Stephen Parker's art depicts the beauty in life as it unfolds around him. It presents the cultures, people and places he knows. The relationship Stephen has with his subjects resonates with viewers. They feel a connection to those two children selling minnows on the dock, a beat-up yellow dump truck, or that late summer sunlight. Stephen's art captures moments. It is through a strong understanding of composition, values and atmospheric relationships, combined with bold impressionistic brushwork that Stephen conveys these moments in a way that is inviting and personal.

Born at the tail end of the baby boom, Stephen began his art career at a young age in Austin, Texas, by shamelessly copying the drawings of a talented older brother. His interest in art developed naturally from there, as he began to discover his own nascent skills. Fairly early on, Stephen decided that art would, in some way, always be an important part of his life.

As a freshman majoring in fine arts at the University of Texas, Stephen discovered the financial implications of pursuing "the artist's life." This brought about a slight shift in focus, toward a career in advertising, as an art director. Graduating the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in communication, Stephen moved to New York and worked on Madison Avenue (as well as Fifth and Sixth Avenues) for the next decade, before returning to Austin in the early nineties.

In 1999, Stephen’s interests came full circle. He began revisiting his love for fine art and completed his first painting. Soon thereafter, he enrolled in his first fine arts classes since college, at the Austin Museum of Art School at Laguna Gloria.

Though career work and raising a family continue to demand his attention, Stephen now paints nearly full-time. Since 2007, he has continually studied at Laguna Gloria, exploring abstract expressionism under Linda Montagnani and, more recently, impressionistic plein air painting under Laurel Daniel. He has also attended workshops by Carol Marine and Jill Carver. In addition to painting and taking classes, Stephen serves on the board of Plein Air Austin.