We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Oliver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, why did you pursue a creative career?
I had always had a passion for art but decided to peruse a career in science and technology. In 2008 I was hospitalized for three weeks and given a life changing diagnosis. Afterwards I had hand tremors so bad I couldn’t write my own name. I decide to take art classes to improve my hand strength. That lead me to the classes at the Denver Botanic Gardens School of Botanical Art & Illustration. The combination of scientific accuracy and art was fascinating to me. I took as classes for years and my hand strength improved to the point where I rarely get tremors in my dominant hand. Although art is not my full time career, I have enjoyed being able to combine my professional career and art career. As a technical software instructor I have learned the skill to teach adults online and in-person. I also enjoy teaching art to coworkers as team building activities. I spend nights and weekends teaching art classes online and in-person as well as create my own works.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Coming back to art also meant overcoming my own insecurities and anxieties about being “good enough”. I quit art for many years because I thought I could never be a professional artist. It was only through feedback from my friends, family, mentors, instructors, and fellow artists that I recognize — I was the only one who did not think I could be an artist. With time and practice I have gotten better and better. My confidence has grown. A dear friend and the talented artist Tomoko Sase gave me words of advice that I now pass on to my students, “enjoy the process, because you will never paint like this”. I try to enjoy every part of the journey.

As a botanical illustrator I have studied under the British scientific illustrative standards and love vintage composition but have always had a passion for surrealism. My illustrations focus on subjects I find fascinating, complex, and tend toward the surreal like the Buddhas Hand Citrus and orchids. The more challenging the subject and complex flower structure, the more I want to study and paint it. As someone with complex and painful health issues, one of my inspirations is Frida Kahlo, who had pain her entire life, and used art to cope with the pain. When I cannot manage complex botanical paintings due to pain, I have taken up Zentangle inspired art, bookbinding, and digital illustration. I try to use creativity as a way to manage my pain.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am from Colorado and have never left the area so I would want show them all my favorite places. We would spend a day exploring the Denver Botanic Gardens of course with lunch at City O City and a walk downtown. I would want to show them both the Denver Art Museum and Meow Wolf: Convergence Station. We would have to have a meal at a place I know well from childhood, my hometown’s famous restaurant, Casa Bonita. Followed by an evening taking in the sounds of Colorado symphony. I would also want to show them my new home in Northern Colorado. We would go hiking to see Colorado’s native orchids on the trails in Boulder County, walk around the Pearl St mall, and a concert at Chautauqua auditorium or a show at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Finally we could spend a day in downtown Longmont, with its lovely parks and walkability. Enjoy my favorite spots – grab a drink at the Küper Wine Bar, and dinner at Longs Peak Pub.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My biggest thanks and gratitude goes to my husband Daniel Oliver for supporting at every step of my journey and suggesting I take classes at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Thanks to my friends and family for supporting my art from the beginning. Thanks to the many artists and mentors of the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists and who have helped me along the way including Marjorie Leggitt, Mervi Hjelmroos-Koski, Laurence Pierson, Connie Sayas, Susan Rubin, and Susan DiMarchi. I want to acknowledge my talented friend Kevin Sheehan of Manuscript Maps as well for always inspiring me. Also thanks to Lauren Stapleton and the staff at Wolf and Wren in Longmont. Finally, I was to say thanks to Paige O’Neil, my supervisor, who has supported my artistic adventures at work as well.

Website: https://303illustrations.com

Instagram: 303illustrations

Other: Bluesky: 303illustrations

Image Credits
All images provided are my own.

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