Tiffany Stephens is a local artist whose work includes paintings, drawings, murals, ceramics and sculpture.
HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN WORKING IN THE TRADE?
“I have been working seriously at it for four, four and a half years, but I don’t use it as my main source of income.”
WHAT’S HER SPECIALTY?
Stephens primarily focuses on paintings and drawings.
WHAT MEDIUM DOES
SHE PREFER?
Acrylic paintings.
WHAT INTERESTS HER MOST ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST?
“Allowing oneself to think creatively. Most people are creative, but it’s nice to think that way and live that way. It’s good for introspective thought. I love people and I love the way art affects people — the way they’re emotionally moved.”
WHAT DOES SHE FIND MOST SATISFYING ABOUT ART?
“What’s most rewarding is the sense of accomplishment in seeing what you created and made.”
WHAT IS MOST CHALLENGING FOR HER?
“Staying inspired. Inspiration is the key to all of it, the driving force.”
WHAT INSPIRES HER?
“Relationships with other people, certain colors, nature.”
EDUCATION
Stephens attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville and Western Washington University in Washington state. She finished her bachelor’s degree in fine arts at the University of North Florida.
WHILE IN SCHOOL . . .
Stephens worked as a hostess at various restaurants when at UNF. She also volunteered at Goodwill between classes.
AFTER GRADUATING
Stephens did an internship at The Drawing Center, a gallery in SoHo. For those outside the art world, SoHo is short for south of Houston Street and is located in Manhattan.
BREAD AND BUTTER
To pay the bills, Stephens is working part-time at Pottery Barn in The Avenues Mall. She is considering returning to school for training in interior design. A couple of years ago, she took some time off to develop her technique and skill and to work solely on art.
HOW HAS HER
WORK IMPROVED?
“Not going away to graduate school but having to work, I feel my art work is in an incubation phase. I am collecting thoughts and visions about what I want to paint. Art will always be a part of what I do. It’s a way of life, of looking at things a little differently.”
Currently, Stephens is contemplating opening her own event planning business.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Stephens received an award for best painting at a student show at UNF. One of her pieces was part of the Roses of Charity silent auction that benefited Catholic Charities in 2001. She has volunteered at a dance company called DC Brella doing set design and production and painted murals at Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum for its children’s museum.
HOW DOES SHE VIEW THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN JACKSONVILLE?
“It’s exciting because of the growing arts scene. People are looking to provide financial backing so it can grow. New York is every man for himself. Here, everyone works as a team in their vision of developing the city and the arts. I hope it comes out to the beach.”
PROFESSIONAL AND
CIVIC AFFILIATIONS
Stephens is a member of the Animal Rights Coalition and attends Palms Presbyterian Church, where she volunteers her time.
FAMILY
“I was born in Jacksonville. My whole family is here. I use my family and relationships as inspiration because my art is always very personal. I was doing a lot of bird paintings but I shifted to portraits.” Stephens has four dogs, six cats and one bird.
“My step dad is a veterinarian.” She resides in Jacksonville Beach where she grew up and maintains her studio.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP
Traveling — “I’ve been all over the U.S.”— skateboarding, snowboarding, fishing, hanging out at the beach and bargain shopping. She also volunteers for daniel and, in the past, has spent an entire month backpacking through Europe. Her true passion, though, is the video game Ms. Pac Man. “I love it. I play it a lot.”
WHERE HAS SHE
TRAVELED LATELY?
In the past two years, Stephens has been through Italy with her mother, visited Guatemala on a missionary trip and drove the West Coast from Seattle to Santa Cruz, Calif., where she briefly made her home.
WHAT DID SHE DO
IN CALIFORNIA?
“I worked for the Santa Cruz cultural council with their arts education program, placing artists in schools as teachers. I designed costumes for an art fashion show, too.”
FAVORITES
Stephens enjoys all types of music including jazz, hip-hop and indie rock but her favorite song is “At Last” by Etta James. She chuckles at the Chevy Chase movie, “Christmas Vacation” and cites Fuel on Park Street as her favorite restaurant. “They have great vegetarian food.” She enjoys reading the books “The Alchemist” and “Book of Questions.” Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family and friends.
— by Monica Chamness