Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Dobbins.
Hi Stephanie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After a brief time in art school, life took me in a different direction. I became a business owner, raised a large family, and eventually fulfilled my dream of becoming a bedside nurse. Years later, I picked up a small watercolor kit simply to play—and discovered a passion that had quietly been waiting for me all along.
When health challenges brought my nursing career to an unexpected close, I found healing in my home studio. Painting became a place of peace, creativity, and renewal.
Today, I am continuing my art education through the Milan Art Institute while building a portfolio of 35 original works for gallery representation. My work is already featured in several small galleries, and I look forward to expanding into additional local galleries in the coming year.
My artistic journey has taught me to notice the quiet beauty that surrounds us—in nature, animals, and people. I believe my work explores the mysterious, the unseen, and the quiet hope woven throughout the natural world. My greatest hope is that my paintings bring joy, invite people to slow down, and help them discover something extraordinary in what might otherwise go unnoticed.
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?
It certainly hasn’t been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t change it. My journey has taken me from art school to cross-country moves, running a small business, watching my grandchildren growing up, and eventually returning home to Virginia. Along the way, I put my paints aside for several years to pursue a nursing career, but I never stopped creating. During that season, my sketchbook became my constant companion and taught me the value of observation, play, and experimentation.
After 2020, a series of health challenges changed the direction of my life once again. Instead of pulling me away from art, they brought me back to it with a deeper sense of purpose. I painted through recovery, through setbacks, and even through catastrophic fractures. Every time I returned to the easel, I was reminded that creating isn’t just something I do—it’s part of who I am.
Today, I don’t paint because I’m chasing a finished piece. I paint because I love the process itself. There is something deeply healing about showing up each morning with a cup of coffee, stepping into my studio, and discovering what the painting wants to become. That daily act of creating continues to fill me with hope, gratitude, and wonder.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I create expressive, layered paintings inspired by nature, wildlife, and the quiet beauty that often goes unnoticed. My work blends realism with abstraction, using vibrant color, texture, and light to evoke emotion rather than simply recreate a scene. I am less interested in painting exactly what I see and more interested in painting what I feel—the mystery, hope, and wonder that exist beneath the surface.
One of the things I love most is finding the extraordinary in ordinary moments. A weathered garden statue, an owl tucked into flowers, a turtle beneath the water, or a horse resting quietly can all become reminders to slow down and notice the beauty that surrounds us. I hope my paintings invite viewers to pause, breathe, and experience a sense of peace and joy.
What I am most proud of isn’t a single painting—it’s having found my artistic voice. After many years and many different life experiences, I finally create work that feels authentically mine. I continue to work on my process while building a cohesive body of work for gallery exhibitions, always pushing myself to grow while remaining true to that vision.
I think what sets my work apart is my desire to paint not just the visible world, but the emotional one. Every painting begins with observation, but it ends with imagination. My hope is that each piece leaves viewers feeling as though they’ve stepped into a world where beauty, hope, and wonder are always waiting to be discovered.
What are your plans for the future?
I have so many dreams for the future, and I hope they all begin with continuing to grow as an artist. I would love to expand beyond original paintings into surface pattern design, seeing my artwork on books, journals, fabric, stationery, etc. I’ve also dreamed of writing and illustrating a few books of my own someday. I have been asked to teach and I am planning a course to share for potential creatives like myself.
One of the things I enjoy most is designing artwork for a particular space—capturing its personality, history, or feeling while interpreting it through my own artistic voice. I love creating pieces that help transform not only a room, but the way people experience it.
As I continue building my portfolio, I hope to establish relationships with larger galleries while remaining committed to learning and growing. I never want to feel as though I’ve “arrived.” The joy for me is in the process of exploration.
I know one thing for certain: I’ll never stop experimenting. Whether it’s discovering a new way to layer paint, combining unexpected materials, or finding fresh ways to express beauty and hope, I believe every painting teaches me something new. That sense of curiosity is what keeps me excited to walk into my studio every single day.
Pricing:
- Prints start at $40
- Gallery Wrapped originals $200 – $2500 depending on size and medium
- Deckled paper – $50 – 1500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stephdobbinsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephdobbinsart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550850164862
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/stephdobbs66
