Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeannette Stutzman.
Hi Jeannette, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve loved creating art for as long as I can remember! When I was little I loved to draw my grandmother’s knickknacks (she had a lot of them) and I always entered the drawing contests from Highlight Magazine, lol. I entered my first competition in 1st grade with drawings and my 2nd grade teacher always had me paint seasonal art on the window of our classroom. Mom and Dad sent me to some private drawing lessons and there I remember drawing my hand (always a great exercise and the subject is always with you!). In Jr High and High School I was in the band and had to choose between art and band. Since I’d been in the band since 5th grade, that’s what I did. I always wanted to take art in school though! After High School I went to art school in Greenville SC where I studied Advertising Design. This led me to a career in Design for about 35 years, ranging from high tech to electronic prepress to teaching and eventually to having my own graphic design firm.
In about 2000 I started painting in oil~ I choose landscapes for subject matter so I could paint and learn outdoors and for the challenge so I could accelerate my learning process as much as possible given I was still working in design and had limited time to get out to paint. About 6 years later I picked up soft pastel in addition to oils and then a few years later also began learning silversmithing followed by bead and wire weaving. In 2019 I mostly retired from graphic design work (I still do a few projects a year) and am now painting, creating jewelry and teaching nearly every day of the week.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I roll with the punches. I have learned to have multiple income streams and also to bank money during busy times to help support me during the lean months.
I believe that our artwork is therapeutic for us as artists and also for the viewer and collector! We’re sharing ourselves and our energy and that resonates with others and people connect with that. Our art becomes our voice and hopefully speaks for us through the ages.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a lifelong learner and I love to explore and experiment with tools, supplies, techniques and concepts. I’ve painted in an impressionist style for over 20 years now and I still love it but for the past several years I’ve wanted to learn to abstract subjects for a more expressionist feel. It’s been very difficult to do! My nature is to draw and paint what I see~ Learning to use what I know about balance, harmony, composition, scale, value, color, etc to partially abstract images has taken years to find my way in, but I have! I’m loving my new paintings (oil, pastel and mixed media) that explore this concept and they’ve been receiving wonderful feedback so far. People are finding them to be fresh, innovative, unique, and new! In this age of AI and digital art especially, it’s important to show up with pieces that show the hand of the artist. Also, these pieces feel like an expression of who I am, as I grow; beyond being a representation my world and my place in it.
How do you think about luck?
I’m not a huge believer in luck. I believe in opportunities and the awareness of them. When aware of the presence of opportunity, we can choose our direction. I will say that I was very fortunate to be born with parents who never held me back… They raised me to know that I could accomplish anything I worked hard for and I still feel very confident in that belief. I work on myself and my skills and keep an open mind~ that has gotten me through life really well.
Pricing:
- I sell small studies at a fraction of my plein air and studio pieces
- Pricing is based on square inches and whether a piece has been awarded in a show
- My art & jewelry is affordable and fairly priced
Contact Info:
- Website: https://JeannetteStutzman.com
