MEET THE ARTIST
About Stephanie
I was raised in the scenic mountains of Brevard, NC, where the beauty of nature sparked my creativity. I’m a contemporary artist whose return to painting came later in life. After earning a degree in Clothing, Textiles, and Merchandising from Western Carolina University, I stepped away from the creative world to raise my three children. As they grew older, my passion for painting was reignited, and I returned to my artistic roots.
My work is deeply influenced by my father, an accomplished artist, and my mother, who was always sewing and creating around our home. These early experiences have had a lasting impact on my art. My love for color, light, and faith shines through each piece I create. I explore abstract landscapes, botanical studies, and the quiet beauty of nature, reflecting my deep connection to the earth.
Now, I work from my studio in Cumming, GA, creating art that invites viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the peace, joy, and natural beauty that surrounds us.
My Creative Process
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My Creative Process *
There's usually a trigger from seeing something in nature. A sensation that begins to speak to me through color, composition, or shape. I'm constantly observing gardens and landscapes, either in person or through magazines, searching for that moment when something truly draws me in. My appreciation for art and the natural world began early, shaped by childhood memories of my father always painting, carving, or drawing. My hope is that clients feel an emotion through my art, maybe not exactly what emotion I felt, but at least something that transports them to a different time or memory.
01. Inspiration & Concept Development
Childhood immersion in art through my father's constant creating
Art show adventures with my father and discovering other artisans creations
An intuitive attraction to color that guides my artistic choices
Learning to trust that initial spark when something in nature calls to me
My Artistic Foundation
Mornings are my prime painting time. I start with coffee in hand, either sitting outside drawing inspiration from nature or evaluating a piece I'm working on. My workspace might look like organized chaos to others, but I know where everything is! I prepare with a clean glass palette, fresh brushes, and prepped canvas, always beginning with Andrea Bocelli's "The Prayer" to ask for creative guidance.
02. Material Preparation & Setup
Morning light and coffee
Always playing music loud - a variety of genres depending on my mood
Working primarily with acrylics on canvas, preferring large-scale pieces
Setting up my space where intuition can flow freely
Creating The Right Environment
I work in many layers, often painting multiple canvases at the same time while waiting for drying time between layers. When everything aligns, I enter what I call "The Flow" it's hard to describe, but it's like a runner's high, an internal humming that starts when I know the creation is going the way I envisioned. Time disappears, and I get completely swept away. Some days this flow doesn’t come as expected, and I walk away deflated, but I know another day will bring fresh energy.
03. The Creation Process
Working on several pieces simultaneously during drying periods
Embracing patience when creative blocks arise, sometimes sitting with pieces for weeks
Entering The Flow
Knowing when a piece is 'done' is purely intuitive - a feeling just tells me to walk away. After photographing and signing, I sit with it for a while, walking by it often to see if my feeling of completeness continues. My hope is that it creates the same kind of emotional transport for others that the original natural scene created for me.
04. Finishing & Completion
Trusting my intuition to know when to stop
Final documentation through photography
Adding my signature as the final creative act
Living with the piece to confirm the feeling of wholeness