International artist, Ruston native paints library mural

On a road trip from Basel, Switzerland to stops like Paris and Honduras, humble Ruston, Louisiana may seem like a strange and unexciting destination.

But for international, professional artist Stewart Stevens, it’s a heartwarming homecoming.

“I miss Ruston,” Stevens said. “It feels like such a long time ago that I was here, but Ruston is such a special place. Being able to come back here is like a nice little breath of fresh air.”

A Ruston native, Stevens has lived in Switzerland for five years, creating custom murals and wall art full-time.

In between showing his art at exhibitions and galleries around the world, he returned to his hometown this week and took his talents to the Lincoln Parish Library, where today he is finishing up a geometric, forest-themed mural on the wall beside the children’s department desk.

Once he knew he’d be visiting, Stevens reached out to North Central Louisiana Arts Council President Marcie Nelson, who had also previously run the children’s department at the library.

After reaching out to library Director Jeremy Bolom, the pair agreed it would be a good place for the traveling artist to apply his skill.

“I said ‘Hey, I’m going to be in here for a week, I would love to find something to do,’” Stevens said. “She presented this opportunity, and I was like ah, what a cool way to give back a little bit to the hometown.”

Stevens worked at the library himself some 15 years ago. He’s providing the mural at no charge beyond the cost of materials.

With just a couple days to come up with a design, Stevens and Bolom decided to enhance the existing forest theme present in the children’s department.

Using tape and acrylic paint, including spray paint, the mural will provide a whimsical, polygonal treescape, complete with animals for visiting children to find.

“Art is a special fuel for the imagination, and this colorful piece will add to the wonder of the forest in the children’s room,” Bolom said. “The library is grateful for this opportunity to showcase a hometown artist who so graciously donated his time and talen to the community.”

Stevens said he hoped the mural would be something children can get lost in and that inspires curiosity.

While the specific intent of each piece is different, Stevens said the main theme throughout his work is honesty.

“I always try to be super honest about what I’m going through, my own experiences, or whatever I’m trying to capture,” he said. “I try to create something that can either stir something deep within the viewer, or if that doesn’t happen, maybe it moves something inside me while I’m painting it.

“That’s kind of how I judge my art — not necessarily how good it is, but how honest it is, and how it was to work through it. It’s very much like therapy for me.”

Stevens thanked Bolom and Nelson for connecting him to the opportunity and his friend Henry Aber for helping with the taping portion of the piece.

He’ll be heading to Paris for an art gallery Saturday. But he said Ruston will always have a special place in his heart.

“The community here is really cool,” Stevens said. “There’s all kinds of new stuff, but it still feels like I never left, in a way. It will always feel like home.”