Daily Inspiration: Meet Stacey Cuzzacrea

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Cuzzacrea

Stacey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been doing art since before I can remember. I’ve always been *drawn* to it. 😉 Kids in school would trade me candy for drawings of Bugs Bunny or Winnie the Pooh.

That being said, although drawing and painting was always something I had done to fill time or for pure amusement, in 2007 I was hospitalized for psychiatric reasons. Watercolor paints were made as popular supply for Art Therapy and it was then I could feel a different kind of expression through release and surrender, while maintaining guidance and coordination.

Fast forward to 2023, CooCoo Studio was born. I was in a toxic work environment so I threw caution to the wind and chose to live for me and stepped down from that job to pursue art full time. I immersed myself in developing a simple yet bold style to match cute and funny content. I wanted to strip everything down to its purest line forms and I will research jokes and drum up puns. From there I’ve done a fair share of vendor events and held my first gallery!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s had its bumps and it’s also had its smooth course. Owning your own business comes with it its share of tribulations and hardships.

Decision making itself was tough to lean into. I learned to let passion drive you, not steer you. You can make irrational decisions when you’re emotional and have strong feelings. But it’s necessary to harness your passion and let it inspire you without controlling what you do.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in watercolor painting and am known for simple, light-hearted, humorous art. If someone chuckles at one of my paintings, I am a happy camper.

There is a range of artists in the world but I think what sets me apart is my sense of humor. I have a very pure and simplistic style where I also feature a subtle dot texture in my paintings- they’re the final touch!

My latest series is called, “Cats & Baguettes” IE: French felines partaking in various activities; tea parties, riding bikes at the Eiffel Tower, bubble baths.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The quality most important to my success is truth. Following my intuition and letting it guide me. There are a lot of opinions out there, a lot of different perspectives. My art studio is my way of molding and evolving the way I want to, which leads to accountability and growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coocoostudio.com
• Instagram: coocoostudio5280

Image Credits
Watercolor and pen painting by Stacey Cuzzacrea of CooCoo Studio

Avory Allmand.