We were lucky to catch up with Cheryl Steffen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Cheryl thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I began with graphic design. I never went to school to learn the skill. Worked at a retail store that specialized in custom design for cards and invitations. This was way before Minted and other online sites. I loved watching the designers and picked up tips and tricks and started practicing on my own with Adobe Illustrator. Fast forward – the store closed and decided to make a go of it on my own. I created some samples and reached out to a few potential clients and built up the business working from my home. Eventually I rented retail space in Newport Beach,CA ans opened a store and design studio. I was successful and worked with some big companies and celebrities (exciting).

Decided to move to Denver closed my business and was ready to try something new. Took a watercolor course at the Denver Botanic Gardens and found Bonnie Christine’s course. I was hooked and began creating patterns using my illustrations.

The process would have been easier – if I had taken forma classes to learn the design programs instead of always trying to figure things out myself. Bonnie’s course did help with this.

Most essential skills- I would say it is being curious and always open to new things. I am constantly learning ways to improve my designs. New materials to experiment with and design programs and techniques to use. This is the fun stuff and it never gets boring.

The biggest obstacle will always be the technology – but instead of looking at it as a negative and I now look at it as one more challenge I can conquer.

Cheryl, 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?

From an early age I’ve always loved to create. On my desk is the trophy I won when I was 6 years old for creating the winning poster for the annual school carnival. I still remember the thrill I felt when my painting came in first place for the entire elementary school. I believe that win gave me the confidence to continue to create throughout my life.

From designing and sewing Barbie clothes and eventually making my clothes, and continuing to paint and explore with new materials it just became a part of my daily life. I had so many interests that I wasn’t
sure what to major in so I chose a degree in business and minor in textile design.

Fast forward to college graduation I got the travel bug but lacked the funds so I applied for a job as a flight attendant. I got the job and packed my bags to relocate to Minneapolis where the airline was based. Mixing cocktails in a 747 airplane lounge and flying to all sorts of international locations – so cool! Seeing the cherry blossoms in Osaka, Japan, having lunch in a private castle in Scotland and being serenaded by bagpipes, and viewing the Northern lights in Alaska where some of the highlights. So much inspiration for my creative endeavors.

I flew for a few years – then got married to my college sweetheart and relocated to southern California. I continued to create and started a business designing Christmas decor, calendars and note cards. I worked for the Pierre Duex and Ralph Lauren showrooms designing their tabletop displays for special events, while raising a family with my husband.

Then I discovered the world of graphic design and focused my creativity on opening a brick and mortar store. I found the perfect location in Newport Beach and opened a design studio and retail shop,
specializing in unique wedding and corporate invitations. My favorite part of the business was the initial client meeting where I would gather all the details of the event to create the design board to present to the client. Once that was approved by the client I could let my creativity soar and design the invitations. So exciting when some of my designs were featured in Martha Stewart Wedding publications.

These days I work from my home studio which makes my ‘commute’ to work super easy. The travel bug hit again and my husband and I decided to move to Colorado after visiting it many times. We traded the ocean for the mountains and are embracing the beauty that the four seasons have to offer. I find nature to be so inspiring for creating new artwork.

On top of being creative and a lover of nature and travel, I am an avid reader and often have several books I am reading at once time. I believe books can transport your imagination to all sorts of places just like traveling does and I think that is why I like reading so much. I even started a book club in Denver as a way to meet new people. I have a large collection of children’s books that I am constantly adding to. I justify each new purchase as “inspiration” for the children’s book I am working on, but truthfully I love reading other authors stories and seeing the illustrations. Even better when I can these books them with the grandlittles.

I find creative inspiration in old photos and childhood memories. I love to draw and paint in my sketchbooks then take some of that art and create digital designs and patterns. I love growing my creative skillset by continuing to take classes, or as my husband calls them “ doing my
brain push ups”. There are always new techniques to learn and materials to try, which I find very exciting and sometimes a bit addicting.

Over the years I have shifted my focus from graphic design to illustration and surface pattern design. Although every couple of months I sharpen my graphic design skills and publish a design-packed newsletter. My biggest dreams are to see my designs on items such as fabrics, apparel, stationary items, table-top items and more.

I am excited to be on this creative life journey and can’t wait to see where I go next.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I first decided to strike out on my own in Graphic design – I found out that the Orange County Performing Arts Center was looking for a design for their largest and biggest gala of the year.

I decided to be brave and submit a design – even though I knew I was up against some very experienced, and younger competition. (I had no fancy office or studio – I was still working out of my house at this time).

The design I had created had a jeweled button on it – and at that time I had no idea how I was going to produce the entire invitation- let alone make 200 each. I decided to just go for it and figure things out if my design was chosen.

Well it was chosen and I figured things out. The design, printing, production and sourcing those buttons and I was able to add that project to my portfolio. That opened doors for many more projects with other companies and event planners.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The main thing that drives me is to always keep learning. It can be frustrating at times but I get such a high when I learn something new and use that knowledge to grow my business.

When I closed my business and moved to Colorado I met many women my age that enjoyed playing golf, bridge and going out for lunch and talking about their travels. Nothing against that – but I wanted more.

I want to continue to develop my skills in learning new technology, business skills, and creating new art.
I also LOVE meeting new people along the way.

Hopefully I can also be inspiration to my children that you are never too old to learn and create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cherylsteffenstudio.com -( please note that I am currently redoing my webiste)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylsteffenstudio

Image Credits
Kari Geha Photography