Skip to Main Content
Boston University
  • Bostonia
  • BU Today
  • The Brink
  • University Publications

    • Bostonia
    • BU Today
    • The Brink
  • School & College Publications

    • The Record
Other Publications
BU Today
  • Sections
News, Opinion, Community

Stripping Art to Its Simplest Forms

Steven Hook (CFA’08) brings life to his still-life paintings.

December 8, 2006
  • Vicky Waltz
Twitter Facebook
Collage, Still-Life, colored paper. Images courtesy of Steven Hooks

“I want to reduce everything in my art to the simplest and most literal language possible,” says Steven Hook (CFA’08). A painting major, Hook’s pieces largely involve still-life subjects.

“By incorporating every part of the surface I work on, I can activate the entire area and treat each part with the same attention,” he says. “I attempt to make an image that is enjoyable to look at, that gives room to breathe and relax.”

Sometimes Hook’s still-life paintings border on the abstract, as is the case with Grid. The painting “is about how far I can push single colors in relation to other colors,” Hook explains. “All elements are stripped down to an absolute minimum: color and vertical and horizontal. The viewer’s eyes slowly create movements inside the grid through the brain’s interpretation and grouping of the colors.”

Grid, oil on wood, 30” x 38”
Images courtesy of Steven Hooks

 
Although Hook’s primary medium is paint, occasionally he ventures into less traditional means of expression. His Collage, Still-Life was made by piecing together bits of colored construction paper. “My mother is a quilter, and the collage was inspired by her work with cloth,” he says. 

The featured artwork was selected by the BU Art League, a student-run group based in the CFA school of visual arts. The organization helps undergraduate student artists learn more about the art world than they might normally learn in the classroom. The Art League tries to build a strong community through monthly meetings, exhibition opportunities, and a monthly newsletter. For more information, contact league founder Anne Albagli (CFA’08) at anniea@bu.edu.

Vicky Waltz can be reached a vwaltz@bu.edu.

 

 

Explore Related Topics:

  • Painting
  • Students
  • Visual Arts
  • Share this story

Share

Stripping Art to Its Simplest Forms

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Vicky Waltz

    Vicky Waltz Profile

Latest from BU Today

  • University News

    Boston University to Seek External Recommendations for Athletics Policies and Practices

  • University News

    BU’s Jack Parker Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame

  • BU Soundcheck

    BU Soundcheck: Ronona J

  • Film & TV

    COM Students Win New England Emmy Award for 2024 BUTV10 Election Coverage

  • Watch Now

    How BU’s Lawns Can Help Reduce Carbon Emissions

  • Awards

    Meet BU’s Newest Fulbright Recipients

  • Events

    Where to Watch Free Movies Outdoors All Summer Long

  • University News

    BU Opens Cooling Stations as First Heat Wave of the Season Arrives

  • Photography

    Photo Essay: A Look Back at Spring on Campus

  • University News

    BU Rises in New Rankings of World Universities and Cited as a Digital Leader in Higher Education

  • Food & Dining

    Getting to Know Your Neighborhood: Central Square

  • Music

    Drumroll, Please, for CFA’s Gareth Smith

  • JUNETEENTH

    Celebrating Juneteenth Around Boston

  • University News

    BU Backs Lawsuit to Halt Cuts to Department of Defense Research Funding

  • Obituaries

    Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, a Boston University Alum, Shot and Killed Along with Her Husband

  • EDUCATION

    The Power of the Middle School Years

  • Film & TV

    From Superman to F1, Expect a Summer of Blockbusters

  • Social Media

    YouTube Is the Latest Media Platform to Loosen Content Moderation. What Does That Mean for Users?

  • Wellness

    In Honor of Father’s Day, 5 Foods That All Men Need in Their Diet

  • University News

    Supporting Boston University’s International Community—Q&A with President Melissa Gilliam and Willis Wang, Head of Global Operations

Section navigation

  • Sections
  • Must Reads
  • Videos
  • Series
  • Close-ups
  • Archives
  • About + Contact
Get Our Email

Explore Our Publications

Bostonia

Boston University’s Alumni Magazine

BU Today

News, Opinion, Community

The Brink

Pioneering Research from Boston University

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Weibo
  • TikTok
© Boston University. All rights reserved. www.bu.edu
© 2025 Trustees of Boston UniversityPrivacy StatementAccessibility
Boston University
Notice of Non-Discrimination: Boston University prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex or gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, military service, marital, parental, veteran status, or any other legally protected status in any and all educational programs or activities operated by Boston University. Retaliation is also prohibited. Please refer questions or concerns about Title IX, discrimination based on any other status protected by law or BU policy, or retaliation to Boston University’s Executive Director of Equal Opportunity/Title IX Coordinator, at titleix@bu.edu or (617) 358-1796. Read Boston University’s full Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Search
Boston University Masterplate
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Stripping Art to Its Simplest Forms
0
share this