Stephanie Peters

Today is National Bison Day.  
The official National Mammal is celebrated today for it's central role in American history, how it shaped the great plains, and continues to play a vital role in Native American's history and spirituality.  Did you know that millions of bison used to roam from Alaska to Mexico, coast to coast, before settlers reached America. And then in 1876, almost all were gone due to heavy hunting and mass killings, including where almost a million were killed in 3 years! It was then that organizations like the American Bison Society began to save the bison and protect it. Now over 100 years later, the American Bison not only has it's own day (the first Saturday of November) but it also was recognized as the National Mammal in May 2016. It's been on a long road to recovery, but perhaps people will begin to appreciate and see the spiritual significance of the American Bison. 

All these fun facts are inspiring new work - or maybe just encountering some Bison back in September inspired me to start drawing...

Recently, I have created some new art magnets. These miniature works of art (2.5x4.5") are created on wood panels with a magnetic strip on the back. The weight of the magnet is perfect for holding photos and papers to a magnetic surface. They are not only decorative, but functional! 

I've been experimenting with new materials and approaches, so these magnets are a glimpse of whats to come... Here they are:

Thanks to Finding Nemo, clownfish, scientifically known as Anemonefish, have had their 15 minutes of fame, or more like 30 minutes with Finding Dory. But these tropical fish deserve it. In addition to being quite beautiful, they have a super power! Clownfish are immune to anemone stinging tentacles, and in the wild they have a symbiotic relationship with certain anemone, where they both benefit from each others company for food and protection. Most people know clownfish as the Nemo type, orange with three white stripes across their heads and body. But there are thirty recognized types of clownfish, including black, reddish and yellow variants. And a dozen more or so that have been bred in captivity for aquariums.

These illustrations were inspired by the false clownfish. Similar to the orange clownfish, the false clownfish has a thinner black line between the orange and white stripes. I just really like the contrast of orange and white... 

Check them out at my society6.com shop,  if you want to carry around a clownfish or wear a clownfish. 

...have found their way into my studio.  After spending three months in Europe this past summer, where I probably saw more rain that I have seen over the last five years living in Arizona, I've been hooked on storms.
From tornadoes to thunder storms to clouds dancing over mountains - the colors, mood and music of thunder has started to find its way into some new paintings and drawing.  Working with new mediums like graphite powder, and a more limited tinted palette, I'm very excited about the abstract direction these are going. I have a feeling these stormy paintings are the beginning of a few new collections on thunder storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

I will be participating in the inaugural event for Uncommon Markets. Uncommon Markets is a new event coming to Scottsdale that offers an opportunity to support local artisans, discover sustainable goods, find uncommon stuff, enjoy food, music, and see innovative new art from emerging 29 & under artists - like myself! It will be my first market/art festival type event and I'm very excited to take this opportunity to share new work with a new audience. Learn more about the festival at Uncommon Markets' website, and if you do make it out, find me at booth 220!

Over the summer I spent some time with a variety of different birds, while traveling around Europe. 
Here are a few sketches of some of the birds I saw:

more sketches and work coming soon, as soon as I go through the hundreds of photos I took!

Over the past week, I have been biking up the coast of Western Ireland - part of a summer traveling around Europe that has taken me from Munich to Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, UK, Whales, and now Ireland. Spending the last two weeks of the summer in Donegal, Ireland, where daily bike rides pass by grazing sheep. On the rare sunny day, they lounge out in the sun too. This little illustration was inspired by a talkative lazy sheep.

Available for prints here... and as products:

(Currently on the shores of Lake Lugano painting...)

A week in Munich, Germany is not enough. If you want to see all the attractions and WWII history, don't discover the English Garden. This traveling artist found herself inspired by the little oasis of nature and dozens of geese for a few days before taking a train to Salzburg, and missing out on all of Munich has to offer. Although, we did get to see a couple art museums and met some new friends.

This watercolor painting turned graphic was inspired by wild red poppies I have recently encountered in the fields of Austria! I am spending Summer 2016 in Europe for a few different opportunities.  And I couldn't resist these beautiful poppies we keep seeing on our walks. They look so happy and cheerful.

However, the Red Poppy is not symbolically cheerful. It is used in Great Britain and America as a symbol of remembrance for soldiers who have died during wartime. Which makes it appropriate to see as I travel through Austria and Germany, two countries that have seen their share of blood in recent history.   In many of the towns we have explored, we have seen WWI and WWII memorials reminding tourists and citizens alike the history the area has experienced, right under our feet.

It's interesting to walk these streets and think that 75+ years ago, there was a different daily story being told. Perhaps the poppy can remind us that life was lost for love to survive. And now, that love grows wild in the fields or on the sidewalks, freely.

This graphic gives form to the idea that love is growing wild as poppies. And now it's available to bring love into your world too.