Like many surfers, in his youth Steven Lee Smeltzer was enticed by the perfect waves and easy-going lifestyle Maui offered. From the moment he arrived on the island, he knew the Valley Isle would be his home. Mother Nature provided the surf, now Steven had to create a home and income. A form of work that well, wasn’t really work and that could be flexible, that would flow with the tides and his surf schedule.Steven has often said that he finds himself entangled in a web of nonsense…and he loves it. Inspired by everything and everyone, his creations come to life in his mind, then take shape from a mound of clay with the innate skill of a true artisan.Each sculpture reflects Steven’s desire to bring a sense of lightheartedness to all that are willing to indulge in imaginative and fanciful art. Though recently a number of his whimsical characters veered away from the humorous side of life to the more sinister, with a starring role as antagonists in Wray Ardan’s young adult, dark fantasy, romance novel, Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate.While Steven is most recognized for his whimsical ceramic sculptures, he also creates stunning bronze sculptures, as well as oil and acrylic paintings–and has even ventured into the world of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) animation, working as an Associate Producer and set designer on a CGI television pilot that transformed several of his sculptures into animated creatures. While working on the CGI projects Steven set up his business name as Ulu Productions, which is what you will see with his business transactions.