© Lynn Stephenson
I am an army brat, born on a U.S. military base in Misawa, Japan. My father was a Lieutenant Colonel as well as an accomplished artist. My family lived in Japan, Washington DC, New York and eventually settled in Michigan in the United States, where I grew up.
I get my left-handed artistic talent, and my brown eyes, from my Dad. I grew up drawing with him and taking lessons at the local Civic Art Center. I had published newspaper illustrations by middle school and took as much art as possible thru high school. All my artistic training culminated in attending the University of Michigan’s School of Pharmacy. Not a misprint, but a well-intentioned parental steering that took me on a 3-year detour proving pharmacy a poor match for someone craving a creative outlet. Walking through Michigan’s Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design opened my eyes to what I was missing. Inter-school transfers followed, eventually leading to an introduction to colored pencils, and to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
After graduation I worked in print advertising and product photography, married, and 4 years later started a family. Three kids took priority and I turned to free lancing, juried shows, and commissions.
Kids grown, I now work full time as owner of Pencilmarks Studio in Traverse City, Michigan, USA. My work is realistic, yet stylized and expressive. I use pencils much like paint, building layers of mixed color, textures, and fine detail. I showcase commonplace beauty, often highlighting the impermanence of nature.
I am a member the Colored Pencil Society of America and the United Kingdom Colored Pencil Society. I am also a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, and Artist’s for Conservation. I have had art published in The Best of Colored Pencils Four, by Rockport Publishing, and in CP Treasures 8, Colored Pencil Masterworks from Around the Globe. My art has been used in a national magazine ad by the Crescent Paper Company and was an Artist Showcase feature in Ann Kullberg’s Color magazine.
Awards/Exhibitions
Most recent shows:
(upcoming) 30th Annual Colored Pencil Society of America International Exhibition 2022
Magical Myster Tour Juried Show/ Woodwalk Gallery, Door County, Wisconsin, USA 2022
Northwestern Michigan Regional Juried Exhibition 2022, Dennos Museum
Dare To Be Square 2021, small works exhibtion, American Society of Botanical Artists