We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Ong. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.
Stephanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I did not take a linear path to becoming an artist. My path is more circuitous, and it has shaped much of my art career. I graduated high school in 1996 with full intentions of obtaining my BFA and starting a career as a fine artist. Just before college began, I followed my gut and opted instead for a masters degree in Speech Pathology. The result was a nearly 15 year career working with children, most of whom had autism, teaching alternative communication methods. Art was not gone from my world- it was just different; I used it as a support system for communication. I loved my job. It was stable, interesting, rewarding, creative, and fun. Through it, I have met the most amazing people. But, not following through with art school was a huge regret of mine. As a mom of two young kids, I wanted to teach them to believe in themselves and encourage them to follow their passions. Take the risks, and do the hard things. And, what better way to foster this than by example? They gave the courage I lacked as a teen.
I officially started my career as an artist in 2012. Painting has always been my way of spilling out all the crazy, mixed-up emotions, day to day struggles and triumphs, mixing them all together, and, in the end, hopefully growing from it all. So many aspects of my first career influence my current work: how we speak to one another, non-verbal communication, the sensory system, interpreting communication, and living life to its’ fullest potential despite whatever barriers you may encounter. All of this became the backbone of my artwork.
Stephanie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My paintings are conversations, floating around on a thought or a lingering image. It’s the raw moments I like to paint. The ones that you can smell later, that flicker in your mind when you are nodding off, and burn in your memory. I am influenced heavily by nature; the patterns, the lines, the flow. Life cycles play a significant role in my paintings as well; who we are, how we got to be in the particular places we are in now, who was here before us, and the interconnectivity of these things.
My method of painting mirrors my influences- I paint in layers. While my work tends to be quite colorful, it is the interaction between colors and light, rather than the hues, that actually inspire me. My composition and color choices evolve as the conversation in the painting evolves. Using oil, watercolor and acrylic paint, gold leaf and other medium, I work on both paper and canvas. I typically paint several paintings at once, giving each a chance to pause before digging back in.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
The first few years of my career were rather terrifying for me. I had put a career as an artist on such a pedestal, high up on a shelf, that the reality became paralyzing. I was starting over again, as a painter. It was really important to me to hone in on my intention for painting, but first I had to find it. All at the same time as figuring out how to run a small business, create a website, price and sell my artwork, market, and exhibit work. My motto for those years was “if it feels uncomfortable, then it’s probably the right path.” I had no playbook; no person to show me the ropes. I basically participated in anything that came my way, and I learned through success and failure. But the sense of fulfillment I get from creating my art blindsides the discomfort. I still spend a good amount of time in that discomfort zone. I think it’s good for me; it’s from that space that my work and my business evolve. And that’s where the resilience comes in, waking up everyday, not giving up, and doing the work.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I think fostering a successful creative ecosystem starts with education. In so many ways, the arts are the backbone of our culture and our future. And yet, art programs are being de-funded and undervalued in our communities. In my town and many others, the public school districts don’t even have enough funding to support full-time arts and music teachers in their schools. The only access for many young people to the arts is through school. It’s in these schools that so many children develop their passion for art, which they may never have the opportunity to know otherwise. Exposure and participation to art and music are scientifically proven to have cognitive benefits. Every career benefits from a creative mind. If we change the overall perspective on the value of art, then we can foster a community that recognizes the arts as essential.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stephanieongart.com
- Instagram: @stephanieongart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanieongart
- Linkedin: Stephanie Ong
- Twitter: @stephanieongart
Image Credits
Photos credit: Alison Winterroth Photography, @alisonwinterroth