Meet Abigail Stephens | Freelance Artist & Art Therapist

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

Hi Abigail, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
This is honestly something I’m still getting the hang of. Over time, my work life balance has improved, but I’m definitely not perfect. I used to not have any sort of balance at all, I would go to school, then straight to work, then come home and clean/do homework. This endless cycle would deteriorate my mental health and even my physical health. If it weren’t for several wise peers of mine, and forcing myself to change my habits, I’m worried I would have never wanted to make my own art again. I finally decided, for thirty minutes a day, no matter what I was doing, I would spend time doing self care. This can look like different depending on the person. For me, it’s reading a book or going on a walk. I’ve also had to separate work/school from my home. Home should be your space for comfort and relaxation. I try not to bring work home and I try to get as much school work done in the studio. This allows me to come home and enjoy a proper meal or spend time with my family and friends without worry.

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.
My work often focuses on the human form, more specifically the female figure. There is something about women’s bodies that are so empowering, yet soft and beautiful as well. I explore themes of trauma, social norms, and mental health through my figures, and this translates through many of the different forms of art I use. I often paint and draw when I make art, but recently I’ve been enjoying photography as well. Bright, saturated colors, and the layering of different materials is common in my drawings and paintings. Finding what I was passionate about through making art is really what attributes to my success. I used to think, if I could just make art for people to sell and make money, then I’ve made it. However, the more pets and family members I painted, the less passionate I became about my work. Making money and doing commissions are important, but I wasn’t making art I wanted to make. I decided to explore things that made me happy, and in turn, my art started to change and improve. It has been a challenge finding my own style, a challenge I’m still working on, but I can now say I’m proud of the art I’m creating.

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.
The Square in Denton has some of the best hang out places in the area, and is really the place where tourists visit while they are here. There’s a lot of cute shops in the area, such as Rose and Thorn Clothing, the Antique Malls, and Recycled Books. Recycled Books is a favorite of mine, because they also sell vinyls, which I collect. There’s really good places to eat there as well. Rusty Tacos has really good tacos that are inexpensive but taste amazing. Hannah’s Off the Square is a must visit if you’re looking for something nice for a date night. There’s also amazing bars in the area, such as my favorite, Miss Angeline’s. They have a great atmosphere, tasty drinks, and they are right next to some awesome food trucks. You can get a drink, stop by the food trucks, and hang out with your friends in a cool environment. Denton has some really cool hole in the wall places, and I’ve enjoyed exploring this town while I’ve lived here.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Without the support of my family, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I’m sure it’s no parents dream to hear their child say they want to go to art school, but my parents have supported me every step of the way and have made sure to help me with anything I’ve ever needed. They have always supported my decision to be passionate about what I do in my career. I also have an amazing support system through my job and through my campus ministry. Everyone that has surrounded me in those groups have attributed to my success in some way or another whether it has been helping me with my professionalism, advice on how to be organized, or even just a shoulder to cry on during a hard week. I wouldn’t know where I would be today without the people I have surrounded myself with.

Website: https://abbystephensart.wixsite.com/mysite/work

Instagram: Abby_stephens_art

Twitter: Abby_layne223

Facebook: Abby_stephens_art

Image Credits
April Pinto