We recently connected with Stephanie Hall and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stephanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

When I think of Artists, the first word that comes to mind is not risk. But over these two years in business, I have taken several major (to me) risks! The first was getting out of my introverted comfort zone and meeting new people. I had spent the last 8 years talking to small children and a few select adults, and I kept to my 5ish mile radius. In order to build a business, I knew I had to expand. I stumbled across the Business Owners Networking Group on Facebook, and was welcomed with open arms into this wonderful community of business owners. Now I do my best to help other business owners feel welcome.
Second is live painting! I’m the type of person who will gladly sit somewhere safe, not speak in public… did I mention I want to feel safe? Being the center of attention does not meet any of those requirements. But I know that God gave me this business with a bigger purpose than self improvement. I get to give back to causes that I’m passionate about. In April, I had the opportunity to paint live at The Demand Project Raising Hope Blue Tie Gala and raised over a thousand dollars in a silent auction for my painting. That was a wonderful experience that I’m excited to be a part of again.
Lastly, finding my niche felt like a risk. I tend to be a people pleaser and choosing one thing to paint all the time sounds a lot like I’m going to disappoint some people. But it was time. I had spent the last year and a half painting pets, food, plants, and anything else, and it was fun, but I want to be a specialist in one area, so I chose my favorite – Pets. Being able to focus solely on one subject matter, I’ve seen my talent improve so much and I’m excited to see where it takes me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, Im Stephanie and I paint pets and make people cry.

What is the most important thing in your life? Some would say their kids, or their job, but I dare to say most would say their Pets are most important. I get to create works of art based on the beautiful furry things that live alongside you.

It all started when my daughter asked me to paint a picture of one of my dogs – Pretzel – as a gift for her friend’s birthday. Of course I agreed, but ended up being so attached to the painting that I created a series of Pretzel paintings that are now on my dining room wall (we found a different gift to give). As much as my own dogs mean to me, I know that others feel the same way about their own pets. After all, pets are the new children, right? To be able to create something that is so meaningful whether on earrings, ornaments, or canvas, is such a wonderful thing.

I wasn’t always so sure of myself and what I wanted out of life, though. For many years, my goal was simply to be a stay at home Mom, and I enjoyed those years. But time flew by, kids grew, and I was faced with the question of “What’s next?”. My husband and I prayed together and we felt like being an Artist was the path God was leading me to. Stephanie Hall Art Studio was born.

Now, I spend my time painting realistic Pets on canvas, Christmas ornaments, earrings, and even the occasional wine bottle. My goal when painting Pets is for you to be able to look into the painted eyes and see your Pet, whether they are looking at the painting alongside you, or if they’re looking from across the rainbow bridge.

My favorite paintings are the ones where I get to add fun details that really show character and paintings with Pets wearing clothing or glasses. For example, I painted an ornament with a cat whose favorite thing in the world is food. Surrounding this cat’s head is green beans, cereal, peppers, and a popsicle. He’s always trying to eat something!

I love having fun with my art. When a client sends me a photo of their Pet with a huge smile on their face or with an idea like painting Renaissance clothing onto a dog, that’s the best. There is something classic about a Pet in an outdoor scene, but even in those paintings, I’ll still add a touch of extra color in the fur or a little gold leaf or metallic paint to give the painting a little extra love.

The idea of painting only Pets was something I wrestled with for a bit before settling on it. I thought, how can I make an impact with something that’s just so cute? But the healing that a Pet Portrait can bring to someone grieving the loss of a Pet is so powerful. I have been able to donate my time and talent through live painting and with donations of paintings to galas that raise money for organizations like The Demand Project and Hues for Hope and even local pet rescues like Oklahoma Pet Collective Society.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

During these two brief years of owning a business, I was awarded Entrepreneur of the Month in December of 2022 from the Business Owners Networking Group of Tulsa, which now has upwards of four thousand members. I also won first place in the Rose Festival Art Contest – Professional Category in 2022. But more importantly, I’ve shown my girls that they can do whatever they set out to do. I spoke to my youngest daughter’s entire Kindergarten class about being an artist, and planted a seed of possibility in their minds. I get to brush shoulders with so many business owners who are not creatives and I get to start changing the “starving artist” stereotype one person at a time.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

When I started my business, I assumed that I’d spend my days simply painting and the orders would just roll in and it would all be easy. You have full permission to laugh with me. I had no idea how many non-creative tasks I would have to manage, how much marketing is necessary, and even how much personal development I would have to experience to run a successful business. Fortunately, I was recommended a podcast by Jennifer Allwood, who is a Christian business coach. She speaks on everything business, including money mindsets, which was a huge topic that I didn’t have a lot of knowledge in. I’m currently reading Profit First, which helps business owners use a practical system to manage their finances and earn a profit for their business. Another place that I’ve been impacted has been through personal connection and friendship with fellow business owners. The Business Owner’s Networking Group is all about friendship and collaboration. It’s amazing how much you can glean from others when you spend time with those who are further along in business.

Contact Info:

• Website: stephaniehallart.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/stephaniehallartstudio
• Facebook: facebook.com/stephaniehallartstudio

Image Credits
Rachael Bui Kenneth Baucum