Self-taught success: Artist Steve Revland shares mental health, addiction struggles in memoir

To describe nationally recognized artist and Fargo native Steve Revland’s life as “simple” is a funny little contradiction.

Best known for the wood furniture he handcrafts in a studio located just a few steps outside his home in north Fargo, Revland published a memoir in January 2023 called “Simply Revland: How to Succeed in Life Despite Yourself,” a memoir about growing up with ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette’s Syndrome, growing into addiction, and eventually growing out of his self-limiting beliefs. 

Simple? We think not.

The slim read is chock full of funny (and harrowing) anecdotes, as well as lessons Revland imparts with a self-deprecating humor that lightens its thesis, which is this: Just because you might stumble through life doesn’t mean you don’t have worth. 

‘The most rewarding experience’

Revland, or “Rev” as friends and fellow artists call him, intended the memoir to be a gift to his son Ryan Revland. He wasn’t prepared to sell thousands of copies to readers around the world, mostly people looking for personal stories of overcoming addiction. 

“If I had a nickel for every email I’ve gotten from a family member who gave the book to someone struggling with alcohol or drugs, or someone who gave it to their child who struggled with ADHD,” Revland said. “That’s been the most rewarding experience I’ve had in my 70 years.” 

His 52-year business building fine-art furniture looks a little different now that he’s added “award-winning author” to his resume. Revland’s publisher, Palmetto, submitted “Simply Revland” to the LA Times Festival of Books in April 2023. The following weekend, it was celebrated at a ConFab book fair in San Francisco. 

In October 2023, Revland learned his book was accepted at the Tribeca Book Fair in NYC.

“I’ve sold thousands of copies worldwide,” Revland said. “It’s just wild.”

‘They knew I was struggling’

Also wild is the fact that he’s never actually read a book. Due to his dyslexia and ADHD, Revland isn’t able to hold his attention long enough to get into a narrative longer than ten pages.

“Reading is a waste of time for me because once I get to page ten, I’m in la-la land somewhere,” Revland said. “It’s just not registering in my head. The right side of my brain is super active. The left side is kind of null and void.”

His lifelong learning difficulties bookend the memoir when Revland recounts adopting a sort of “fake it until you make it” mentality around academics and barely graduating high school in 1971.

“I was four credits short of graduating, I had Vietnam hanging over my head and GPA of .4, only because I passed woodshop,” he said. “They [school counselors and his parents] knew I was struggling and I was scared out of my mind to be shipped overseas.” 

Fortunately, a sympathetic guidance counselor managed to help him get his diploma.

“I knew my future didn’t involve any further education,” he said. “But graduation was the day I could sit at Mom and Dad’s and really plan my future.”

Alcohol and drugs had other plans.

‘Bloodshot eyes’

“By 1982, I was a bad boy. I couldn’t control myself,” Revland said of his early 20s, an era he spent bellied up to the bar at Old Broadway, Rooter’s and other staple downtown Fargo drinking establishments.

During that time, Revland began establishing himself as a furniture artist. He taught himself woodworking, a skill complemented by his creative acumen and frenetic energy. But like lots of semi-functioning addicts, he just couldn’t seem to gain much momentum.

“I know I lost clients back then because I’d come in and smell like booze. I’d wear my sunglasses so they couldn’t see my bloodshot eyes,” Revland said. 

‘Dad? This is Ryan’

In 1980, a woman he met at the bars called him up one day and told Revland she was pregnant. 

“Her parents knew I had issues with drugs and alcohol. They moved her to Wichita, Kansas, and a few months after she got there, she called to tell me she was engaged,” Revland said. 

The young mother also told Revland that her fiance wished to adopt their baby, to which Revland agreed, but only on one condition. “As long as when he turns ten, the child can contact me.”

She kept her promise, and on March 9, 1991, Revland received a call that changed his life.

“Dad? This is Ryan. Mom said it was OK to come visit you this summer. Is that OK?” the young boy asked. 

“We hung up the phone, I dropped to my knees and had a total meltdown,” Revland said.

He went into a recovery program that same day. 

“I had no intention of seeing 40. I was at the end of my rope financially,” Revland said. “Ryan is the one who saved my life. And here I am now. Seventy years old and in the best years of my life.”

‘Scaling back’ 

Between Revland’s recovery date in 1991 and today, a lot more has happened, but one must “read the book,” as they used to say, to learn more. (Spoiler alert: stories include calendar modeling, run-ins with Elvira and Melanie Griffith, as well as a few midlife crises.) 

“After sobriety, I took a couple of years to get my mojo back. I really struggled. I have never relapsed. I knew I was home free after a week because I didn’t have withdrawals or DTs. I just needed time to get it together,” he said.

Revland married his wife Mary in 2005. He continues to make about 60 pieces of furniture a year, though he keeps promising himself to slow down and enjoy his “semi-retired” life. 

‘Turn on the music and go’

Revland spends a lot of time in his home studio, but he can also be found at Dakota Fine Art Gallery on historic 8th street in downtown Fargo where he and other artists sell their work. 

He has plans to continue working with wood, but more intentionally in the coming years. His publisher has also asked that he write a second book.

“I’m going back to making custom furniture, picking and choosing what I want to do. Making 60 pieces a year has taken a toll on my shoulders,” he said. “I’m just scaling back. I’m spending more time with my grandkids, the golf course and my wife. She’s been very patient with me all these years.” 

Between commissions, the gallery, singing at funerals, grandparenting and golfing, Revland’s semi-retirement looks to be busy, but at the end of the day, he comes back to three things: sobriety, creativity and self-taught success.

“It’s in my bones to create. I don’t have to really give it a lot of thought now,” Revland said. “I just go into my shop, turn on the music and go.”

Order ‘Simply Revland’ and connect with the artist

Revland’s memoir is available on Amazon, Bookshop and other online retailers. Connect with the artist on his website, or on Facebook and Instagram.

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