Celebrating The Natural World In Art
About Stephanie Wiarda
Biography
Stephanie grew up with freedom, the kind of freedom that small town children in the Midwest were accustomed to. In her heart she knew that new adventures would happen in the future. College years were spent in Elsah, Illinois. After four years of Metalsmithing and Art training she was on her way to the Oregon Coast.
For 25 years Stephanie’s focus was in hand-crafted, cold-formed silver and gold jewelry. She tended toward bold, clean, modern designs. Over time her interests leaned to the animal world (always with a German Shepherd at her side). An understanding and awareness of the consciousness of all living creatures became clear. Depicting this idea was born. During the process of painting, the personality and essence of each individual is revealed. The desire to portray this feeling in art is her joy.
“My goal in painting is to re-create in pastel the individuality and feeling that exudes from each beautiful creature. The subjects are from the wild, Oregon migratory birds and other native species. I sketch in and color-block the shapes on paper, then refine the image with pastel pencils, paying careful attention to the lines and shapes. In addition, I have painted many dog and cat portraits, which I especially love to do. The most important charecteristics are the eyes. The eyes convey the life and soul of each being.”
“Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.”
(Excerpt from ‘Wild Geese’ by Mary Oliver)
My Artistic Process
Exhibitions 2019 – 2024
2024 45th Celebration of Creativity Art Show, Beaverton, Oregon
2023 Juried Exhibition, Oregon Society of Artists, Portland Oregon
2023 Portland Arts Guild, teaching workshop, Portland Oregon
2022 36th International Exhibition, Pastel Society of the West Coast, Morrow Bay, California
2022 Northwest Pastel Society Exhibition, 36th Annual International Open Exhibition. American Art Company, Tacoma, Washington
2022 Local 14 Exhibition, juried show and sale, World Forestry Center, Portland, Oregon
2022 Left Coast Pastel Painters Society, “Pastels in Paradise” 2022, Juried Exhibition, Venice, Florida
2022 Pastel Society of the West Coast, MOOS 2022, Juried Exhibition, Art Center of Morrow Bay, California
2021 Juried Member of Pastels of America, New York, NY
2021 Pastel Society of Eastern Canada, “Les Pastellistes” International Art Exhibition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2021 35th Annual International Open Exhibition, NW Pastel Society, Maggie Price Memorial Award, Tacoma, WA
2021 Chicago Pastel Painters, Dakota Pastels/H.K. Holbein Award, Pastel Chicago Exhibition
2021 Pastel Society of Oregon, MOX Annual Exhibition, Portland, OR
2021 Local 14, Juried Exhibition and Sale, (postponed to 2022), Portland, Oregon
2020 Guardino Gallery, December Holiday Show, Portland, OR
2019 Society of Artists, 2020 Group Exhibition curated by Michael Orwick. First Place Award, Portland Scenes Category.
Background
Silver and Goldsmith, creating jewelry for many years.
2006-2010 Co-owner of Beppu Wiarda Gallery, Pearl District, Portland, OR.
1996-2006 Director of Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR.
1983-2005 Co-owner of Hawk Creek Gallery, Neskowin, OR.
1988-1989 Executive Director of Northwest Print Council, Portland, OR.
1989-1999 Board member and a member of the original team who created the Sitka Art Invitational in Portland, OR.
1985-89 Executive Director of Sitka Center for Art and Ecology.
Stephanie Wiarda
Email me at swiarda@gmail.com
or use contact page
Images below are 18″ x 18″
