Justin Orvis Steimer
soul portraits

Steimer paints portraits of people’s souls.

can i open your heart
is the first thing she ever said to me
yes
she opened the heart locket i was wearing on a necklace
that i had forgotten was there
my actual heart opened with it
this is the first portrait i have ever painted it is a portrait of her energy spirit and soul

The artist expands: “I am not painting their physical form but their metaphysical essence. Whenever possible, I prefer to paint on materials provided by the person. In that way an energetic connection is established between the painting and the individual through their previous interaction.”

can i open your heart, 2013, oil on linen, 48 × 42 in

(portrait of a lover on linen bed sheets)

bb, 2014, oil and acrylic on Japanese cotton, 30 × 24 in

(portrait of a lover)

ring bearer, 2014, oil and acrylic on linen, 38 × 22 in

(self portrait on suit Steimer wore as a child at his mother’s wedding)

eskimo, 2014, oil and acrylic on indian silk and cotton, 68 × 52 in

(portrait of Steimer’s long term partner painted on fabric she brought back from India)

ligonier #3 grandma, 2014, ink and acrylic on paper, 14 × 12.5 inches

ligonier 2 grandma, 2014, watercolor, ink, and acrylic on paper, 14 × 12.5 in

ligonier #1 grandpap, 2014, watercolor, ink, and acrylic on paper, 14 × 12.5 in

catinca, 2016, oil, acrylic, ink on cotton

(portrait of Steimer’s gallerist on a white bed sheet and including her childhood pillowcase and a martisor (traditional Romanian amulets gifted to women on March 1) given to Catinca by her grandmother

aiya, 2016, pure pigment, oil, acrylic, ink and chocolate on cotton bed sheet, 33 × 28 in

(portrait of Steimer’s best friend’s 7-year old daughter)

yapci, 2015, oil, acrylic and ink on polyester shirt, 29 × 23.5 in

(portrait of Yapci Ramos, a gallery roster artist)

annina, 2015, oil, acrylic, and ink on synthetic velvet, 24 × 24 in

(portrait of a friend who is an artist)

david, 2015, oil, ink and acrylic on 1940’s boat sail, 28 × 22 in

(portrait of Steimer’s best friend who is a Shaman)

orlando, 2015, oil, ink and acrylic on 1940’s boat sail, 24 × 24 in

(portrait of a friend who is a milliner)

self portrait of higher self, 2018, pure pigment, oil, acrylic, shellac and ink on canvas, 38 × 39.5 in

kurt (defining the demiurge), 2018, pure pigment, oil, acrylic and ink on gifted overcoat, 28 × 42 in

rachel, 2015, oil, acrylic and ink on polyester shirt, 28 × 21 in

(portrait of Rachel Monosov, a gallery roster artist)