Stephanie Studios

Pixie Hollow Completed

2011-07-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

Pixie Hollow is now ready for the furniture and personal items to be added! Finished on July 11th. Decals of the fairy characters will be placed into the mural work soon. I can't wait to see the final touches (lighting, furniture, and such) added by the owner! It's going to be amazing!

Pixie Hollow as of July 7th, 2011

2011-07-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Pixie Hollow now has a door and some windows. (This is a good thing because the poor fairies were living in a fish bowl.)

The hollow also has grown a much needed mushroom. The spots that usually grow on Pixie Hollow mushrooms hasn't been added yet. (I'm sure the Pixie's have noticed by now...but they won't have to wait too long before dots and spots are added.)

I can't wait to see the flowers grow in next week. Now that the stems and foliage are in, they can safely grow without fear of floating away. We are excited for the fairies to show themselves once all is complete.....and of course, looking forward to the young lady who will have to make sure that they stay in the room and don't make mischief all throughout the house!

PIXIE HOLLOW as of July 5th

2011-07-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

I've just started painting a room for a young lady. She loves fairies so Pixie Hollow is the theme! She's out of town currently, so I was asked to work while she's away....this helps because the room is a complete mess! Here are photos of the progress. (The final photo show 14-1/2 hrs.of work.)

"New Beginnings"

2010-04-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

I have been on a difficult, but amazing journey the last year and a half. I put all of my artistic aspirations on hold and helped to take care of a dear family member with cancer. I learned a lot of things that I really didn't want to have to learn, but would not have traded for the world. Watching a loved one slowly fade away is something I can't really describe. So, I'm hoping to paint the series of images I have been pondering in response to caregiving. I'm looking forward to processing what we went through this last year+ in a visual way. I think I heal better when I can get the images in my head out on canvas.

I have, however, decided to just finish all that I had started before the cancer hit our family. I have about 3 paintings that have been stacked up in my canvas rack waiting all this time. I just finished one two days ago.

About four years ago I had thought that I would paint a Noah's Ark painting for our kids. But, it's getting to be more of a Spiderman/Superhero phase of childhood these days. So, I've finished the canvas and am hoping to sell it soon. One down-2 to go!

I have named this Painting "New Beginnings". Not only does this work for Noah's Ark, but has a very personal meaning for me. I am beginning again...

"Three Owls"

2010-03-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

I have a friend that is having a baby girl and designing an owl theme for the room. I wanted to make something special. So, I painted three little pieces to tie into her theme and bed/pillow patterns.

My favorite aspect to these pieces is actually their backgrounds. I know it's just white, but I used the Winsor & Newton Iridescent White acrylic. The effect is so lovely. It looks just like I've painted on silk. It has such an illusion of smooth and soft. I just love it!

The owls were fun to make. I took a piece of paper and cut out the owl pattern then traced them each on to the canvases. This way, they were truly matching.

Anyway, it was fantastically fun and pleasing to make something for their new little one!

"LEVI" -2006 Acrylic on canvas

2008-08-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

I really have been enjoying acrylics lately. One main reason is due to my client's needs. Kids rooms should be odorless and have washable surfaces whenever possible. I feel good about creating a product that provides both.
Another reason I've embraced acrylics is the speed in which it dries. I appreciate being able to deliver the painting quickly after it's completion. (Especially when the children have taken part in offering input. They don't tend to be able to wait around as long as we can for paint to dry.)

I love to paint around the edges of my canvas. It allows the painting to stand by itself visually. Framing these kinds of landscapes can really seem to distance the viewer from simply entering into the scene.

I have a little plot running through the painting. The Dog in the airplane is eyeing the cat while the cat is fishing for lunch. The cat's potential lunch is hanging out around the corner of the painting smiling to himself that he'll stay off today's menu.

This is just a close up of the lower right hand section of "Levi".

Drawings

2008-08-28T13:34:00.001-07:00

Here are just a few of the drawings that I have selected for this informal portfolio section.

I really enjoy drawing live subjects. I find my work is just more clear in every way. (Of course, the trick is to convince one of my unsuspecting friends or family to sit still for me while I draw them. )

Often the model becomes completely bored about 3 minutes into the process. So, I've found that if I plug in a movie or turn the TV to sports I get a far greater amount of cooperation!

This accounts for the reason so many of my subjects are plants.

I love the still life experience and plants tend to

sit still and not require any entertainment.

'Waxed-leaf Hoya"-crayon and ink on paper

'Beluga at Point Defiance"-soft pastel on paper

'Pine cones' -graphite on paper

We begin!

2008-08-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Stephanie Studios blog. I'm beginning my painting business after a long and wonderful journey of learning, indecision, insecurities, prayer, and an amazing group of supportive family and friend's encouragement. Up until recently, I've always dreamed of being an artist, but never allowed myself to believe that I was one.

However, once I got married and my husband began the painstaking work of beginning to knock the kinks out of my person, I began to see that I alone have held myself back.
I also have opened my eyes to the fact that I am free to use the gifts God gave me. By doing so, I am honoring Him and being true to myself. Win-win!

I love art and hope that through this blog I can share my continued journey with others.
Here we go!