Brushstrokes of Bliss
LOUISIANA NATIVE Stephanie Gaffney has carved an inspiring path through the art world, establishing herself as a renowned artist. Armed with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from LSU, Stephanie’s artistic journey has seen her evolve from a graphic designer to an independent artist. Her creative endeavors have been marked by accolades, including “The Knot Best of Weddings” in 2019 and 2021. Her work found a spotlight in the pages of People Magazine in 2021, solidifying her position as a prominent figure in the art scene. It is an honor to feature her on our cover. Stephanie’s artistic penchant surfaced young, manifesting a passion for drawing and sketching. “My love of copying images or drawing from my imagination grew into a hobby, and in my late teens, I challenged myself to pick up a paintbrush and give the world of full spectrum color and wet paint a try!” The transition from sketching to wielding a paintbrush marked the beginning of her painting career. As she honed her painting skills, the artist found herself receiving an increasing number of personal requests and admiration for her work. The
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I nside N e w O rl e a n s
by Greta Honsberger
Stephanie Gaffney’s Live Wedding Art Unveiled numerous requests and praise ignited a spark and gave her confidence, leading her to explore a freelance and commissioned artist career, even as she was still an undergraduate student at LSU. A career in graphic design was the route that Stephanie followed after receiving her art degree. In her early career, she worked as a designer and illustrator for a t-shirt shop and was a web designer for a time, but Stephanie found herself yearning for a deeper fulfillment in her art. Realizing she could contribute more to her clients by working directly with them and creating unique, meaningful art, she decided to paint full-time. Thus, her journey as an independent artist began, propelled by a desire to infuse her work with a deeper connection to her clients. In 2015, Stephanie’s artistic journey led her to live wedding art. Her launch into this very personal and specialized genre began with a friend’s unconventional request for her to paint at her wedding. Although a novel concept then, Stephanie embraced the challenge, setting the stage for her new career. “I had never heard of such a thing, but
