In Episode 49 of Inside the Frame Podcast, we sit down with celebrated South Shore artist and longtime educator Steve Boczanowski for an engaging discussion about his journey through art, teaching, and creative exploration. For decades, Steve has quietly influenced the local art community, leaving a profound impact not only through his work but also through the many students he has mentored along the way.
Early Inspirations and Education
Steve’s path began at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston during the mid-1960s, where he immersed himself in traditional art training. He recalls being particularly inspired by Tory Benz, a beloved teacher known for his anatomy demonstrations that left students clamoring for his signed drawings. At a time when “commercial art” was the practical career route, Steve balanced the mastery of old-world techniques with an eye toward professional design work.
From Commercial Art to the Classroom
After working in Boston designing posters, packaging, and advertising materials for clients like Gillette, Steve transitioned into education. He began teaching at Marshfield schools, initially juggling part-time roles across elementary and junior high levels, rolling his “art on a cart” from classroom to classroom. Eventually, he settled into a long career at Marshfield High School starting in 1968, where he became Art Director and built a strong foundation program that sent countless students on to art schools and creative careers.
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Among his notable students are photographer Mike Sleeper, Patricia Walsh, and Laura Harvey, each of whom has gone on to shape the South Shore art scene in their own way. Steve later expanded his teaching to Providence College, where he taught graphic design and photography, introducing students to the darkroom long before the digital era took over.
Artistic Process and Inspiration
Though an educator at heart, Steve has always nurtured his practice. His process begins with photography, capturing empty streets, weathered buildings, and coastal cottages before they disappear. He often references the influence of Edward Hopper, whose quiet, contemplative scenes resonate in Steve’s architectural paintings.
Rather than plein air painting, Steve prefers to rework his photographs into sketches, then manipulate them digitally to explore color palettes before committing to canvas. Large-format pieces are his favorite: “When you do a big one, you’re doing battle with it,” he shares, noting that the scale brings both challenges and rewards.
Preserving Stories Through Art
Many of Steve’s paintings highlight fragile, fleeting structures like a lobster shack on the North River or cottages on stilts along the shoreline. These works become visual records of places that storms, tides, and development have since altered or erased. In this way, Steve’s art captures not only beauty but also history, preserving stories for future generations.
Community, Recognition, and Legacy
Throughout his career, Steve has remained closely tied to local institutions such as the South Shore Art Association, North River Arts Society, and Frame Center itself, where his paintings are regularly exhibited. While his wife jokes about holding a yard sale to clear the basement of unsold canvases, Steve insists he paints not for sales but for therapy, for the love of creating. Still, his works have earned ribbons, recognition, and spots in private collections, including multiple pieces owned by Mark Slaven.
A Life in Art
From scavenging oil paint at the Museum School to shaping young artists in Marshfield classrooms, Steve Boczanowski’s journey is a testament to lifelong creativity. His humility and humor shine throughout the conversation, reminding us that art is as much about community and continuity as it is about individual expression.
At Frame Center, we’re proud to support artists like Steve Boczanowski and the vibrant creative community of the South Shore. From professional custom framing to gallery exhibitions and our Inside the Frame Podcast, we provide a space where art and community come together.
