Stephen Rubinkam

Stephen Rubinkam

74, an impressionist painter whose colorful works drew legions of art lovers to his galleries in Southwestern Michigan, died Aug. 24 in Grand Rapids following a long illness.

Rubinkam began painting in the early 1990's after an extensive career in marketing and advertising. He worked as a sales representative for Fortune Magazine in the 1970's and started his own Chicago-based agency, Rubinkam Advertising, in the 1980's.

His long and successful career as a working artist started with the children's books Steve wrote and illustrated in his spare time. He showed one of his finished products to a friend who praised the writing, but was even more complimentary of Rubinkam's illustrations. A spark was ignited and Steve dove into painting with a passion that clearly was reflected in his bold impressionist works, characterized by vivid colors and whimsical subjects.

Rubinkam found almost immediate success selling his paintings in art fairs, displaying at shows in and around Chicago in the summer and in Florida in the winter. In 2005 he commissioned architect Ed Noonan to design the Rubinkam Gallery in New Buffalo, MI, and in 2008 he opened a second gallery in Douglas, MI with his business partner and close friend, Durenda Walker.

As a painter Rubinkam primarily was self-taught, but he gave much credit for his success to his long-time friend, the late Bill Olendorf, a well-known Chicago artist who also had many ties to Southwestern Michigan. Like Olendorf, he loved boats and loved sailing, and many of Rubinkam's most popular works were of sailboats and marinas.

Rubinkam was a passionate and accomplished sailor in his own right, sailing many times in the annual Chicago to Mackinac Race out of the Columbia Yacht Club, Chicago. His first sailing voyages were as a small boy, with his uncle, Nathaniel Rubinkam, who won 'The Mac' in 1936 with his Yacht, the Rubaiyat.

Rubinkam is survived by his sister, Cynthia Cooke of Lake Forest, IL. In accordance with his wishes, his ashes will be scattered in Lake Michigan, the lake he loved to sail. A service celebrating his life will be held on Sat., Sept. 29, 2:00 PM (CST), at the Tryon Farm 'White Barn', 1500 Tryon Rd., Michigan City, IN 46360. Memorial contributions may be made to the Spectrum Health Foundation for the Heart Center, 100 Michigan St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Arrangements have been entrusted with Sommerfeld Chapel of New Buffalo. Friends wishing to leave a message of condolence my do so at http://www.sommerfeldchapel.com

Rubinkam died holding a paintbrush and despite serious health issues, was at his easel until two days before his death. His latest painting was a small oil of bright sunflowers, and typical of his work, the painting caption, in French: "Vivre et d'aimer." The English translation, "live and love," could well be his epitaph.