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

Stephanie, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

At 20 years old, I was working as a paralegal on a murder case that made national news. At 23, I was working outdoors in a tree nursery, caring for and selling massive trees. By 25 I was crawling through tiny spaces in yellow jumpsuits in nuclear power plants to test pipes for damages. In between it all, I’ve worked in fast food and in retail, as an office manager, as a tutor and teacher, and even a stint studying to be an x-ray tech. Alongside all those jobs, I always worked on my art on the side, hoping that I might be able to cobble together some kind of artistic career, but it wasn’t until the age of 30 that I quit my job working in nuclear plants to go back to university to fully pursue a Bachelor’s in Fine Art and open my own art studio. It is the best decision I have made in my life. I graduated with a degree, made connections I never could have on my own, and even started a second business filming indie feature films with my younger brother. After a decade of miserably working the “real jobs,” I have finally found a contentment that only working towards your life’s purpose can bring. I am currently expanding my fine art studio into a larger space, working at a crafts school in the mountains, and completing the post-production on our indie feature film. Working in the arts is a challenging path, but no regular job has ever come close to the happiness and contentment that working in the arts has brought to me.

Stephanie, 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?

~Dreamy surreal art celebrating the feminine, the narrative, and the divine~

I endeavor to create dreamy surreal fine art that celebrates and explores the human imagination, feminine power, and divine mysteries through painting, printmaking, and sculpture.

I create one of a kind fine art originals – paintings and sculptures and monotype prints. I sell digital print reproductions of my fine art as well printed merchandise, such as stickers, t-shirts and hoodies.

More on Painting:
dreamy paintings often harken to the Pre-Raphaelites and incorporate surreal imagery of the human figure interacting with nature and the universe.

More on Printmaking:
printmaking work most often explores the strains of moral expectation in society on women and the celebration of feminine strength. Linocut, intaglio, monotype, and cyanotype are some of my favorite processes to use to create combine and create unique images.

More on sculptures:
sculptures are made from recycled and unconventional materials into a wearable form or soft body figures depicting feminist messages. Recently, my work is expanding into metal casting pours and stone carving figurative work.

I believe that art can be an avenue for social change, and often develop work to raise awareness about human trafficking, commenting on female body expectations and dysmorphia in society, and the importance of caring for our earth and environments.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

In the Greater Pittsburgh region, the Creative Business Accelerator through Bridgeway Capitol has helped me to completely transform my business as an artist. Also, every area has a Small Business Center that provides free help and resources to businesses. To this day, I still underutilize my local Small Business Center.

So many resources are location specific, for each artist in where they live and the type of programing happening. Because of this, I would say that the simple act of showing up again and again is what finally helped me to make those connections. Just showing up to classes, when I was in university, opened doors for me that it didn’t for students who didn’t show up. Just turning up at a members meeting to local art center and asking questions led to two years employment teaching. Applying and answering promptly to organizations brought me grants, opportunities, and resources that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. It’s the times that I didn’t show up or answer promptly that I missed out on opportunities. Of course, we can’t always make every event or opportunity or class, but now that I am working in positions and seeing the other side of things, you’d be shocked at how many people just don’t show up for opportunities. The simple acts of showing up and asking questions are like magic – they make things possible!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I am so often asked, “What drives you to create?” or “what drives your creative process?” Even after I’ve answered the question, I will get the same question restated over and over again. The truth is: it’s an internal drive to create. It’s a drive, an impulse, a sense of incompleteness without doing it. It’s as simple and complex as that. A professor once told me that when she was working on her art, it felt like “someone else is driving the bus, and I’m just along for the ride.” In that sense, creating feels very sacred, but you are also just inexplicably along for the ride.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stephanieoplingerarts.com
• Instagram: @stephanieoplinger_arts
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephanieoplingerarts
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-oplinger-9b2213132
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@StephanieOplinger
• Other: Patreon: www.patreon.com/stephanieoplinger