At six years old, Steven Paul Carlson
decided he would become an artist—and he has been practicing ever since.
Steven Carlson artist and illustrator
What if, at the age of six, you already knew what you would do for the rest of your life?
That was my story.
The year was 1959. I had just graduated from kindergarten when I realized that I was going to be an artist and illustrator. I even knew the kind of art I wanted to create.
While my friends still dreamed of becoming cowboys, I wanted to be Norman Rockwell.
My name is Steven Paul Carlson.
I often describe myself as a portrait artist, although my work extends far beyond traditional portraiture. Whether the subject is human, animal, or part of the natural world, I approach each piece as a portrait — an exploration of life itself.
My goal is to capture something deeper than appearance. I strive to reveal life that feels present, breathing, even thinking. A moment so vividly rendered that the viewer almost expects the head to turn, the eyes to blink, or a hand to gesture.
Each work takes me on an extraordinary journey into the character and spirit of its subject. Through careful attention to the smallest details, a unique relationship forms between the artist, the subject, and ultimately the viewer. In that connection, something deeper emerges. I begin to sense and understand the subject from within, and through that quiet union, its inner essence finds expression in the artwork.
Life gives birth to art, and the artwork, in turn, takes on a life of its own.
I work in a wide range of mediums, from pencil to oil paint, though I have developed a particular passion for pastel and graphite. Their tactile qualities allow me to engage directly with the surface, blending and shaping the medium with my hands.
Over many years, I have developed a personalized pastel technique that allows for the application of numerous soft, translucent layers. Each delicate layer builds upon the last, gradually revealing depth, luminosity, and life within the image. The refinement of this technique has been a lifelong pursuit.
Martial Artist - Sleight-of-hand Artist
Steven Carlson's World and International martial arts competition awards - 1998
Steven is also a fifth-degree black belt, holding 12 World Championships and 32 International and Grand Championship titles in martial arts.
Alongside these accomplishments, Steven developed another rare skill: the art of sleight-of-hand magic.
His fascination began as a child when he saw a coin rolled across an actor’s knuckles in a film. Determined to learn the move, he went home, found a silver dollar, and began practicing. That moment sparked a lifelong dedication to close-up magic—the most intimate and demanding form of the magical arts, performed within inches of the audience’s eyes.
For nearly forty years, Steven has performed his distinctive sleight-of-hand magic for major corporations and audiences across the United States. He has appeared on television, in the motion picture Jackpot, and served as Resident Close-Up Magician at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Today, Steven continues to refine his magical technique, create visual art, and pursue the disciplines that have shaped his life.
To him, magic and art share a common purpose: to create moments of wonder.
Alongside these accomplishments, Steven developed another rare skill: the art of sleight-of-hand magic.
His fascination began as a child when he saw a coin rolled across an actor’s knuckles in a film. Determined to learn the move, he went home, found a silver dollar, and began practicing. That moment sparked a lifelong dedication to close-up magic—the most intimate and demanding form of the magical arts, performed within inches of the audience’s eyes.
For nearly forty years, Steven has performed his distinctive sleight-of-hand magic for major corporations and audiences across the United States. He has appeared on television, in the motion picture Jackpot, and served as Resident Close-Up Magician at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Today, Steven continues to refine his magical technique, create visual art, and pursue the disciplines that have shaped his life.
To him, magic and art share a common purpose: to create moments of wonder.
Steven Carlson performing card & poker chip flourishes on the set of the movie, Jackpot - 1981
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Steven Carlson performing stage close-up magic at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
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Steven Carlson was close up magician at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, 2000