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 33–48 of 85 results
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…
Read More
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Diamondback terrapins are one of the world’s most beautiful and colorful turtles. Diamondbacks inhabit estuaries and saltwater marshes from Cape Cod through the southern coast of the U.S.; they are our only native turtle that lives in water where the salinity comes close to or equals that of ocean water. Perhaps…
Read More
Diamondback terrapins are one of the worlds most beautiful and colorful turtles. Diamondbacks inhabit estuaries and saltwater marshes from Cape Cod through the Southern coast of the US. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of this turtle is its shell, also commonly called its carapace. The carapace varies in coloration from grey or black to light…
Read More
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Diamondback terrapins are one of the world’s most beautiful and colorful turtles. Diamondbacks inhabit estuaries and saltwater marshes from Cape Cod through the southern coast of the U.S.; they are our only native turtle that lives in water where the salinity comes close to or equals that of ocean water. Perhaps…
Read More
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) The downy woodpecker is the smallest, tamest and most abundant eastern woodpecker. The bird is also common in parts of the West and into Canada. The male is distinguished from the female by a bright red patch on the back of his head. The downy woodpecker’s back and forth motions are…
Read More
The downy woodpecker is the smallest, tamest and most abundant eastern woodpecker. The male is distinguished from the female by a bright red patch on the back of his head. The downy woodpecker’s back and forth motions are active and sprightly as it spirally ascends the circumference of a tree, giving occasional raps on the…
Read More
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) The downy woodpecker is the smallest, tamest and most abundant eastern woodpecker. The bird is also common in parts of the West and into Canada. The male is distinguished from the female by a bright red patch on the back of his head. The downy woodpecker’s back and forth motions are…
Read More
The downy woodpecker is the smallest, tamest and most abundant eastern woodpecker. The male is distinguished from the female by a bright red patch on the back of his head. The downy woodpecker’s back and forth motions are active and sprightly as it spirally ascends the circumference of a tree, giving occasional raps on the…
Read More
Downy Woodpecker The downy woodpecker is the smallest, tamest and most abundant eastern woodpecker. The tail feathers afford rigid support as the bird hitches its way up the trunk. The hard sharp bill is used to chisel into bark and wood while searching for insects or excavating a nest hole. The nostrils are covered with…
Read More
The American goldfinch, often called the Wild Canary, is a familiar bird well-known for its bright plumage, undulating flight and tinkling calls. They are year-round residents across most of the northern half of the U.S. Their summer range extends across southern Canada, and they winter from the southern states into Mexico. The male in breeding…
Read More
The American goldfinch, often called the “Wild Canary,” is a familiar bird well-known for its bright plumage, undulating flight and tinkling calls. They are year-round residents across most of the northern half of the U.S. Their summer range extends across southern Canada, and they winter from the southern states into Mexico. The male in breeding…
Read More
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) This majestic bird is at home in small streams, marshes, or the shores of ponds, lakes or ocean bays. Great Blue Herons are large (4 feet tall, 6-foot wingspan), common birds that nest across North America from Alaska to Mexico. Great Blues mate for life. Nests are usually made in…
Read More
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…
Read More
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′ tall, 6′ wingspan) that nest across North America from Alaska to Mexico. The heron is a truly picturesque bird; plumage and greatly lengthened feathers form a beautiful crest…
Read More
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) This majestic bird is at home in small streams, marshes, or the shores of ponds, lakes or ocean bays. Great Blue Herons are large (4 feet tall, 6-foot wingspan), common birds that nest across North America from Alaska to Mexico. Great Blues mate for life. Nests are usually made in…
Read More
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…
Read More