developed painting for theatre. Referring to Stevenson's paintings, Maureen Eppstein wrote, "In some the richness of texture is enhanced by the surface under the paint, layers of gesso and loosely woven cheesecloth..." In addition to acrylics, Stevenson worked in serigraphy, watercolor, gouache and pen and ink drawing. Portraits Initially, Stevenson's work focused on his distinctive multiple-image portraits, for example Bata Bheag: Portrait of Irving S. Shapiro (1968), Mendocino Shepherd: Portrait of Thorkild Thompson (1967) and Dorr (1964), Stevenson's portrait of Dorr Bothwell at work in her Mendocino studio. Although Stevenson always painted portraits, in the early 1970s he became more selective in accepting commissions and began to focus on other genres; his interests were wide and most are reflected in his subject matter. Golden ratio and "Sparles" Stevenson based his compositions on the golden ratio, first referred to by Leonardo da Vinci as the secto aurea (golden section). Leonardo's line drawings of the five Platonic solids illustrate Luca Pacioli's book La Divina Proportione (1509). One of Stevenson's reference books on the subject was Elements of Dynamic Symmetry by Jay Hambidge. Stevenson's post-1961 work often included dynamic fractures inspired by Pythagoras' "theory of spiraling forms, serial dynamic symmetry" patterns which Stevenson said compose "the webwork of energy that extends everywhere.", illustrated in Apotheosis of the Working Man (1993), As I See It: Mendocino Bay (1995) and Stevenson's double portrait of jazz poet Ruth Weiss and artist Paul Blake, The Poet & The Artist (2002). Originally Stevenson called the star-like figures which emerged in spiraling fractures, "sparkles", but an interviewer's typo changed the word to "sparles" and Stevenson adopted it. Liturgical work Although Stevenson was eclectic in his personal spiritual exploration, with a special interest in Hermetic philosophy, some of Stevenson's Christian liturgical work can be seen at several Northern California churches. The stained glass angel windows at Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Fort Bragg, California, were designed by Stevenson and installed in 1984. Other church installations include Stevenson's murals at the Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd (now Good Shepherd United Methodist Church), Richmond, California, and the Piedmont Community Church, Piedmont, California. In a rare foray into sculpture, Stevenson designed the altar cross for the children's chapel at the Piedmont Community Church. Book illustration Those who are familiar with the work of musician, writer and cultural icon Chester Anderson will recognize Charles Stevenson as the illustrator of Anderson's groundbreaking