Paintings/Sculpture/Mixed Media by Stephanie Sweet

To view my drawings, prop work, resume, etc please see 8/08 in the sidebar.


My work is inspired by everything in life that I come in contact with. I might be inspired by a conversation, Detroit on a summer evening, a burnt down building, the perfect color of tree leaves in the fall dusted by the gentle fingertips of sunlight. I generally do not plan my work. I prefer to work instinctual or subconsciously. I let my hand create freely with no boundaries or restrictions.

Las Cruces, NM #5
Oil on Wood
3" x 2 1/4"
2009

Las Cruces, NM #4
Oil on Wood
3" x 2 1/4"
2009

Las Cruces, NM #3
Oil on Wood
3" x 2 1/4"
2009

Las Cruces, NM #2
Oil on Wood
3" x 2 1/4"
2009

Las Cruces, NM #1
Oil on Wood
3" x 2 1/4"
2009

"Las Cruces, NM #8"

Oil/Found Objects on Canvas
18" x 44"
2009
Commission

"Las Cruces, NM #8"
Detail

"Las Cruces, NM #8"

Detail

"Self Portrait"

Acrylic/Oil on Canvas
16"x 20"
2008

*sold*

"Untitled" #1
Oil on Canvas
24"x 30.5"
2008

"Found Object Detroit 1"
Slate/Found Object
8"x 7.5"
2008

"Found Object Detroit 2"
Slate/Found Object
5"x 12"
2008

"White on Black, Black on White"
Acrylic/Found Objects
11.5"x 20"
2007

"Breathe Sir Issac"
Mixed Media
10.5"x 27"
2007
*sold*

"Untitled" #2
Mixed Media on Canvas
24"x 16"
2007

"Untitled" #3
Acrylic/Mixed Media on Canvas
12"x 12"
2007

"Woodbridge"
Mixed Media/Found Objects
42"x 33"
2007

*sold*

"Woodbridge" (Close Up)

"Woodbridge" (Close Up 2)

"Untitled" #4
Oil on Canvas
18.5"x 24"
2007

"Untitled" #5
Oil on Canvas
8"x 8"
2007
*sold*

"Untitled" #6
Oil on Canvas
16"x 20"
2007
*sold*

Entry for That Dam Box Show
Detroit Artist Market
Mixed Media
4"x 10"
2007
*sold*

"Ficus"
Oil on Canvas
12"x 12"
2006
commission

"Untitled"
Oil on Canvas
Commission
2006

"Untitled" #7
Oil on Canvas
24"x 30"
2006

"Untitled" #8
Oil on Canvas
54"x 26"
2005

"Untitled" #9
Oil on Canvas
3.5"x 3.5"
2005
*sold*

"Untitled" #10
Oil on Canvas
3.5"x 3.5"
2005
*sold*

"Untitled" #11
Oil on Canvas
48"x 48"
2005

"Untitled" #11 (Close Up)

"Untitled" #12
Oil on Canvas
12"x 12"
2002

"Untitled" #13
Acrylic on Canvas
38"x 63.5"
2001

"Untitled" #14
glass
4.5"x 7.5"
2001

"Beauty"
Alabaster
15"x 34"
2000

"Cells"
fiberglass
5"x 60"
2000

"Self Constriction," Photo Series by Stephanie Sweet

This is a Self Portrait Photo Series I created in 2001 while studying abroad in Ballyvaughan, Ireland. A series of four, meant to hang horizontally on the wall.
Photographer: Julia Dittberner

*sold*

Drawings by Stephanie Sweet

I draw often. Each of these drawings is 8"x8".
These are just some examples of this sort of work.

Medium: Pen or Sharpie on Paper

(below *sold)

(below*sold*)

(below*sold*)

(below*sold*)

Props by Stephanie Sweet

I have worked as a freelance artist for The Detroit Thanksgiving Parade for the last nine years. These are some of the things I have worked on. I have done some sculpture there and lots of painting! Most of the sculpting I do is carving Styrofoam. The Styrofoam is then typically painted with latex paint and sealed with a topcoat. If it needs to be extra sturdy, it might be sealed first with a heavy duty green glue, or covered in muslin (a thick canvas like material). The muslin is coated with a thin mixture of elmers glue and acryle. After that it will get painted and sealed. There is a lot of hard work that goes into The Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade. Generally there is a paid staff of professional artists, about 5-12 that make all this possible. If you are in the area I recommend you take a tour of The Parade Company. It is a big warehouse in Detroit off Mt. Elliot, where all this magic happens.

I carved this tropical bird

and the licorice stand as well

sculpted the bird on the left and helped make the corn stalks

painted the candy tree

painted the tornado, table with lamp, and chair

painted the woodgrain on the cupboards

helped create the feathers and re-feather the goose

sculpted this silly little seal

carved the tin man's hand

painted the lamp

helped sculpt/paint the giant legos

sculpted this scared flying monkey and his roller coaster

made this guy too!

helped paint the dinasaur

I carved/painted the sun and carved/painted some of the tulips

sculpted this goofy duck

painted the eagle's head

carved the Liberty Bell

Sculpted some of the chemistry bottles

helped fur this giant dog named Clifford!

sculpted this cake slice (the raw Styrofoam before the paint)

a giant cake in the making (Julia Stout and I created this)

Finished Cake (I did a lot of the painting)

Did the finish work on this tire that is supposed to look dirty and old

Sculpted the dragonfly and created/painted the wings, Mary painted the body

Painted the Leech

Painted the Penny Larvae

Put together this prop for Detroit's River Front Festival

People Rode in it dressed as Pirates

Fabricated all the Cards

Helped paint them as well

The float in progress

Detroit Festival of the Arts, Street Painting 2007, Tom Pryzewski and Stephanie Sweet

In 2007 Tom Pryzewski and I were selected in the catagory of "professional," to create a Street Painting for The Detroit Festival of the Arts. After weekend of lots of blue chalk and time we finished, "Starry Starry Night", Detroit Style.

Stephanie Sweet, Mural Work

I did a mural for a boy's bedroom. The parents requested a figure from each of the Detroit sports teams, The Detroit Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, and Lions. I personalized the baseball player by adding the family last name to his jersey, because that is the father's favorite sport.

Stephanie Sweet: Resume

Stephanie Sweet
Las Cruces, New Mexico

Education:

New Mexico State University
P.O. box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
August 2008-present

Wayne State University
4743 Cass
Detroit, MI 48201
January 2008-July 2008

Burren College of Art and Design
Newtown Castle, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Ireland
Semester Study Abroad, 2000

College for Creative Studies (CCS-CAD)
201 East Kirby
Detroit, MI 48201
Bachelors of Fine Arts, 2001

Macomb Community College
14500 E. 12 Mile Rd.
Warren, Mi 48088
1997-1999

Work Experience:

The Parade Company
Detroit, MI
1999-2008
Freelance Artist
Duties: Perform any duties necessary to create the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade floats, sculpting/carving Styrofoam, painting, woodworking, working with various fabrics, using all shop tools and heavy machinery, operating forklifts, cherry pickers, boom lifts, scissor lifts, leading volunteer groups, doing demonstrations for tour groups, helping run and maintain order during The Thanksgiving Day Parade.

B. (Gallery)
Birmingham, MI
January 2004-January 20007
Curator/Event Coordinator
Duties: general curatorial duties, selecting artists to showcase their work, reviewing portfolios, hanging art, planning art openings, contacting the press, advertising/networking.

Suddle Creations
Detroit, MI
February 2007-August 2007
Resources Manager/Public Relations
Duties: general managerial duties for local Detroit artist, Kevin Cartwright aka Nivek Monet, public relations, networking, general office duties, light accounting, various painting including Faux finishing, mural work, general artistic duties.

Duane Scherer, Eclectic Clocks and Timepieces
Royal Oak, MI
2002-2003
Freelance Artist
Duties: apply various faux finishes to clocks and time pieces, create different parts for clocks such as copper accents, stands, and installing clock mechanisms.

Prestige Portraits
Taylor, MI
2001-2002
Photographer
Duties: Photographing senior and family portraits in the studio and at various outdoor locations, taking portraits and candid photos at high school dances.

Olan Mills Portrait Studio
St. Clair Shores, MI
1998-1999
Photographer
Duties: Booking appointments, taking family/individual (adult and child) portraits, getting film ready to ship out for development, cleaning/maintain studio.

Solo Exhibition:

B (Gallery)
Birmingham, Mi, 2005

Group Exhibitions:

The Detroit Artists Market, "Spirit Paint By Numbers," Detroit, MI
2008

The Breadbox Gallery, Detroit, MI
2008

Fifth Avenue, "Create the Canvas," Royal Oak, MI
2008

Center Galleries, "Black and White," College for Creative Studies Alumni Exhibition, Detroit, MI 2008

The Pharmacy, "Drum Art Show" Detroit, MI
2007

The Detroit Festival of the Arts, "Street Painting Exhibition," Detroit, MI
2007

Detroit Artists Market, "That Damn Box Show," Detroit, MI
2007

555, "Working with Neighbors," Detroit MI
2005

Illuminate, Detroit, Mi
2004

Burren College of Art and Design Student Exhibition, Ballyvaughan, Ireland
2001

The Whitney, "Whitney Garden Party," Detroit, Mi
2000

College for Creative Studies Student Exhibitions, incl. Graduate Show, Detroit, Mi
Annually: 1999-2001

Teaching Experience:

College for Creative Studies Continuing Education
Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Mixed Media classes
1999, 2000

Utica Community School Saturday Scholars
Japanese Language/ Culture
Drawing
1996, 1997