Stephen Henry

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

I was born in the Dallas suburb of Lewisville, Texas, to MH and Ruth Henry. MH Henry, a WWII veteran and professional rodeo cowboy, was a master sign painter, as well. He was also an accomplished western artist, and was a magnificent storyteller with his work. Needless to say, his influence “rubbed off” onto me, and I grew up with an interest in drawing and painting.

We moved to the town of Bowie, Texas when I was 11 years old. Bowie was geographically located where the rolling Texas prairie meets the edge of the cross timbers, and was home to the hardscrabble ways of life familiar to the oil fields, farmers and ranchers. It was in the heart of “Comancheria”, or the territory frequently raided and terrorized by the “Lords of the Plains”, the Comanches. To say the least, I was steeped in the traditions and lore of the rural west, and I was enamored by the history of my home.

Of the many advantages of growing up in a small town, there was one disadvantage: I did not have a formal Art class in my secondary school. Nonetheless, I held on to my love of drawing and painting, and learned what I could from my father. After high school, I joined the US Army, hoping to pay for a degree in Commercial Art after my enlistment period.