Virgil Stephens, raised on the ranches of Arizona, began his artistic endeavors with his childhood sketches or “doodling” as he calls it.  His subject matter for each piece varies greatly, although he is known predominantly for his western works of art.  Virgil explains: “Growing up right along side, on top of, and sometimes under calves, ponies, mules, pups, kittens, a bucking barrel, an occasional chicken, and a plethora of other non-descript mammals & unidentifiable insects, has given me a hands-on approach to anatomy.”  Beginning his career with primarily black and white graphite drawings, he has recently expanded his palette to include color.  He begins with a highly detailed drawing in black Conte pastel as he would one of his graphite drawings.  He then colorizes these drawings by the use of an oil paint glazing technique which allows him to achieve a semi-transparent look, maintaining his intense detail study.  This extraordinary combination medium allows Virgil to create the perfect blend of realism and abstract in each work of art.