Monica Stevenson
Both my parents have Spanish roots–my mother was Chilean, and my father was born in Brazil and spent his childhood in Buenos Aires. They traveled internationally, and our home was filled with books, souvenirs, and clothing from all over the world. The riot of color and culture made a strong impression on me. My mother was an avid crafter and amateur seamstress, and I remember vividly spending time with her, choosing fabrics and making colorful combinations. My father was a nature lover, and to this day, I flip through the huge Audubon bird book that he perused every weekend, filled with colorful feathers and patterns. Color, for me, is magnetic. I am drawn to it, and through its use in my work, I feel that I can best express my joy and passion and my adventurous visual nature.
Bold, colorful, adventurous, witty, artistic, curious, sometimes odd, intelligent, tactile, textural probing,
Not sure what this means! Constant work, constant curiosity, and experimentation. A never-ending search for art and experience that titillates me. My brain whirs, and I am always thinking about making things.
As COLOR is one of the main ways that I communicate, color management is absolutely CRUCIAL to my workflow. I need to make sure that the delicate color complements and opposites that I am working with are rendered with the most accuracy that is technically possible. The devil is in the details…
I have many – I am lucky to have worked for many wonderful brands and people. Samuel and Sons, Taylor Farms, Coca-Cola, Coty, Tiffany & Co., Ports 1961, Marchesa, FUMO Design.
I have sustained a woman-owned and thriving photography business for many years–starting in NYC, where I had a studio for over 20 years, and now in Western NC/SC, where I am lucky to live amongst the horses and foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Every day I am inundated with creativity, which feeds my soul, and I am surrounded by and work with other people who are also extremely curious and passionate about their crafts. Through my collaborations with amazing creative partners and my own tenacity, my work has stayed relevant in a constantly changing environment. I LOVE what I do, and want to live to 150 because there are so many beautiful (and COLORFUL!) pictures to be made…..
I ride a horse every day! Like many creative people, I do other activities that inspire me. I ride dressage, and my horse life is stimulating and grounding. I love working in harmony with a large animal, and I am tickled when my horse Brooklyn sees my silver van pull up to the barn, nickers, and starts to get excited! She probably sees me as a large sugar cube, but we can always dream! The natural and tactile aspects of riding and barn life stimulate my mind to think about pictures and ideas.
Strive to do your best work and search for your own voice or “visual style”. Always be curious, always be sensitive to the world around you, and always be open to new ideas and learning. Stay current with developing technology. Study the classics, in many metiers, and READ. Visit museums as often as you can, and ABSORB. Be nice. Be kind. Be fair. Be smart. Learn to be good at business. LISTEN.
I use a ColorChecker all the time!!! I have the large size for studio, and the amazing Passport for location work. My retouchers thank me for this! And a monitor calibrator. With the myriad of devices that display our work, it is very, very difficult to be accurate, but if you start with accuracy, you are on the right path.
A balanced light source for printing. I print all my own artwork for galleries and art consultants. A balanced and true light source is invaluable.
Strive to do your best work and search for your own voice or “visual style.” Always be curious, always be sensitive to the world around you, and always be open to new ideas and learning.
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