“He paints the wilderness with a knowledge and genuineness that can only be

expressed by someone who has ‘been there’.” – Bev Doolittle

Through Lyman’s art, you can travel into a wilderness very few have

experienced. You can share the sensation of being in the true outdoors –

exploring, discovering, studying and enjoying the all-encompassing beauty of

unspoiled nature.

Stephen Lyman was an explorer who specialized in painting the most elusive

moments in nature. His inspiring work was inspired, in turn, by the writing

and teachings of famous naturalist John Muir. “Muir wrote, ‘Climb the

mountains and get their good tidings,’” Lyman said. “I know exactly what he

meant.” Lyman’s love of the great outdoors stemmed from a childhood spent in

the Pacific Northwest, where hiking in Snake River country was a regular

family ritual.

Lyman’s desire to share his admiration for the outdoors was strong, but he

enrolled in the Art Center School of Design in Pasadena, California, to learn

more about the commercial art field. He started his career as a commercial

illustrator in Los Angeles and soon realized that the call of the wild was

stronger than the lure of the city. Returning to Idaho, he spent two years

exploring and developing his own style of painting. He continued to discover

the wonders of the natural world and of living a natural lifestyle. “All my

paintings have their origins in my experience and perception of beauty in the

wilderness,” he said.

Lyman’s first limited edition print was published by The Greenwich Workshop in

1983. In subsequent years, he was a frequent participant in the prestigious

international “Birds in Art” show at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. He

was invited to be “Artist of the Year” at the 1991 Pacific Rim Wildlife Art

Show and then received the rare honor of being invited back as an “Encore

Artist” at the 1995 event.

Stephen Lyman actively shared the wonder of the natural world with a legion of

collectors until his untimely death in 1996. He had been recently named one of

the top artists in the country by U.S. Art magazine and his book, Into the

Wilderness: An Artist’s Journey, was published to unanimous acclaim in the

autumn of 1995.