About Stephanie
I’m a multidisciplinary artist who writes children’s books and draws pictures. I also collage, do theater improv, dance, paint, and knit colorful sweaters. Ever since I was little, my favorite kind of play was creating things with my imagination and my hands. When I’m happy, I make things. When I’m stressed or sad, I make things. For me, creative play is a lifestyle, and always the way forward.
My published books include:
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Behold! A Baby
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Elvis & Olive
Writing, teaching, and more
I've been a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award multiple times, and my novel Pencilvania was named a Best Book of 2021 by the New York Public Library. Book-writing opened the door to teaching writing and drawing workshops to grades K - 8. Over the past 15 years, I’ve taught both adults and kids at the Loft Literary Center, public libraries across Minnesota, Minneapolis Public Schools, the American Swedish Institute, and more.
My alter ego
For the past two decades, I’ve also worked as a freelance copywriter and content strategist, writing for Target, 3M, Ecolab, Best Buy, Boston Scientific, Microsoft, Medica, Ameriprise Financial, and many more. This work is very different from my creative art practice. But the experience of collaborating with a wide variety of organizations and people has taught me to be flexible, adaptive and to connect with groups quickly, so we can build something great together. These skills translate to leading workshops with groups of all ages, backgrounds and ability. I'm not afraid to dive into the deep end with a group of strangers. In fact, the deep end is where I'm at my best.
Ahoy, matey!
On the personal side, I’ve sailed the open seas of clinical depression and anxiety for the past 25 years. I teach from a place of lived experience and empathy. Drawing, writing, improv and other art practices are strategies that I personally use to navigate both stormy weather and smooth sailing, and I love helping others to learn to do the same. In my own practice and in my teaching, my goal is to be unprecious about art-making, and to leave lots of room for experimentation, imperfection, and even failure.
I'm a proud graduate of the Minneapolis Public School system and hold a BA from Sarah Lawrence College.
What people are saying
"Stephanie's workshop provided our team with that perfect blend of skill building, team bonding and fun. We all left the workshop newly energized about our individual and collective creativity, with stronger connections to each other, and inspired for the work at hand."
Max Musicant,
Principal of the Musicant Group
This workshop helped me explore new ways to engage the creativity of my colleagues. It was a fun and unique approach to team building.
Neil F.,
Sr. Director of Product Practices
"Stephanie’s workshops are like taking your brain to the playground. Her warm energy and bright ideas light up the room and remind us of what we so easily forget: that fun isn’t frivolous and play is essential. Pure joy!"
Kari Pearson,
Loft Literary Center student
SELECT CLIENTS
“There is no such thing as creative and non-creative people, only people who use their creativity and people who don’t."
-- Dr. Brené Brown
Let's connect
Are you curious if a creative workshop or program could be a good fit for your organization? Please get in touch. We'd love to hear about what you're looking for and chat about options.
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illustrated blog
Creative insights and tools, accompanied by drawings that may or may not make you laugh. Published monthly-ish.
