/vjul95uwdnmbbggjev2k/tim-dawson.png","width":400}])
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