We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Teresa Stern. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Teresa below.

Alright, Teresa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Making art is all about taking risks, but it can be intimidating too. When I first started painting, the big, white canvas felt overwhelming. Making that first mark was hard—I was afraid of ruining that wide pristine surface. I learned that finding a step that lets you ease in helps, like a “toned ground” (a light layer of color), or just make one big mark to disrupt all that white space. Once you’ve made the initial move, it’s easier to keep going.

Now, in my current art practice, the risks are different. They come from putting myself (and a little bit of my soul) out their each time I exhibit my work, from experimenting with new themes and mediums, or from pivoting even at the last minute if the work calls for it! I’ve learned to listen to that voice whispering in my head, “something’s needed,” it’s so important to listen to that voice. I’ll pause, that pause is so critical, to just sit and look at a painting, walk away, listen to some music or look at a book, and come back to it, make more sketches, or do a quick color study—whatever it takes to figure out the path forward for the artwork.

I’ve found myself in the studio, at 7 a.m. on a Saturday, with an exhibit deadline looming and a studio opening that evening, scraping, sanding, and reworking a painting. And in the end, I was so glad I did it, even though part of me really just wanted a chill weekend morning. But it was worth it, to honor my original vision, follow that thread, yet be open to where it could lead me if I let it.

Teresa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve always loved drawing and painting, and I carried that creative passion into my former career in architecture and sustainability. Over time, my focus shifted more and more toward art until, in 2022, I made it my full-time pursuit. The connection between people, their environment, and nature remains central to my life—now as an artist. I’m inspired by the play of light and color in nature. I paint landscapes that capture the awe and healing I feel outdoors, hoping to inspire others to find their own connection to wild spaces—whether it’s a mountain trail or a tree in a city park. We need nature, and it needs us to be respectful co-inhabitants and stewards.

With my background in sustainability, I’m mindful of my materials to lessen my impact on the natural systems that inspire me. I primarily use oil paints because they’re so rich and buttery, but I’m also aware of the aspects that are not so eco-friendly. So, I avoid traditional petroleum-based solvents and sealers, opting for plant-based alternatives instead. I also reduce my use of plastics by choosing reclaimed materials, natural inks, and biodegradable packaging. It’s all about treading more lightly on the environment that fuels my creativity.

I’m constantly searching for ways to bridge sustainability with my art. Last year, I launched a project called “Connect to Nature with Art”, which includes guided nature journaling and a ‘zine that prompts creative activities that engage all five senses. I began the project as an artist-in-residence at Centrum at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington, and developed a process that encourages others to experience the meditative, healing, and creative benefits of observing nature— even in urban areas.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Nature is our home, in the broader sense, and it compels me with its beauty and the complex connections both visually and in ecosystems. I seek out time in nature for my own pleasure and wellness; I am inspired by the interconnectedness and diversity of light, texture, and color that is unique to natural places. I want to share that fascination and awe in my landscape paintings, to create MORE beauty and connection. My paintings are expressive dances of color and light that welcome others into what I see, feel, and imagine when I’m in nature. My hope is that the resulting artworks foster new connections, and a drive to help save our wild places, our urban forests, our clean air and water. Ultimately, it’s about life – how we can have happy thriving lives on our shared planet, at a level that allows others to do the same, both humans and other creatures.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

So much in my art is about connecting—to nature and to other people. Ideally, art is a dialogue, creating a conversation between the artist and the viewer or buyer. When someone is moved by my work, by something that I created with imagination, brush strokes, and paint in order to share something that has moved me, in that moment we share a bond that feels magical. My hope is that everyone– whether they’re an artist, a creative, or in any profession or stage of life – becomes a “patron of the arts.” Supporting the arts isn’t limited to buying grand masterpieces; it’s about keeping art alive and helping artists thrive in our communities.

Whether purchasing a large original piece, a small work, or a print, that exchange supports an artist’s journey and contributes to our communities. In our consumer-driven world, we need to look beyond the mass-production of big-box stores and mega corporations. To sustain real art created by human artists we can personally connect with, it requires participation from both sides: the artist and the collector. There is intrinsic value in the unique stories artists tell, and in the relationships you can build with them. Bringing a piece of artist-made work into your life goes beyond simple decoration; it becomes a way of expressing your values, your inspirations, and the connections you make. Each time you do, you play a crucial role in sustaining the arts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.teresastern.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresasternarts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeresaSternArts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-stern-bb93996/