We recently connected with Steven Newman and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Steven, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

When I first moved to Boulder in 2015, I discovered that the Boulder library had a makerspace featuring all sorts of equipment including a CO2 lasercutter. After finding this out, I became obsessed with lasercutters and started signing up for the laser sessions every week and teaching myself Adobe Illustrator in order to create my own designs for the machine. After a couple years of playing around with their laser, I was ready to start expanding my capabilities and found out my alma matter, the University of Denver, had recently built a makerspace with a lasercutter. I started working there until I outgrew it and finally decided to purchase my own. There were many obstacles to pursuing this path including finding and affording a space to operate the laser, navigating technical and troubleshooting challenges as well as generating enough business to justify the expenses I was incurring. The most essential skills I developed throughout the last 8 years working with lasers have been the technical skills of operating a lasercutter, design skills using Adobe Illustrator as well as the back end business skills to manage the financial, administrative side of the operation.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started making lasercut artwork in 2015 after discovering that the Boulder Library featured a free makerspace open to the public. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with lasercutters and pursued a niche creating elaborate lasercut wood relief sculptures. My business and artwork are based around a 4’x8′ lasercutter I purchased in 2022. While I do my own lasercut relief sculptures, I also love taking on projects with contractors, designers, collaborators to make their visions come to life. I’ve done projects including elaborate residential art installations, extensive installations and stage decor for music festivals as well as creative signage. Over the last two years, I have partnered with a local lighting artist, Brian Pinkham, of Photonic Bliss, to incorporate addressable LEDs into my artwork. The LEDs are a huge component of my work now and add a truly mesmerizing and engaging dimension.

Underlying my enthusiasm for and obsession with lasercutters is my interest in spirituality, meditation, yoga and altered states of consciousness. Experiencing these different modalities has inspired a lifelong passion for health, wellness and visionary artwork. Seeing the precision and accuracy of a lasercutter inspired a reverence and awe for what we as humans are capable of. We are uniquely capable of channelling our focus and energy into technology, design, mathematics and art in order to create a more beautiful world. This has become my mission, to create a more beautiful world through creative applications of advanced technology.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

As much as possible, try to support artists by buying their work. I have been so lucky and privileged to pursue this path as an artist and it would not have been possible without all the support and business people have given me along the way. Artists are the meaning creators of a society. We must support artists to plumb the depths of consciousness and the psyche in order to come back with creative visions to steer and guide humanity on a more beautiful, sustainable path. One easy way to do this which I’ve implemented is as follows: I will only accept gifts that were handmade by an artist or artisan and will only give gifts that are made by me or an artist/artisan I know or can interact directly with. If we all did this for birthdays, holidays etc. imagine how much income would be generated for artists/artisans!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to exercise my mind in a creative, challenging and engaging way. Having worked many different jobs throughout my career, I recognize how important it is for me to have this outlet. When I have worked for others, I have struggled to find my voice and independence. Since being self-employed and pursuing an artistic career, I have felt so much more authentically myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stevennewmanart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/stevennewmanart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/stevennewmanart