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 65–80 of 85 results
The ruby-throated hummingbird is about 3 1/2 inches long and weighs but a fraction of an ounce: the male is slightly smaller than the female and has a brilliant, iridescent red throat. The dazzling coloration derives from feather structure rather than pigmentation, and is noticeable only at certain orientations. Hummers are delightfully quick and graceful.…
Read MoreRuby-throated Hummingbird The wild columbine, occurring from Canada through Georgia, is a beautiful woodland flower often found growing precariously among rock crevices. Its red color helps attract ruby-throated hummingbirds, which feed on the large amount of nectar contained in the backward pointing spurs. As the darting acrobats flash from flower to flower, their bill and…
Read MoreHummingbird (Archilochus colubris) and Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) The wild columbine, occurring from Canada through Georgia, is a beautiful woodland flower often found growing precariously among rock crevices. Its red color helps attract ruby-throated hummingbirds, which feed on the large amount of nectar contained in the backward pointing spurs. As the darting acrobats flash…
Read MoreThe ruby-throated hummingbird is about 3 1/2 inches long and weighs but a fraction of an ounce: the male is slightly smaller than the female and has a brilliant, iridescent red throat. The dazzling coloration derives from feather structure rather than pigmentation, and is noticeable only at certain orientations. Hummers are delightfully quick and graceful.…
Read MoreSaw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) The Saw-Whet Owl is widely distributed throughout the northern parts of our continent. It resides in coniferous woodlands and is the smallest of the eastern owls, being only slightly larger than a sparrow. This well camouflaged, brown and buff bird is seldom seen as it spends the daylight hours roosting in…
Read MoreThe saw-whet owl is widely distributed throughout the northern parts of North America. It resides in coniferous woodlands and is the smallest of the eastern owls, being only slightly larger than a sparrow. This owl has a diverse repertoire of calls, the most common being a mellow whistled note with a bell-like quality repeated in…
Read MoreSaw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) The Saw-Whet Owl is widely distributed throughout the northern parts of our continent. It resides in coniferous woodlands and is the smallest of the eastern owls, being only slightly larger than a sparrow. This well camouflaged, brown and buff bird is seldom seen as it spends the daylight hours roosting in…
Read MoreSaw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) The saw-whet owl is widely distributed throughout the northern parts of North America. It resides in coniferous woodlands and is the smallest of the eastern owls, being only slightly larger than a sparrow. This owl has a diverse repertoire of calls, the most common being a mellow whistled note with a…
Read MoreThe Screech Owl is a small owl with ear tufts and camouflage coloring; color varies from grey to brown to rust. This owl ranges throughout much of North America into central Mexico, preferring woodlands and farm groves. Despite their small size, screech owls have no problem dispatching creatures as large as rats or ruffed grouse;…
Read MoreSunflowers are native to North America and the Native Americans were the first to domesticate the plant. In the Southwest the plant was used as early as 3000 BC. Seed was ground and pounded into flour for cakes, mush, and bread. Sunflowers were taken to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 1500s. By the early…
Read MoreThe Eastern White Pine is the tallest tree species that grows in the East. It can grow to heights over 220 feet. For a building material it has no peers; it was so prized by early lumbermen that it became the only tree species, historically, that was the goal of exploration. The location of prime…
Read MoreThe Eastern White Pine is the tallest tree species that grows in the East; it grew to heights over 220 feet. For a building material it has no peers; it was so prized by early lumbermen that it became the only tree species, historically, that was the goal of exploration. The location of prime white…
Read MoreWhite Pine (Pinus strobus) The Eastern White Pine is the tallest tree species that grows in the East. It can grow to heights over 220 feet. For a building material it has no peers; it was so prized by early lumbermen that it became the only tree species, historically, that was the goal of exploration. …
Read MoreWhite Pine (Pinus strobus) The Eastern White Pine is the tallest tree species that grows in the East…it grew to heights over 220 feet. For a building material it has no peers; it was so prized by early lumbermen that it became the only tree species, historically, that was the goal of exploration. The location…
Read MoreWhite-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) This short, stocky bird, largest of North American nuthatches, is a permanent resident throughout the eastern and western U.S. The white-breasted nuthatch spends most of its life in large deciduous forests, moving over the bark of tree trunks and main branches in a series of short, jerky hops. Nuthatches always seem…
Read MoreWhite-breasted Nuthatches This short, stocky bird, largest of North American nuthatches, is a permanent resident throughout the eastern and western U.S. The white-breasted nuthatch spends most of its life in large deciduous forests, moving over the bark of tree trunks and main branches in a series of short, jerky hops. Nuthatches always seem to be…
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