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Meet Trailblazer Sophie Sturdevant

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Sturdevant.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
At five years old (winning the Cherry Creek Arts Festival!), I knew I wanted to be an artist. I grew up around a family of creators — musicians and writers and fine artists, including my artist mother, who has influenced me since I can remember.

Art was always a creative outlet and place of exploration for me, but it wasn’t until the few years after college that I began to pursue my passion with greater intentionality and fervor. I was living alone for the first time in a studio apartment in Seattle — healing from an eating disorder, body hatred, and an abusive relationship —that I need to feel a sense of home in myself again.

This is what influenced my desire to portray the woman in my work. I interpret her experience through a minimalistic perspective and use simple, precise lines to present her as strong in her vulnerability and beautiful in her femininity. These simple, abstract lines allow the viewer to perceive her as beautiful, worthy to behold, rather than an object solely for the purpose of sexual gratification, even in her nudity.

She has dominion over her body. She represents what it means to be a woman and to *love* being a woman. I believe that a woman’s beauty is like nothing the world has ever seen; she has a unique ability to be strong, but kind, and powerful, but soft, simultaneously, and that we were made by God as the crowning touch of creation, for He was only satisfied with His creation of earth once He has made woman — Eve.

Since pursuing art, I’ve hosted six art shows between Seattle, Fort Collins, and Denver, and have sold up to 80% of my work in a single opening reception. I’ve partnered with Velvet Files, a Colorado-based boutique, to create exclusive hoodie and t-shirt designs, and collaborated with LA-based women’s clothing brand For Love And Lemons on their Valentine’s Day email and social media campaign.

As a minimalist line artist, and in agreement with Leonardo da Vinci that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” I use few, precise strokes, each as significant as the next — intentionally stripping all of the unnecessary and allowing the viewer to read between the lines.

Has it been a smooth road?
This road hasn’t been smooth in the slightest, and I’m so thankful for that. A history marked by deep insecurity, body hatred, an eating disorder, and an abusive relationship is what prompted me to explore art again after graduating college, and use it to find safety and worth in my own body again.

The point to get there required intentionality, humility, perseverance, and resiliency. But, I’m so thankful, because I know if I hadn’t been driven to despair, I wouldn’t have come back to art in my adulthood, and I wouldn’t care to share the message behind my work.

I firmly believe that God uses every part of our stories for our good. It’s hard to see it through that lens when we’re fighting through adversity or trying to pick up the pieces of ourselves after traumatic events, but He does come to restore us. He comes to turn ashes into beauty, and I’ve seen this so tangibly in my life over and over again.

My greatest struggles have been internal, to be honest! We can be our own worst enemy and our greatest demise if we let negative circumstance define us. If we continue to believe that we are inadequate, unworthy, unlovable, or if we’re stuck in a comparison trap, we are the very thing that gets in our way.

My work in overcoming obstacles as an artist have all centered around my own mindset. Even now, I’m having to work through feelings of doubt and having to resist comparing myself to other artists. Imposter syndrome is something that almost every one of us has to overcome, and it’s a battle we often fight in silence.

So, with that said, this would be my encouragement to women, and young women in particular: Imposter syndrome (feelings of inadequacy, and like you “don’t belong” or you don’t have what it takes), is going to try and talk you out of your dreams. A fear of what others think is going to tempt you to stay quiet, to never share your story. Don’t give imposter syndrome a voice! And don’t be afraid of the opinions of others.

(Speaking of imposter syndrome, I run a weekly vlog through YouTube and IGTV that teaches people “how to become an artist (while still becoming one).” We have to let ourselves go through the process even while we are already working/sharing/creating.)

You can either be your greatest advocate or your greatest enemy. Let yourself be your advocate. Trust that you have something really beautiful to share. Nothing about you — no past, no lack of education, no personality quirk, no dysfunctional family or lack of resources — disqualifies you. Nothing. You are worth investment, you are worth intentionality, you are worth love. Let what is true about you define you and nothing else.

And, if you find that you’re suffering from limited beliefs, tackle them! Face them head on. Speak (out loud) what is good about you, what is likable, what is lovable, what is true. Only from a place of deep self-awareness, self-worth, and firmly-rooted identity can we create with abandon, fearlessly and authentically.

We’d love to hear more about Sturdevant.Studio.
I am a contemporary line artist — my work is minimalistic, sophisticated in its simplicity. I specialize in portraying the woman’s body as beautiful, strong, and feminine.

Though I’m proud of my work and proud of my journey, I am most proud of how my work resonates with others. I began creating for myself, but now, this is so much bigger than me. One of my favorite comments about my work comes from a client, who explains it so perfectly:

“I love how your work isn’t the smooth, ‘sexy’ lines that are so frustratingly common and your work actually feels like how women see and inhabit our bodies (and yeah, they’re sexy, but only because women’s bodies are sexy, not because you’re sexualizing them.)”

For others to be able to understand my intention is incredible! I love knowing that my work is healing and empowering for others, just like it has been for me.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Be very, very intentional about what you tell yourself. Overcome your limiting mindset.

Don’t let yourself talk you out of your dreams. If you’re telling yourself a narrative that you aren’t worthy, you don’t have what it takes, and that good things only happen for other people, I’ll tell you right now: This is a lie! And it’s hurtful.

You have to attack those lies. You have to silence them. And the thing about this is mindset work is that it doesn’t take a day, and it’s not easy. It requires work, and it requires that we are committed to it.

For me, this looks like letting God define me. If I have self-doubts or get stuck in comparison, I go to Him and ask Him to remind me who I am. And He’ll speak truths over me: “You are worthy. You are loved. You are lovable! I have good in store for you. I made you with purpose in mind.”

Practically (and this will work for anyone, beliefs aside), create a morning manifesto. Begin with “My name is [your name].” Write out all of the good things that you are on paper, the things that make you unique and wonderful. Write out why you are worthy of receiving good things.

I recorded mine using Voice Memos on my phone, and I let this play every morning before I start my day. It’s powerful to remember my worth, and to hear myself say those things!

One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 16:24, which says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Speak life over yourself. It’s good for you, inside and out.

Pricing:

  • Art Prints: $90+
  • Art Originals: $300+

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Nick and Bethany Rice (Red Feather West)

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