Soft pastel

Violet Glow

This piece was inspired by a visit to Morris Arboretum as their roses had just begun to bloom. I was drawn to the soft backlighting of the petals and to the abstract tangle of leaves. The palette was influenced somewhat by local color, but was also informed by my emotional response and by my memory of the garden on that early summer day.

About

Stephanie Jean Brown

Stephanie is a self-taught artist raised in California and currently living in Philadelphia. Artistic from a young age, she only started to seriously pursue art as an adult, balancing her love for creative pursuits with a full-time career. Though she began by painting in watercolor, focusing mainly on florals and still lifes, she has recently found a more natural home for herself in soft pastel. She loves its versatility and immediacy and is inspired to explore its many possibilities as a medium. While she is still passionate about still life and floral subjects, her move to Pennsylvania ignited a love for the landscape. She is enchanted every day by the lush woodlands and meadows in and around Philadelphia. In this time of environmental devastation, Stephanie believes that an emotional connection to the landscape may play a critical role in the imagining of a more sustainable future, and she hopes her work can play some small role in fostering that connection.

Stephanie Jean Brown

describes their creative process

My creative process frequently begins away from my studio. Inspiration comes while hiking through Wissahickon Park, visiting one of Pennsylvania's many gardens and arboretums, or even browsing antique shops and thrift stores. I take many reference photographs on these excursions, though I also paint from life whenever possible. When back in my studio and preparing to begin a new piece, I start with thumbnails or notans, as composition is always my primary focus. That said, not every element is planned, and I prioritize spontaneity in my underpainting and color choices. When work and other responsibilities preclude spending much time at the easel, I keep up my daily painting habit with small studies or practice pieces, and I frequently use these as inspiration for larger finished pieces when time permits.

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