Steve Sierigk
Originally from the metro NY area (southern Westchester County) I moved to upstate NY in the early 70’s to attend SUNY Binghamton with a focus on the biological sciences emphasizing Botany. In 1978 I moved to the Ithaca area to attend Cornell where I was enrolled as a graduate student in Entomology (fancy talk for one who studies bugs). I had taken many Scientific Illustration courses along the way. I made a portion of my living then by drawing detailed renditions of mosquito brains, moth genitalia and such.
At some point in the early 1980’s I cut my academic ties and became involved in trying my hand at farming and art. Although it was satisfying, the farming was just not paying the bills so I took my art more seriously. In this period before computer layout and design was common I made a living hand designing restaurant menus ( I am also a calligrapher), logos, wine and other food product labels. All along this time however I was developing a line of notecards and stationery products with my imagery. I called this fledgling company Acorn Designs.
As the 1980’s proceeded along my notecards were increasingly marketed across the country and became my primary business. By the late 1980’s I started inviting other artists to join in the Acorn line as I enjoyed the richness of the local art scene. Today Acorn has about 30 contributing artists from all parts of the country, but as I have the longest tenure with the company my designs are still a large part of the line. The common theme of all the artists is a respect for and a celebration of Nature.
I still enjoy being a contributing artist to our line and still even do some freelance work from time to time but my work at Acorn increasingly involves developing new products and working with other artists as well as getting the word out about us. It is always fun for me to put pen to paper as I am always amazed to see what the final product will be after spending an intensely focused period translating a 3-D image into pen or pencil work, attempting to capture some essence of a plant or creature. Enrapturing oneself into a piece of art and actively participating in it for hours, one seems to lose a sense of self and perhaps we do become a part of what we are drawing and develop a better understanding of the world.
Enjoy and appreciate the beauty around us!
www.acorndesigns.org
Products by Steve Sierigk
The following products include artwork and/or writing by Steve Sierigk. Most products are a collaboration of the wonderful artists and writers who have contributed to Acorn Designs over the years.
Showing 17–32 of 85 results
Black-Capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus) The chickadee is an inquisitive , always-on-the-go little bird that inhabits deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests. Chickadees flit from branch to branch as they search for their food, primarily insect eggs and larvae; sometimes they hang upside-down, clinging to tiny twigs. They also enjoy seeds of conifers and a variety of…
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Black-capped Chickadees (Parus atricapillus) The chickadee is an inquisitive, always-on-the-go little bird that inhabits deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests. Chickadees flit from branch to branch as they search for their food, primarily insect eggs and larvae; sometimes they hang upside-down, clinging to tiny twigs. They also enjoy seeds of conifers and a variety of wild…
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This majestic bird is at home in small streams, marshes, or at the shores of ponds, lakes, or ocean bays. Great Blue Herons are large birds (4 feet tall, 6 foot wingspan) that nest across North America from Alaska to Mexico. The heron is a truly picturesque bird; plumage and greatly lengthened feathers form a…
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The bottlenosed dolphin is a streamlined swimmer with a gentle nature. The intelligence and complex social structure of dolphins and whales often have been dismissed as we cannot readily find images of ourselves in these creatures. However, bottlenosed dolphins have a brain size and structure comparable to our own. Human intelligence is largely measured by…
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The bottlenosed dolphin is a streamlined swimmer with a gentle nature. The intelligence and complex social structure of dolphins and whales often have been dismissed as we cannot readily find images of ourselves in these creatures. However, bottlenosed dolphins have a brain size and structure comparable to our own. Human intelligence is largely measured by…
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Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) The insistent, musical honking of Canada geese in V-shaped migratory flocks foretells the coming of fall and the return of spring. American Indians thought a severe winter could be expected if wild geese flew south in early August. The wedge-shaped formation, typical of many waterfowl, has aerodynamic and energy-saving advantages. The…
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The Canada goose is found from the Altantic to the Pacific coasts and from Mexico to the Arctic coast of Canada. This goose is a grazer and can live in many different habitats. It spends most of its time near rivers, lakes, or marshes, often feeding in grasslands or fields of grain. The insistent, musical…
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Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) The insistent, musical honking of Canada geese in V-shaped migratory flocks foretells the coming of fall and the return of spring. The wedge-shaped formation, typical of many waterfowl, has aerodynamic and energy-saving advantages. The lead position requires the greatest energy expenditure and the leader changes periodically. Canada geese migrate by day…
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The Canada goose is found from the Altantic to the Pacific coasts and from Mexico to the Arctic coast of Canada. This goose is a grazer and can live in many different habitats. It spends most of its time near rivers, lakes, or marshes, often feeding in grasslands or fields of grain. The insistent, musical…
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Common Loon (Gavia immer) The common loon is best known for its haunting calls loud yodels, mournful wails, and wild, maniacal chuckles which fill the air over its breeding lake with a sense of wilderness. Loons breed on forest lakes and slow-moving rivers across the northern U.S. and Canada, preferring to nest on lakes with…
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Common Loon (Gavia immer) The common loon is best known for its haunting calls loud yodels, mournful wails, and wild, maniacal chuckles which fill the air over its breeding lake with a sense of wilderness. Native Americans respected the loon as the spirit of Northern Waters’ Loons breed on forest lakes and slow-moving rivers across…
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The common loon is best known for its haunting calls– loud yodels, mournful wails, and wild, maniacal chuckles– which fill the air over its breeding lake with a sense of wilderness. Native Americans respected the loon as the “Spirit of the Northern Waters.” Loons breed on forest lakes and slow-moving rivers across the northeastern U.S.…
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Fossil records reveal that the genus Vitus dates back to the Tertiary Period, a time when there was only a single land mass on earth. Archeological evidence also reveals that the making of wine occurred as early as 3500 BC. It is interesting to note that when the Eastern and Western continents separated, Vitus developed…
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Fossil records reveal that the genus Vitus dates back to the Tertiary Period, a time when there was only a single land mass on earth. Archeological evidence also reveals that the making of wine occurred as early as 3500 BC. It is interesting to note that when the Eastern and Western continents separated, Vitus developed…
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Tough and wiry, with keen senses and a quick wit, the coyote is an amazingly adaptive animal. Despite efforts to exterminate the coyote, it has steadily extended its range throughout much of the US as well as Canada as it moved off its native prairies in the late 19th century. Native American lore about the…
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