Conversations with Stephanie Han

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Han.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Even though I showed a lot of artistic aptitude as a kid, becoming an artist was not something my parents (or I) thought of as a real career path. That changed when I tagged along with a friend to check out the Laguna College of Art & Design our senior year of high school. My friend didn’t end up going there, but I did, and I convinced my parents that it would be OK because I’d be going into Illustration—a “commercial” art. After graduating with a BFA in 1995, I worked for the marketing department at Canon USA, becoming more proficient in graphic design. It was a great job, but I’d always wanted to go to the School of Visual Arts in New York, where Marshall Arisman (one of my art heroes) ran an MFA program. When I found out that I’d been accepted into that program, I quit my job and headed East without hesitation. After earning my MFA in 1997 and returning to Southern California, I was lucky enough to find work at a graphic design firm in Long Beach through old work connections, where I would work full-time for 20+ years.

At the design firm, I learned a lot, met great people, and had tons of fun, but I also continued to paint and draw, pursuing various exhibition opportunities where I could. In early 2020 (not knowing that we were on the brink of a pandemic), I decided to leave the 9-5 life to free up more time for my art—with the encouragement of a very supportive spouse. It took some adjustment and wasn’t easy (still isn’t), but it’s something that I’m so glad I did. Not only did I make more time for my true passion, I also had more time to connect with the local art scene, eventually forming a Long Beach visual arts group with some friends to connect and promote artists in our area. I also started teaching graphic design in the Fall of 2022, and that is a new career avenue that I’m very excited about, as I feel I have a lot of helpful knowledge for students. I feel more energized and optimistic than ever right now as I enter my “second act.”

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel like I’ve been more fortunate than most in that I knew from fairly early on that I wanted to pursue a creative path with my life. There wasn’t a whole lot of flailing about when I was in college, and I was able to find stable work right after. But that stable work was also a double-edged sword in that I’d always be wondering what more I could be accomplishing artistically if I’d chosen a different path. I’ve always been a pretty risk-averse person, and the thought of becoming a full-time artist was very scary to me, especially when I was still unsure of my merit as an artist, even with all the schooling and experience I had. I still struggle with feelings of inadequacy on a regular basis—I think a lot of artists do—and I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I’ve “made it”, but I remind myself every day how lucky I am and that I can only do my best.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Most of my work is inspired by nature (animals and plants), and I paint representationally in acrylics and watercolors. I think people know me best for my animal paintings, and it’s certainly a subject matter that’s become more dear to me in recent years. I’m a crazy cat lady, and started creating a lot of cat art starting in 2015, when I decided to become a vendor at the first CatCon in downtown LA. Since then, I’ve created art based on rescued and endangered animals, took on pet portraiture, and re-thought my relationship to animals overall. I think my ability to capture likenesses well is what’s most impressive to people, but I hope that my love and respect for animals and nature is what shines through in my pieces and that it will amplify those feelings in others.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I recently moved into a studio space with three other Long Beach artists at 3232 E Willow St in Signal Hill, called Art Space. I hadn’t shared a studio with other artists in a while and it’s been really great. We’re open by appointment, just email me at [email protected].

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stephaniehanart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph.han.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.han.artlb
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniehan/