Modern art that reinvents the Western spirit
Stephen Martin Studio
That duality—grit and coastline, heritage and modernism—defines Stephen’s work. His art is a fusion: the raw spirit of cowboy country colliding with the coastal influence of an artist’s sanctuary.
STEPHEN MARTIN STUDIO
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Stephen Martin paints the soul of the American West—not as a faded legend, but as a living, breathing legacy. His modern portraits capture the grit, dignity, and weathered strength of old cowboys, translating their stories into bold images that bridge past and present.Stephen’s roots stretch across two iconic landscapes: the wide skies of West Texas and the coastal light of Monterey and Carmel, California. His family were early Scottish settlers of the Monterey Peninsula. His grandfather, Carmel Martin, was the city’s first mayor and author of its charter. Herbert Hoover was once his grandfather’s neighbor, and his father fished with John Steinbeck.That duality—ranchland and coastline, grit and grace—defines Stephen’s work. As a boy, he rode alongside his geologist father through West Texas and New Mexico, absorbing the land and the people who worked it. Summers on a ranch in Eagle Pass gave him firsthand experience with cowboy life—learning to rope, ride, and respect the hard-earned values of the West.Stephen’s paintings reflect that experience, capturing more than just faces—they tell the stories behind them. His work honors the lives of working men and women who shaped the land as much as it shaped them.In addition to his portraiture work, Stephen creates abstract paintings that explore emotion, movement, and memory through color and texture. These pieces offer a more introspective view of the landscapes and stories that fuel his art, complementing his portraits with an expressive, modern edge.Today, Stephen Martin blends heritage and vision on canvas—inviting viewers to step into the untamed heart of the American West and see it through a fresh, honest lens. His work doesn’t just preserve the Western spirit—it reimagines it.Stephen’s work doesn’t just preserve the Western spirit—it reinvents it.
Acrylic on canvas: 14"x11"
GUNFIGHT
Inspired by classic Westerns, this stylized portrait captures the intense focus of a lone hero before a showdown, blending modern art and emotional intensity.
Acrylic on canvas: 30"x30"
VAQUERO
"Vaquero" draws from the grit and pride of the original Mexican cowboys. With sharp contrasts and a fiery backdrop, the painting reflects a stoic hero shaped by harsh land, honor, and survival on the open range.
Acrylic on canvas: 36"x36"
d-dAY
This painting captures the intense focus and hidden fear of a soldier moments before battle. With stark contrasts and a hardened expression, it reflects the emotional weight, resolve, and vulnerability carried into the chaos of war.
Acrylic on canvas: 30"x30"
RANGER
This painting captures the stoic intensity of a frontier Ranger from long ago. With bold lines and a weathered expression, it reflects the solitude, strength, and silent resolve of those who upheld law and order in a rugged, untamed land.
Acrylic on canvas: 30"x30"
GOLD RUSH
“Gold Rush” captures the rugged spirit and quiet determination of a lone prospector during California’s 1849 gold boom. Inspired by the dreams, hardships, and raw hope that drove thousands west, this piece reflects the grit and solitude of a man chasing fortune in an unforgiving land—where every shovel of earth held the promise of a new life.
Acrylic on canvas: 20"x16"
BLUEBONNETS
This still life celebrates the vibrant spirit of Texas through its beloved state flower. Set against a bold yellow backdrop, the bluebonnets burst with color and life—capturing the beauty, pride, and warmth of springtime in the Lone Star State.
Acrylic on canvas: 24"x30"
INTERRUPTION
"Interruption" explores the quiet agony of being unheard. Its harsh divide and turbulent textures mirror the constant battle to express oneself in a space where every word is cut off, and presence is pushed into the background.
Acrylic on canvas: 24"x24"
TEXAS RANGER (SOLD)
"Texas Ranger" pays tribute to the legendary lawmen who brought justice to the untamed frontier. With bold lines and a hardened gaze, the painting captures the courage, authority, and quiet resolve of a figure shaped by duty, danger, and the rugged land of Texas.
Acrylic on canvas: 30"x24"
Guardia Civil (SOLD)
"Guardia Civil" was inspired by historical images of Spain’s national police force. The stark black-and-white contrast reflects authority, tradition, and tension—capturing both the stoic power and complex legacy of these iconic figures.
Acrylic on canvas: 30"x48"
OCEAN SUNSET
"Ocean Sunset" captures the fleeting moment when day collapses into night. The explosive burst of color and light above the dark horizon evokes both beauty and finality—an abstract reflection of nature’s drama at the edge of the sea.
Acrylic on canvas: 20"x20"
CIVIL WAR
"Civil War" channels the hardened stare of a soldier divided by duty and identity. With bold lines and stark contrasts, the painting reflects the inner conflict of a man caught in a nation torn apart—resolute, weary, and forever changed.
Acrylic on canvas: 24"x30"
TWO RIDERS
"Two Riders" captures the spirit of the Old West—two lone figures moving through open land, bound by grit, silence, and survival. The painting reflects the bond between riders and the vast, untamed world they rode through.
Acrylic on canvas: 24"x36"
BATTLESHIP
"Battleship" is an abstract nod to motion, machinery, and the rhythm of the sea. The bold shapes and layered textures suggest power, precision, and the steady energy of something built to move with purpose.
Acrylic on canvas: 36"x48"
CONTRAIL
"Contrail" draws from the mystery and speculation surrounding what’s left in the sky—where vapor trails meet conspiracy. The bold, intersecting forms hint at hidden agendas and unseen forces, capturing the tension between what we’re told and what we suspect.
Acrylic on canvas: 20"x20"
BORRACHO
"Borracho" captures the wild, unfiltered spirit of a cowboy from long ago—worn down by hard living and strong drink. The abstract style reflects his fractured state, blurring the line between grit, humor, and sorrow in the Old West.
Acrylic on canvas: 36"x24"
section 88 (sold)
"Section 88" is a purely abstract exploration of form, contrast, and space. The composition plays with repetition and interruption—balancing bold verticals with a sharp angular break—to evoke tension, movement, and structural rhythm.
Acrylic on canvas: 36"x48"
HARDSHIP
This painting evokes the grit and endurance of the Old West. The stark figure, set against a rugged backdrop, reflects the struggles and resilience of frontier life. With its bold lines and weathered expression, "Hardship" pays tribute to the toughness, solitude, and quiet strength that defined an era.
