Stephanie in her studio with her little helpers, Gaspard and Chi-Chi.

BIOGRAPHY

Originally, from Queens, New York, I dreamed of becoming an artist as a little girl. I would spend hours drawing my favorite characters from the books that I read. With the encouragement of my mom, I began to pursue my career in art when accepted into New York's Fiorello La Guardia high school of art and performing arts. It was here that I decided to become an illustrator. Yet, when I graduated, I decided to take a detour and study music at Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY. This journey into music would influence my work later on. After Five Towns, I received my BFA from FIT (The Fashion Institute of Technology) where I began to develop a technique influenced by children’s book art influenced by artists Alice and Martin Provensen, Leo and Diane Dillion and Howard Pyle.

Shortly after graduating from FIT, I began my illustration career when I moved to Miami, FL. I have had the opportunity to create illustrations for over one hundred book companies and magazines in many genres including newWitch, Aurealis Australian Science Fiction, Whistling Shade Literary Journal and Plank Road Publishing, a music education company for children.

While working as an illustrator, I was inspired to begin painting a series called “Der Unbekannte Musiker” (The Unknown Musician), which explored music personalities and anonymity using a detailed shadow and form technique juxtaposed with a whimsical children's book feel. This series was exhibited in a solo art show at the ArtCenter/ South Florida in Miami Beach as well as featured in City Link, The Lead and the Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market.

Currently I am working on creating several new series with a focus on children's artwork and returning to one of my favorite mediums, pen and ink.