Creating Educational Opportunities in the Visual Arts

To enhance the Foundation’s mission and share Phil Steele’s passion for art education with a wide audience, the Board of Trustees offers college tuition scholarship eligibility to all students in the state of Colorado.

Student scholarship recipients are chosen by the Foundation’s selection committee based on a portfolio of original works, an artist’s statement, a short essay, a recommendation from your art instructor or another art professional who knows your work well, and a description of financial circumstances. Criteria for selection include strong concepts, creativity and innovation, financial need, and potential for achievement.

Misha Farris Accepts Award

Students may apply for these scholarships directly on-line on this website or through the Scholastics Art Awards program. Because of the legacy of Phil Steele and the Steele Family with regard to RMCAD, children of RMCAD Alumni are especially encouraged to apply. Students who receive these scholarships can then apply them at any college art program they choose to attend. Each scholarship award will be $2,500.00 for one academic year, divided into two terms.

This Scholarship Award is funded by the families in loving memory of Carla and Dustin who, graduated from RMCAD and dedicated their lives to art. Applicants must be either a Junior or Senior and the scholarship funds must be used at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design for regular full-time tuition. The award is $3,000 annually distributed in $1,000 increments over three terms.

The Gerald  E. and Betty C. Ehrhart Memorial Scholarship Award

This Scholarship Award is funded by the family of Gerald and Betty Ehrhart  in loving memory of their parents. Gerald served on the RMCAD Board of  Directors for many  years and was a great supporter of art education and friend of the Steele family. Applicants can be at any level of study, but the scholarship funds must be used at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design for regular full-time tuition. The award is $3,000 annually distributed in $1,000 increments over three terms.

The Wall Street on Demand Graphic Design Scholarship Program

“Wall Street On Demand’s business is the design, development and hosting of custom websites, reports and tools for the financial services industry. ”

Applicants must be either a Junior or Senior Graphic Design major and the scholarship funds must be used at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design for regular full-time tuition. The award is $2,500.00 for one academic year, divided into two terms.

Arts Street Scholarship Awards

“The mission of Arts Street is to cultivate under-served youth into a creative and culturally competent workforce by using the power of the arts to engage youth and build leadership skills, with arts professionals as teachers and mentors.”

The Philip J. Steele Arts Education Foundation offers scholarship funding in partnership with Arts Street as part of  it’s ongoing support of their students and mission.  This year, two $500 scholarships are available for Arts Street students to attend Community College of Denver or Metropolitan State College as a Freshman.

The Application Process

Student scholarship recipients are chosen by the Foundation’s selection committee based on an application packet that includes portfolio of works with a completed portfolio worksheet, an artist’s statement, a short essay, a recommendation from your art instructor or another art professional who knows your work well, and a description of financial need and circumstances. Criteria for selection include strong concepts, creativity and innovation.

The completed application packet for the 2012-2013 academic  year is due by May 1.

The committee may request interviews or additional information from the applicants at that time for the purpose of clarifying financial status, student interests, and other details. The committee’s final decisions will be based on the demonstration of creativity, innovation, financial need and potential for achievement. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decisions by June 1. All decisions are final.

The applicant must be either a High School Senior, recent graduate, or currently enrolled in an art or design program at an accredited college or university. Funding will become available upon presenting evidence of acceptance and enrollment by the college or university.

Please go to the Student Scholarship page for details and application!

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At our August Foundation Board meeting, we decided to push our annual Art Bash event back to May 2012. There were several good reasons for the change, the biggest one being that the Board felt that the spring would be much better timing for this event. Many of our artist donors and patrons are involved in higher education and other charitable organizations that have very busy calendars in the fall. The next Art Bash Exhibition will be installed for two full weeks in May, allowing the Foundation to host several events during the show and get more exposure in the community.

The ART BASH will be at D Gallery, 3558 Navajo Street in Denver

Save the Date!

May 3 , 2012                        Patron’s Party, 7-9 pm.

May 4, 2012                          First Friday, 7-9 pm.  Opening night for the public.

May 18 , 2012                       ART BASH Silent Auction, 7-8 pm

This premier event highlights works from a  diverse  group of local and national artists. The Silent Auction brings  together great artists, art collectors, patrons, art students, friends of the Foundation, and  the local art and design community for an evening of  food, fun, and ART.

Your generous support allows the Foundation to encourage, mentor, and provide scholarships to students throughout the Colorado visual arts community!

“The Philip J Steele Arts Education Foundation is committed to creating partnerships between students and visual arts education in the state of Colorado. Our goal is to encourage, mentor, and support students throughout the visual arts community. To do this, we will provide scholarships and funding that embrace the artistic passions and ambitions of students across the state. We will develop and share online visual arts resources and content to create an online community of students, artists, and mentors. To achieve this vision, we will develop resources by partnering with local and statewide organizations and businesses, seeking grants and donations and promoting community outreach and events.”

Anthony’s artist’s statement explains why art is an incredible force in his life. “I find that it can educate me, it can inspire me, and it can frustrate me. In The Art Spirit, Robert Henri writes, “the presence of good art will unconsciously refine a community and that poor art will do it incalculable harm.” What I have realized is that if the positive building forms and individuals are greatly impacting my way of life, then subsequently the negative deteriorating representations are equally influential. I am convinced that when something has the greatest potential for good, it is also susceptible to the greatest corruption. So my desire is to be a pillar of truth and positivity in my interpretation, creation, and contribution to the world through art. If you are not adding, you are most definitely taking away, and because I have received so much good from art, I have committed to giving that same good to others.”

Anthony’s goals as an artist are far from meek.  “If I were to say it frankly, it would be “I want the world to know my work,” not for fame but for true impact and treasured accomplishment. I know I have set the greatest goal but challenge is one of my most precious possessions because only through it can you reach something you did not have before. I have committed to my education and training so that I can push forward as an artist and the Steele Foundation Scholarship would greatly aid me in these endeavors. My desire is to bless the world with amazing life and lasting joy. I want future generations to be thankful for my work as I am for that of our predecessors. In this I will have lived the life I was meant to live.”

The illustration that we chose from Anthony’s portfolio is titled “Get to Bed!”  The media is colored pencil and the dimensions are 18” x 24”. This illustration was created as a class project for Life Drawing II. It is a self portrait with emphasis on an extreme facial expression. As Anthony explains “I have three small children and I wanted to convey the humor and frustration of putting them to bed at night.” We feel that he certainly conveyed these feelings with this piece!

Thank you to our artists, donors, and sponsors for your support!

To all those who contribute to the Philip J. Steele Arts Education Foundation,

I am truly grateful for the scholarship I have been awarded. It will be a great help in the pursuit of my degree and is sincerely appreciated. With this scholarship the Philip J. Steele Foundation has aided my family and I financially, but furthermore, it has given me confidence in my own abilities and the drive to continue towards their mastery.

I would like to extend a special thank you to the families of Carla Miranda and Dustin Peletier for their support of my education and their desire to encourage the arts through their generosity. It is a privilege to have been chosen to honor the memory of your children.

This scholarship has given me the freedom to direct my energies towards my work and studies, enabling me to grow and succeed as a student and, in turn, as a professional.

Sincerely,

Anthony M. Benedetto

Her instructor, Dawn S. McFadden, considers Leah to be an artist of talent and imagination. “Her resourcefulness, determination and craft are evident in the care she brings to each of her projects and in her strong work ethic. Her ability to combine rich drawing skills with expansive ideation acts as a strong motivation in her discovery process. She is open and flexible in her approach to learning.”

Leah’s Artists Statement cuts right to the heart of the matter. “I don’t make art because I like to or want to. I make art because it is a compulsive need. It is almost an automatic reflex. I spend my time in constant wonder of the world around me. Whether the face of a stranger, a mountain vista or a broken window, it is all endlessly fascinating. And it is this fascination that fuels my compulsion. I see things and I need to recreate them. To explore and dissect them, tweak them and then make them again. In this way, I aim to not just create but also to change and communicate with the world.“

Her essay entitled “The Real World: a Decade of Lessons” is the honest self appraisal of a woman who has made her dream become a reality through hard work and dedication.

“By the time this essay reaches you, I will be a few weeks away from my 30th birthday. I am aware that this probably makes me older than the average candidate, and contrary to popular thinking, that is to my advantage. I spent my 20s in the workforce, clocking my forty hours a week in every industry from telecoms to kitchens. I would come home from the end of every work day exhausted and miserable. And do you know what I would do every night? The same thing I have done every day since I can remember: I would draw.

I also have had the time to get to know myself. And I from here, looking back at my 20s from the other side, I now know that there is simply nothing else I can do with my life.”

The piece that we chose from Leah’s portfolio is titled “Salmon” and was created using pen and ink. The dimensions are 9″x12″. This class project was completed in Drawing II as an exploration of color and value through ink.

Leah will continue her studies at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design this fall.

Thank you to our artists, donors, and sponsors for your support!

I am writing to express my gratitude as a recent recipient of the Philip J. Steele Foundation’s scholarship. It’ll be hard to fully express how thankful I am in a letter, but here goes.

Let me begin with some of my background. I have been on my own since I was 17, working one service industry job after another. In the meantime, I would spend my free time drawing. Nothing makes a person feel the need to better themselves more than a decade in a kitchen, let me tell you. So for the past three years, I have been a student by day, a cook by night. My spare time is frequently measured in minutes rather than hours.

So it is with this in mind that I say thank you. Really, sincerely, thank you. Not just for helping to provide me with the means to complete my education but also for your inferred belief in my ability to succeed. And I will.

Yours truly,

Leah R Aigner

Angelica is currently attending Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and is a Junior in the Two-Dimensional Animation Department. Her Artist’s Statement describes a perfect candidate for a career in the animation industry.

“There is a certain magic to animation, which has always inspired me as a child; and now that I am an adult, I want to be a part of that process and create stories and animations that will inspire future generations of children and families alike.

I’ve used a many types of media and materials, for both class and personal works. Generally, my work is mostly created digitally. With the aid of a tablet, I use programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash, and Paint Tool SAI, to create many of my pieces.  I also like to use traditional mediums for sketching and life studies. Both watercolors and ink are a favorite of mine, but I have been trying to broaden my horizons with the use of acrylic paints.”

Angelica is glad that she has taken the risk for life as an artist, and going to art school. “ I’m learning everything I’ll need to pursue my life long journey as an artist and there is no other place that I’d rather be. Next to real life, art school is one of the most enriching environments for my art. I am able to meet and work with people the inspire me to do better. I can bounce ideas with my peers and create stories even better than if I had created them on my own. This is why I chose art school, for the environment, the people, and the step closer towards reaching my dreams and doing what I love for the rest of my life.”

The piece that we chose from Angelica’s portfolio is titled “Goin’ Fishin’”, the media is Paint Tool SAI, and the dimensions are 900 x 1200 px.  Angelica produced it on your own, and describes her concept for its creation:

“Goin’ Fishin’ was my play on the popular saying “There’s plenty of fish in the Sea.” It basically means that, sometimes when you want a certain something, it may present itself in a form in which you didn’t expect. That’s perfectly okay though, because life is full of surprises, and you just have to take everything a step at a time. Sometimes getting something you don’t expect or want at first is the best thing for you.”

Congratulations Angelica!

Thank you to our artists, donors, and sponsors for your support!

Dear Artists and Patrons,

Words simply cannot describe how grateful, honored, and deeply humbled I am to have been chosen to receive the Gerald Ehrhart Scholarship.  Thank you for believing that I have the ability to put your kindness and generosity to good use, and for believing that my education is something worth supporting. This will help me so incredibly much,and will allow me to put more time and energy into what I love, instead of spending so much time at work  supporting myself. Now I’ll be able to spend a little less time at my night job, and a little more time working on what I love.

Over the last couple weeks of this past term, I stayed at school until midnight every night that I didn’t have to go to work, just working on my final animations. I have to say, I couldn’t have been happier. There is an incomparable feeling of satisfaction that comes from a night of hard work animating, and I left school every night feeling amazing and loving life.

That little story may have seemed out of place but, I really just wanted to emphasize just how much this scholarship will allow me to do more of what I love. I really can’t pick the proper words that really, truly show my appreciation and gratitude. A simple thank you doesn’t quite cut it, it doesn’t come close to showing how much you have helped me, and how much your help means to me.

Thank you for helping me, and other artists like myself get one step closer to our dreams. Thank you for helping us in an aspect where, I can’t speak for everyone, but I always feel the most helpless. Everyone who donates to this foundation, those who run it, those who help in whatever way they can. You are all amazing people, and your kindness and contributions really go a long way. Thank you again for everything that you do!!

Sincerely,

Angelica Russell

Melinda Kern grew up in England and attended a Steiner Waldorf school. Melinda explains:  “Our education was very art orientated. Our curriculum involved learning through pictures, songs and stories. We were constantly making, creating, and imagining. We were encouraged to understand the world through our own way of seeing. Every facet of our course was based on building the individual and developing us as unique people. We were taught to follow our dreams, to create our own paths in life and to never undermine our ideas, or selves for that matter. I believe it is this background that allowed me to follow my goals and to make them a reality. “

Melinda is a sophomore at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in the Fine Arts-Painting program. Her Artist’s Statement reflects her early experiences integrating art with a lifelong passion for learning.

“My interest may seem to cover a broad perspective of themes, but what is most important is the concept behind them. The idea of expressing this gratitude towards life is a way of saying “thank you” without actually voicing the words. The ugly helps emphasize the elegance in nature, in the human body, and all things beautiful for that matter. The grotesque creates the magnificent; the melancholy allows for joy and the negative permits the positive.

In essence, each of these feelings, experienced on a universal level, is a means through which works of art speak to the viewer. Every day is a development. Each piece is a progression of the self and a step closer to understanding the meaning of life, the meaning of our existence and our moral behavior. What we as artists create has our mark, holds a piece of us within the composition, whether visible or hidden. As a result, this endeavor is, not only a way of understanding everything around us, but also a way of understanding ourselves.”

The piece that we chose from Melinda’s portfolio is titled “Foreseeing the Future”. The media is acrylic, fluid medium and news paper on canvas. The dimensions are 36” x 36”. The piece was created as a class project. Melinda explains that the assignment was based on a distorted self portrait.

“The image had to be recognizable of the person/painter, however must have changed to some degree. I chose to age myself, looking at older Aboriginal and Native American women for inspiration. The deep lines and wrinkles of the skin create an interesting and unique pattern and texture which is what made me grasp this concept and apply it to my own face”.

Congratulations Melinda!

Thank you to our artists, donors, and sponsors for your support!

Dear Artists and Patrons,

I want to express to you my deepest thanks at having received the Philip J. Steele Arts Education Foundation Scholarship Award. It truly is a privilege to have this opportunity, thanks to you, to apply and to have been chosen for the award. I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am towards those of you that have taken the time and effort to donate to this cause.

With your help, the risk I took to follow my passion becomes clearer and more concrete each day. It is not just my education that is important to me, but also where I receive it, and for that reason being here and being provided with such a generous gift is above and beyond any of my initial expectations. Considering my limited circumstances being a foreign student in the U.S., completing my education here will be an even greater achievement, not only in challenging myself to explore a new environment, but also pushing myself intellectually, through learning new ideas, and understanding relevant concepts that are significant in my career as an artist.

I thank you again for making it possible for me to continue with my education, and in helping to make my dreams a reality. My appreciation will not go unrecognized in my dedication and commitment towards college and the work I produce.

Yours sincerely,

Melinda Kern

In Misha’s Scholarship Essay she writes: “I am  excited to continue the strong tradition of artistry that the Philip J. Steele Arts Education Foundation strives to support, in college and beyond.

I have been accepted into Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and begin my new adventure, fall 2011. I hope to continue the excellence that Philip J. Steele instilled at RMCAD while learning and growing with other talented artists. I chose to study Two-Dimensional Animation because it is truly art that needs to be brought to life before it can be shared.

As a child, I remember looking up at the drawings and pictures that danced on the screen in my favorite films and wishing I could draw that well. I am constantly amazed at the ingenuity and creativity the human mind can generate and a pencil can capture. Art never stops evolving; there are infinite possibilities that I hope to explore through my education.”

The piece that we chose from Misha’s portfolio is titled ” The Rose Balloon”. The media is watercolor and ink, and the dimensions are 14″ x 14″. It was done as a class project assignment that was inspired by artist Peter Max. She explains: ” We were supposed to use his styles in combination with our own chosen symbolism. I am the figure in the rose balloon and am flying over two ships that represent the Bible. God’s hand is below, where I am landing, and my family’s profiles are in the clouds. This piece represents all of the things I love.”

Congratulations, we are excited to see where your new adventures will take you!

Thank you to our artists, donors, and sponsors for your support!

To the Artists, Patrons, and the Philip J. Steele Arts Education Foundation:

Thank you! Thank you for supporting my dreams, my education and my future through this wonderful scholarship. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to share with you some of my work, my love for, and my goals in regards to art. I count myself as blessed and I appreciate all that you are doing to further not just my life, but the lives of the other artists that you are helping to support. It means more to me than I can express.

I embark on my new adventure this fall at RMCAD, ready to learn much, laugh often, and show the world how I see things. Art isn’t just a pretty picture on the wall. Art is literally what shapes the world we perceive. It is the smallest design on a postage stamp, the design of a floor plan, and even the blades of grass in a field on a warm summer’s day. As a Christian, I believe that our world is an intricate and beautiful design that comes from our father above, the master creator himself. I wish to reflect his masterful works with my own creations. I want to entertain people, just as the animators I am inspired by have entertained me.

I will do my work to the best of my ability, and commit myself to the excellence that you have so graciously supported. Thank you for all that you do and for encouraging artists with your time and efforts!

God Bless You,

Andrea Michelle “Misha” Farris

Mission

The Philip J. Steele Arts Education Foundation is a non-profit organization created to raise scholarship funds for art and design students who have a high level of artistic skill, but cannot pay for their education due to exceptional personal hardships.

About Phil Steele

Philip Steele was an artist and teacher who taught for schools including the School of Visual Arts- New York, the Omaha Art School, and Emily Griffith Opportunity School in Denver. In 1963 he founded Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD). Phil was passionate about teaching human anatomy and figure drawing to art students. For more than 25 years he inspired his students with his charisma, his passion, his observations and his keen sense of humor. He wanted all serious art students to have an opportunity to attend college.

There are three Scholarship Programs available!

The Steele Foundation Scholarship Program

To enhance the Foundation’s mission and share Phil Steele’s passion for art education with a wide audience, the Board of Trustees offers college tuition scholarship eligibility to all students in the state of Colorado, regardless of which college or university they choose to attend. Students may apply for scholarships through  through the Scholastics Art Awards program or directly on-line on this website. Because of the legacy of Phil Steele and the Steele Family with regard to RMCAD, children of RMCAD Alumni are especially encouraged to apply. Students who receive these scholarships can then apply them at any college art program they choose to attend. Each scholarship award will be $2,500.00 for one academic year, divided into two terms.

The Carla Miranda and Dustin Peletier Memorial Scholarship Program

This Scholarship Award is funded by the families in loving memory of Carla and Dustin who, graduated from RMCAD and dedicated their lives to art. Applicants must be either a Junior or Senior and the scholarship funds must be used at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design for regular full-time tuition. The award is $3,000 annually distributed in $1,000 increments over three terms.

The Gerald Ehrhart Memorial Scholarship Award

This Scholarship Award is funded by the family of Gerald Ehrhart loving memory. Gerald served on the RMCAD Board of  Directors for many  years and was a great supporter of art education and friend of the Steele family. Applicants can be at any level of study, but the scholarship funds must be used at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design for regular full-time tuition. The award is $3,000 annually distributed in $1,000 increments over three terms.

The Application Process

Student scholarship recipients are chosen by the Foundation’s selection committee based on an application packet that includes portfolio of works with a completed portfolio worksheet, an artist’s statement, a short essay, a recommendation from your art instructor or another art professional who knows your work well, and a description of financial need and circumstances. Criteria for selection include strong concepts, creativity and innovation.

The completed application packet for the 2011-2012 academic  year is due by May 15.

Applications will be reviewed in early June. The committee may request interviews or additional information from the applicants at that time for the purpose of clarifying financial status, student interests, and other details. The committee’s final decisions will be based on financial need and potential for achievement. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decisions by June 15th. All decisions are final.

The applicant must be either a High School Senior or currently enrolled in an art or design program at an accredited college or university. Funding will become available upon presenting evidence of acceptance and enrollment by the college or university.

Please go to the Student Scholarship page for details and application!

We hope you will continue to support the ART BASH and the goal of this silent auction to raise student scholarship funds for young, aspiring visual artists.

CLICK HERE

to see the other works of art in last year’s exhibition!