Hi! I'm Stefanie

painter, photographer, graphic designer, and part-time philosopher (mostly while staring at my coffee). My psychological portraits tell stories that take a deep look into the human psyche, with pop-surrealism I explore the animal world, celebrate nature, and yes, once in a while I dive into the dark beauty of horror. I like to think of my work as an outlet for all the thoughts and feelings that words just can't handle. dunkelbunt
 

 

How did I end up here?

 

I started with a high-school degree in design and then spent 16 years living the graphic designer life. Deadlines? Check. Pixel perfection? Double check. Coffee addiction? Absolutely. But after all those years, something was missing – I needed more than logos and layouts.

About ten years ago, I rolled up my sleeves and started teaching myself to illustrate. Workshops, books, online courses – you name it.  And while I dabbled in board game illustrations, book covers, editorial pieces, and ads, I quickly realized – I didn’t want to bring other people’s ideas to life.

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Spontaneity & Passion – from pixel to paint

 

I had my own stories to tell, and I'm telling them with raw & emotional paintings. As patience is a concept I'm not familiar with, acrylic paint is my choice of medium. I really liked painting digitally, I can do it everywhere & even I can't get dirty, but the sensory input is missing – the feeling of the brush & paper, the smell of the paint. And when you paint it is on the paper, you have to work with it. You are way more spontaneous. With digital painting you can always go back. And while it seems to be great – it has a big potential for overthinking.

Painting has been my lifelong passion – through all the chaos, it's my one true constant (well, and coffee). It’s deeply personal, emotional, and tied to my love for animals and nature. Animal rights and environmental protection are causes close to my heart and often find their way into my art.

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Cats, Books & and Coffee

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Home is Bielefeld, Germany, where I share my space with my two furry co-conspirators: Franzi, my diva with a serious attitude, and Roscoe, who’s the quiet observer. They’re both terrible critics – Franzi once knocked over a painting mid-session, and I swear it was deliberate. When I’m not in my studio or dealing with cat-related sabotage, I’m spending time with two incredible horses who keep me grounded (and occasionally covered in mud).

Reading is another favorite of mine – there’s nothing quite like snuggling on the sofa with a book & a bag of crisps by your side. And coffee…

Exhibitions

 

1993​ 'aorta' in Bremen
1993  Art-Festival 'OKS-Syndrom' in Bremen
1994​ 'fünf ohne titel' at Neustädter Bahnhof in Bremen
2007  International Artfair Salzburg

 

 

Juried Publications

 

2007  Seetal Contest
Infected by Art Vol. 4