Stefanie Newman grew up in Chicago where she fell under the spell of the Cubs and the Art Institute. If the generally abysmal performance of the former brought yearly heartache, Chicago's amazing art museum never disappointed. Its superb impressionist painting collection left a lasting impact. When she began oil painting in the family laundry room at nine-years-old, Stefanie had a general idea that strokes of color could be built into something that carried light and shadow.
She graduated with a BA in painting and sculpture from Bennington College in Bennington Vermont with additional studies at and St. Martin's College of Art London.As an undergraduate and later, in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin Stefanie's explorations turned toward abstraction. Although the subject matter were not nameable things in the world, there was still a sense of weight and space.
After receiving her MFA Stefanie taught at the University of Virginia and later conducted plein air watercolor workshops. She exhibited in central Virginia, Washington DC and Chicago.
In 2021 Stefanie and her husband moved to Savannah, Georgia where she quickly became entranced by the architecture of the city. Every day showed her something new. Its public squares are favorite haunts as she paints on-site, capturing the buildings and the dappled light showing through the live oak and spanish moss. With the Savannah watercolors Stefanie invites the viewer to accompany her to hidden corners and public gathering places and to share her love for the vibrancy of this ever-fascinating city.