Stephanie “Stevie” Floyd is one of the artists who participated in this year’s Art After Dark fundraiser.
WHAT’S WITH THE NICKNAME?
“I don’t really like it. I guess my dad intended to name me after Stevie Nicks [of the band Fleetwood Mac].”
WHY WAS SHE PICKED FOR THE SHOW?
“Missy Hager, [photographer] Tom Hager’s wife, was one of the judges. She saw my work and really liked it. She asked me to submit pictures and they [the panel] liked it.”
OTHER SHOWS?
Floyd has participated in three other shows at the Art Bar and one at Atomic Fireball in Five Points.
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville.
HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN PAINTING?
“I’ve always drawn since I was a little kid, but I really started doing them at Douglas Anderson [School of the Arts]. My dad is the basis for a lot of it because he used to paint a whole lot. When me and my brother were kids, he would give us crayons, pencils and paint instead of other toys. I wanted to go to art school for college, but I couldn’t afford it. I probably should have applied for a scholarship because I want to be an art teacher. Hopefully, in the next few years, I could do that.”
WHAT SUBJECTS DOES SHE PAINT?
“I like to paint people, but not as portraits. Some I’ll dream up in my head; some I’ll do from photographs. I like catching people in different poses — everyday people doing everyday things.”
DAY JOB
Floyd makes her living inking tattoos at Built to Last in Mandarin. For five years, she delivered pizza. “Jacksonville is starting to have a lot more galleries, but it’s so hard to just do that [art]. I’ve tried and tried.”
WHY TATTOOS?
“Learning how to tattoo is very expensive, but I had a friend teach me. It took me about a year to learn. I worked doing dirty work like mopping floors, just so I could learn. It’s one of the only jobs left in the art world where you can still take out a pen and paper and draw. My dad is a graphic artist and he doesn’t even have an art table anymore. I don’t want to sit in front of a computer all day.”
HER MEDIUMS?
“Charcoal, pastels, acrylic, craft paint — I use pretty much everything but oil. Oil takes forever to dry and I’m not a patient person. Sometimes I’ll bring home ink that I tattoo with, which is kind of expensive, but turns out kind of cool.”
HER MAIN INFLUENCE?
“I like a lot of art nouveau, but I don’t have any favorite artists, not anyone that I would paint after.”
WHAT INSPIRES HER?
“A cool idea or photo and being able to capture that moment. My stuff is raw. I usually paint on doors or windows. If I have an idea, I sit down and paint it. A lot of my stuff is abstract and neutral colors I like best. Neutrals give a darker feel, like I took the photo in black and white. But I don’t have a crazy meaning behind it.”
WHAT IS MOST REWARDING ABOUT HER WORK?
“Once in a while, someone really likes something of mine and that makes me really happy.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING?
“Not having an eraser because I usually do pastels and draw it all out. It’s hard to get it right the first time.”
HER OTHER HOBBIES?
Floyd plays the guitar, piano and drums. She also enjoys sewing dresses, bike riding and shooting photographs. Italian food and repeats of the comedy show “Kids in the Hall” are other favorites.
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE?
“My boyfriend, Sean Madgett. He’s an artist, too. I love the way he paints.”
— by Monica Chamness