CURRENT MISSION

My current mission is to photograph as many people as I can as I travel the Western USA while writing a series of books.

ABOUT ME

I am a full-time professional artist (painter) and fine art photographer (mostly fine art photographic portraits)and I am traveling the USA for 36 months while researching horsemanship and equestrianism (horses and riders of all riding disciplines, Western and English). I am creating the illustrative material (photos, etc.) for a set of books I am creating about equestrians and horses that will feature fine art photographs and drawings and paintings I make. I plan on visiting most of the states in the western USA during this journey. I work many hours each day on my concurrent book projects. I am also a former art gallery owner and currently serve as a long-distance mentor to photographers around the world.

You can learn more about me here: http://www.steadmanuhlich.com/artist/about-steadman-uhlich-3/

I encourage all of my contacts to learn something about my current Book Projects at my studio website http://www.steadmanuhlich.com/

I have uploaded to my Couch Surfing photo album 50+ portraits I have made for my hosts (in my Visiting Artist Program AND CouchSurfing Couches too). I often make a portrait of my hosts as I learn something about what they do and enjoy (with horses or not). Take a look and see some of the people I have met as a guest at their homes, ranches, and farms. For hosts/couches who allow me to stay with them for 7 days or more, I make a very valuable gift for them too, to show my appreciation.

You can see another 50+ portraits in my portfolio that have gotten some interesting comments from viewers from around the world. These were made before I began my current journey. If you see something that moves you, send me a comment too. :) http://www.steadmanuhlich.com/sufa_10_002.6

Or you can see 180 portraits (made prior to my current Western USA travel, this portfolio does not show my current project) on a portfolio site:
http://steadmanuhlich.zenfolio.com/portfolio

To see some of my current work (e.g. horses, equestrians, rodeo, horse sports) you can see about 900+ recent photos in my facebook photo album. Just send a friend request to be able to see the album: http://www.facebook.com/steadman.uhlich

I love art and photography and feel fortunate to do what I love for a living. I also enjoy knowing how others see my work and have also been very happy to find that people from around the world enjoy what I make. I used to own an acclaimed art gallery that featured hundreds of my works, and you can learn a bit about what people saw there by reading some Verbatim Comments from Art Gallery Visitors (people who saw my works on the gallery walls, not online). http://www.steadmanuhlich.com/artist/art-gallery-visitor-comments/

My previous hosts have said I am: a good cook, a good conversationalist, honest, trustworthy, moderate in most things, passionate about life and art (painting, photography, film). My friends consider me well read, but I never have time to read enough to stop so I always have books with me. I have also learned enough to know that I don't know everything and I realize how little I do know. I would like to learn more. You could say I have a case of: Insatiable Curiosity. Strangers say I have a good sense of humor and remark about how I enjoy meeting people and learning about their lives. Several hosts have said I am good with kids and dogs. I have global interests and study foreign languages as a personal challenge. If you are a native speaker of a language other than English, I would love to learn a little of your language from you. I still have much to learn and consider life a great adventure. Carpe diem!

As a photographer who has photographed many different subjects, I am often asked what is my favorite subject. I find People to be my favorite subject to photograph, because I see something different and new in each one I meet.

My current travels are really part of a dream (come true) I have long had to see things in the West and to make beautiful photographs and paintings of the people and horses (and other things) I see as I travel.

PHILOSOPHY

Help others whenever possible, it makes for a nicer world.

"Be Inspired Every Day" (This is something my mother used to tell me, and it has encouraged me ever since to look for something wonderful in the world or people around me.)

I truly enjoy learning about how others see the world, including their passions for art, music, and the varied things that make them human, and more than just a job title.

I believe in the Golden Rule.

When I was a boy I was an Eagle Scout, and I still believe in "doing a good turn daily" to help others whenever I can.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

While I am traveling, I am looking for couch hosts who can provide a place to stay while I visit equestrians and horse trainers and others in their area. Since I have my own vehicle and work on my projects during most days, I don't need a lot of time or support by my hosts, so I am "low impact." However I am always open to spending time with a host to learn more about their life, their own travels, and just having fun meeting new people. I have made many new friends this way and truly enjoyed my time spent with my hosts doing all kinds of things. I always see this host/guest situation as an exchange of friendship and courtesy, and I think both parties can greatly benefit, even without any expense/cost.

I see several ways to help my hosts too, and have enjoyed doing things or making things for my hosts.

I generally spend my days contacting and meeting equestrians and others as I am working on a set of books I am writing/photographing/creating about equestrians and horse sports (e.g. Rodeo, Foxhunting, Team Penning, etc.).

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I don't always Couchsurf, but do so occasionally. However, I have been traveling non-stop for 36 months now (as of Feb 2014). I am usually hosted by equestrians (and others with no horses) while I travel around the Western USA as I study/write/photograph equestrian subjects for a series of books I am currently creating.

To learn more about my own approach to couch surfing, and how it has worked for me and others, visit this page on my site where I have written about this part of my journey and see what others (my hosts) have written too: http://www.steadmanuhlich.com/artist/visiting-artist-program/

I short, I stay as a house guest of someone I have never met before. I have done this many times (36 months so far) with great success and lots of fun for all involved. We both benefit, and I have made some wonderful friends while traveling this way. I have many Verbatim Testimonial Letters from hosts and others on my website (just look for the link to "Testimonials"). Please take a moment to see those testimonials:
http://www.steadmanuhlich.com/artist/testimonials-about-steadman-uhlich-patrons-and-hosts/

One thing that is amazing to many people is that many of my hosts allow me to stay for extended stays (from a few weeks to a few months). This is not something I expect from the Couch Surfing community! I just want you to know that I have been considered a "good guest" by those folks, even after several weeks stay with them. In fact, three of my CS Couches have had me as a guest for 2 weeks each and one Couch had me as a guest for one week (even over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays). Others for a few days. I am flexible and a good guest/surfer and do what I can to help my hosts.

Hundreds of more Verbatim Testimonials about my character, work, and honesty are found via the following link:

http://www.steadmanuhlich.com/artist/testimonials-about-steadman-uhlich-read-first/

As a house guest I also:

1. Respect the Privacy of my Hosts. I don't snoop or pry.
2. Respect the property of my Hosts. I don't eat their food, I don't drink their beverages, and I don't steal or take things that are not mine.
3. I do what I can to help my Hosts and often lend a hand to help them with chores, tasks, dog walking, or learning. I have helped by cleaning, repairing, fixing, painting, housesitting, and lending a hand.
4. Leave the place I stay as clean or cleaner than when I came there.
5. Eat only my own food, unless invited by a host to share their meals.
6. Cook my own food in a low impact way on my Host. You don't have to cook or clean for me. I don't leave dirty dishes.
7. Provide my own pillow, my own bedding (e.g. sheets or sleeping bag and pad), my own towels, my own toilet articles (shampoo, soap, paper) and my own food.
8. I clean up my place before I leave a host, so you won't have to clean up after me.
9. I do my own dishes, and will wash yours too.
10. I put the seat back down
11. I don't snore, smoke or do drugs. So I don't put my hosts at risk from unpleasant odors, sounds, or illegal substances.
12. I am quiet and listen to music on headphones or read at night and usually am asleep by 11:00PM and as I assume you have a day job, so I don't interfere with your morning routine (in the shower or the kitchen).

Interests

I am currently focused and interested in learning more about horses and horse people AND the places I visit AND the people I meet as I travel the Western USA. This is because I am photographing/interviewing/writing/creating several book projects. That is the core reason for this long journey around the Western USA. But, I am also eager to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds and that means you do not have to be a horse person. While I cannot promise to put anyone in my future books, you never know, but you just might wind up in a future book or art exhibit too. That said, I also respect privacy, and will not take/make any photos of you without your permission.

And, while I am currently in Texas and will be traveling to other states in the West, I am also hoping to take my travels abroad too. I have done a lot of background reading on Europe, Africa, and Asia and Latin America with their many countries.

Other Interests?
I love: art, sailing, history, museums, dance, theatre, opera, acoustic music, ambient music, film, reading, hiking, outdoors, dogs, cooking, eating ethnic food, fishing, canoeing, SCUBA, kite flying, learning languages, learning about the world, reaching a better understanding of the human condition, teaching/mentoring, and many other things.

I would love to learn: how to dance better and more styles, how to cook better and more styles, how to speak more languages, and many other things.

• dogs
• wildlife
• horses
• arts
• writing
• books
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• running
• coach
• walking
• partying
• drinking
• flying
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• painting
• kite flying
• music
• opera
• outdoor activities
• equestrian
• fishing
• hiking
• backpacking
• canoeing
• camping
• surfing
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• sailing
• bungee jumping
• skydiving
• skiing
• sports
• fencing
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy film, was a movie critic for a newspaper long ago, and enjoy seeing films each week. I like foreign films especially, as they show me more of the world. I also like the classics as shown on film, including movies from the 1930s and 1940s. And I like seeing how some films transcend cultural barriers to make connections with a global audience (e.g. Departures, The Artist, Slum Dog Millionaire).

I read something every day to learn more about the world. I take books with me when I travel (I know...they do get heavy) and often give them to hosts.

I have diverse taste in music, and enjoy listening to many forms and styles including: classical, opera, Irish, world, classic rock, blue grass, jazz, ancient.

I am not a musician, but admire those who are. You can see some portraits I made of pianists, poets, authors, and others here: http://steadmanuhlich.zenfolio.com/portfolio

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Just ONE? :)
I have sailed as part of a four man crew (I was the navigator) on a small sailboat from Hawaii to San Francisco. It took 30 days to cross the Pacific Ocean. It was the "trip of a lifetime" but not the only long distance sailing trip I would like to make. I have sailed for years on the San Francisco Bay and other locations. Several good stories come from those experiences.

I also spent several weeks backpacking, touring, and camping by myself in several locations in Alaska. It was an unforgettable experience in the wild and around wildlife. I love the outdoors.

I have also enjoyed skydiving, bungee jumping from a balloon, river rafting, alpine skiing, SCUBA diving at multiple locations (Hawaii, Belize, Monterrey), snorkeling in the Cayman Islands, fencing (with swords), sailing offshore during long races, piloting a helicopter, solo camping and hiking in Alaska, galloping on a horse across the Kentucky blue grass and the Pacific Coast,running with the hounds during fox hunts, and various other fun things.

Teach, Learn, Share

I enjoy sharing knowledge with others, and try to help others I meet online or in person. I currently serve as a long-distance mentor and coach to photographers around the world via one of my websites http://photomentors.com/ There are many free lessons there about photography and lots of content that may interest you if you enjoy making pictures too.

While I am traveling, I also offer to help my Hosts with tips and lessons on their own photography (or art) too, so they can better enjoy making photos for themselves. This can be like a private workshop on photography, depending upon the time I spend with a host. Several hosts have found this very valuable and helpful to them and have enjoyed our private lessons in photography.

Sharing? Depending upon the length of stay with a host, or their level of support of my travels, I usually make something special as a gift for my host. I have put a few examples in my photo album here on CS, so take a look at just a few of the portraits I made of some of my hosts.

I also enjoy learning from anyone. So if you have something I can observe or learn from you, I would enjoy that.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States