Stephanie Wheeler
Somewhere between impressionism and abstraction, Stephanie Wheeler’s paintings take on a life of their own. She began her career in Atlanta as a classic painter drawn to artists of the late 19th century: Manet, Degas, and Bonnard. At first glance, one can see that her inspiration lies with nature, travel and people. Classic subject matters, such as landscapes, florals, figures and abstracts are given a new twist. The focus is always on her use of color. Through the composition, application of paint and the manipulation of the paint surface, the color links and reinforces the elements within the painting.
Early in her career, Stephanie immersed herself with the teachings of Russian portrait/figure painter, Marc Chatov. Much of her work today has been influenced by her time spent painting the figure from life and learning color from Chatov. Stephanie has also been fortunate to have studied with some of the best contemporary artists in the country: Andy Braitman, Linda Christensen, Ted Goerschner, Jenny Nelson… have all played key roles in her exploration the landscape figure and abstract space.
In a garden sanctuary setting, Stephanie works from her backyard studio. The historic building and the surrounding garden make for a truly magical place allowing her to tap into the depths of her creativity; one she has had since a very early age. Inside the studio, the walls are lined with paintings of various sizes and color palettes. Paint covers the old timber floors and 2 massive easels are in use. With a strong work ethic, Stephanie usually has between 5-10 paintings going on simultaneously. A process driven painter, Stephanie adds materials and techniques as she whirls through her internal world.
Ms. Wheeler’s current passion and study has been of the 1950’s abstract: Joan Mitchell, Richard Diebenkorh and Mark Rothko have been a strong influence in her recent abstract work. Stephanie has also immersed herself with the teachings of Russian portrait painter, Marc Chatov. Much of her work today has been influenced by her time spent painting the figure and learning color from Chatov. Stephanie has also studied with a number of other mentors and teachers along the way, such as, Kevin MacPherson, Ted Goerschner, and Albert Handell. They all played key roles in her exploration of the landscape. Sculpting classes with Martin Dawe helped to emphasize her figurative work.
Stephanie Wheeler’s work has been displayed in over 500 private and corporate collections throughout the U.S., Canada, British Virgin Islands, and Europe.
