BIO, Artist STATEMENT, CV, and Process

---

Stefanie Stark is know for her abstract floral paintings as well as intuitive abstract paintings. She also dabbles in collage. Inspired by nature and in particular, the beauty and fragility of flowers, Stefanie expresses herself through layers of acrylic paint on canvas and loose, gestural oil pastel or pencil marks. Purposeful drips elevate Stefanie’s work beyond typical floral paintings and add dimension as well as emotion. “Something about the flow of each drip feels right and even necessary to me,” she says. “Each drip is like a release of feelings, similar to a tear, whether of joy or sorrow. Both stream down, forging a unique yet anticipated path.” 

Growing up in Washington, D.C., Stefanie was surrounded by art at home and in museums. By age nine she announced she wanted to be an artist. Her work has been exhibited in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Her paintings have earned awards and are part of private collections throughout the United States and abroad. 

Stefanie now lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband and two children and  works from a home studio. 

I grew up with a mother who continuously filled our home with fresh flowers. She cut stems, chose the perfect vessel, and placed the blooms just so. I watched, learned and helped. 

My mother and her flowers taught me about beauty. Perhaps it’s no surprise that flowers of all shapes, sizes and colors inspire me.  Abstract petals and blooms often find a way into my paintings even when I try not to paint them. While I also paint abstract works without flowers, it is through my painted petals that I feel a connection with my late mother, who died before I began to paint.  

All of nature reminds me of the fragility of life and the bigger awe-inspiring world around us. In flowers, we see the full lifespan in a short time. Wonder, amazement, love, loss, pain, hope and even transcendent connection move from within me to my artwork. 

I use brushes, sponges, paper towels and sometimes my fingers when I paint.  Intuitively combining different colors, I love watching them merge and blend on the canvas before me.  Each brushstroke or mark informs my next step.  Oil pastel and pencil marks and scribbles add dimension and interest, as do various textures and thicknesses of paint.  These elements help convey a sense of movement, flow and emotion.  I hope my paintings draw viewers in and hold them at least for a moment in which they slow down and hopefully respond to what they see.