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People On The Move: Stephen Weston
10/24/2008 - By by Chad A. Safran
MAKING THE OLD LOOK NEW
When Stephen Weston came to New Jersey [by himself] in 1979 to work as a manager and artist for Bronn of America (a porcelain company in Brielle), he had never before been to the United States. He enjoyed what he was doing and loved living near the Jersey Shore so much that he never left. Now, he and his wife co-own and operate Weston Gallery in Manasquan, where he not only creates and sells art, but helps restore it as well.
Stephen specializes in restoring fine objects, oil paintings, and porcelain and does it right in his gallery studio. Some of the pieces he works on are centuries old, such as the 16th century Japanese lobster, made from bone, that was missing part of its talon. He successfully took on the challenge and repaired it using ox bone. “I’m a trouble shooter,” he says. “I like taking on items no one else wants to do.”
Along with his restoration skills, Stephen creates original art. Some are one-of-a-kind porcelain pieces (ranging in price from $800–$12,000) designed around a person’s wants and needs, although he has not made many in recent years; the process takes nearly 3 months. He also paints a variety of nature scenes, including animals and landscapes. Several pieces, inspired by the beach, hang in the gallery, which has been located on Main Street in Manasquan since 2005 after 5 years in Sea Girt.
The ability to work with his hands was a skill inherited from his grandfather, who was a master cabinet maker in England. When he left school at 16, after winning art awards in his hometown of Worcester, England, Stephen chose to become an apprentice at the Royal Worcester Porcelain Company rather than head to London to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. It was there that he developed his porcelain painting skills, finishing a 7-year apprenticeship in only 2 years. At night he attended Malvern Art College to further enhance his talents.
Stephen’s artistic ability also led him to produce original porcelain eggs. Eventually he was commissioned by Theo Faberge to create an egg to help commemorate the 200th anniversary of The White House. Because the company making the eggs wanted to have The White House seal on the bottom, 95% of the materials used had to come from the United States. This is where Stephen came in. The egg was so highly detailed (including a replica of The White House in 24k gold and silver on the inside) that he and a couple of assistants were only able to make four [eggs] per month. In total, only 150 were created, many of which went to various heads of state, including President Bill Clinton and President George H. W. Bush. While balancing his business and family – he’s been married to his wife Kathy for 21 years and has two daughters, Rachel, 20, and Sophia, 17 – Stephen still keeps up his passion for art by focusing on the people and the objects they bring to him. “I don’t push art on people; they have to like it, and really like what I do. I have had people as excited over a $30 Christmas ornament as a $4,000 or $6,000 painting. I want the art to go to a good home.”
Most of Stephen’s paintings are done in the realistic style of English landscape, but recently he has dabbled in more abstract forms. When he unveiled the pieces, some of his supporters wondered if he had employed a new artist. “Abstract is actually more difficult than realism because you are actually trying to blend colors…to get someone to feel something in those textures, in those colors, rather than just saying, ‘There’s a horse.’”
Each year Stephen has an unveiling at his gallery, often featuring beach scenes. This year is no different. A large piece depicting Asbury Park, along with some other smaller pieces, will be shown to a private audience before making a public debut a day later. Next year, Stephen will return to his own original paintings, with his focus on wildlife; however, if there is a 400-year-old piece of porcelain that needs some work Stephen is ready to take on that challenge, too.
STATS
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
Main Street Trattoria in Manasquan
FAVORITE MUSICAL GROUPS
Sting, Rolling Stones
FAVORITE MOVIE
any James Bond movie
PET PEEVE
people who disrespect the world by not recycling, wasting materials,
and thinking everything is renewable
THREE PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH
Pablo Picasso, John Cleese, and George Best
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