I’m not sure about the inspiration or source of this painting. It was likely painted for my parents and meant to represent or evoke memories of somewhere they travelled in Europe or South America. I don’t think any nationality or ethnicity is depicted here, but I could be wrong! I do know it is an early painting, possibly from around 1990. Steve had decided that he was really interested in painting, as opposed to drawing and it was around this time he took it up, teaching himself through trial and error. Steve was loathe to take formal schooling of any kind, music or art.
It’s well known amongst many of us that Steve hated and was bored by elementary and high school, and I think this strongly influenced a disinclination to seek instruction for even the things he loved. A dyed-in-the-wool do-it-yourselfer.