Art Supply Insiders Podcast

ASI 44 "Artist Spotlight" Interview with Sara Stedner, Artist & Illustrator

September 17, 2022 Jeff Morrow
Art Supply Insiders Podcast
ASI 44 "Artist Spotlight" Interview with Sara Stedner, Artist & Illustrator
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Show Notes Transcript

Sara is a multimedia artist that loves illustrating manga & anime with a lot of detail. She uses a vast selection of mix media including- traditional Japanese paper (from Aitoh), watercolor, copics, Ferris Wheel Press Ink, and Finetec pearlescent colors.
Sara also shares tips on where to get some of those hard to find materials.
To see some of Sara's incredible art you can go to:
Instagram: Click here
TikTok: Click here

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Jeff00:08

Welcome back to art supply insiders. My name is Jeff Morrow, and today we are in an artist spotlight and we're talking to Sara Stedner. Sara was recommended to us from Beth at Aitoh and Sara is Aitoh artist and illustrator. So Sara, how are you doing?

Sara00:28

I'm doing awesome. How are you doing?

Jeff00:30

I'm doing great.

I appreciate you being on the show. So tell us a little bit about you and your background and how you got started and the kind of art that you do.

Sara00:42

So I've been drawing for probably about 15 plus years now. Um, I started out, you know, doing a lot of like anime, manga ES you know, style drawings. Um, I went to school for.

Digital art. Um, I wanted to be a video game designer. I wanted to design characters for video games. Thought it would be the most fun thing in the world turned out. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Um, just something about sitting at a computer all day and not being able to be able to touch all the art supplies.

Just kind of didn't sit right with me. Yep. So I quickly changed from, uh, graphic design over to fine. Um, stayed in school for probably about two years, um, until I had, uh, an accident with my hands, which, you know, stopped me from being able to do any art for a good while. Um, never went back to school to get my degree in art, decided to go back and get a degree in pastry.

Completely opposite. End of everything.

Jeff01:38

Did you just say pastry?

Sara01:40

Yes. my degree in pastry.

Jeff01:44

how all right. We, what the heck? How do you get a degree in pastry? What is that?

Sara01:50

Um, so I, uh, went to culinary school, um, for two years. Um, I, it's funny. It's really funny cuz I don't eat anything that I bake. I do not have a sweet tooth, but I love baking.

And , it kind of just went from there that it was something I enjoyed, um, because I wanted a degree in something that I could use in the future. And I, as being, you know, young, I had a dream of being like, I can own a bakery. And display, beautiful artwork that I make and, you know, just make everybody happy and yeah, it didn't really , it didn't really pan

Jeff02:25

out that way.

and then life hits

Sara02:28

oh, yes. Then the reality of being like, oh wait, probably not the best decision I could have made.

Jeff02:33

. So do you, uh, do art in pastry at all?

Sara02:41

Um, I actually don't hardly, I hardly do pastry anymore at all. Um, I will, you know, bake, um, once in a blue moon for everybody at the office. Yeah. But other than that, I really don't.

I honestly don't use it that much anymore. It's, you know, it's just more of like a, a side hobby now.

Jeff02:59

Well, you can certainly fall back on it if times get real tough. Right. And you'll be able to eat.

Sara03:05

yes. I, I can make a really good cheesecake

Jeff03:09

so, uh, I mentioned, uh, Beth from Aitoh uh, a little while ago. How did you and Beth connect?

Um,

Sara03:16

so I work for, um, our local art store in the e-commerce division for Amazon. So we sell all like the, our products that we sell in the store on Amazon as well. Um, and. One of the managers there. Uh, Joe is friends with all the vendors. He's like the go-to man, if you need like art supplies. And because I frequent there all the time before I got the job there, he would recommend, you know, supplies to me.

And he noticed that I was buying a lot of the, um, the use in handmade Japanese, traditional paper that they. and he always wondered what I did with it and everything like that. And one day I was like, oh, this is actually, you know, the art that I do. And he was just like, oh my God, I'm gotta show you to, you know, to somebody.

And I was like, oh, okay. So I was like, that's cool. So I didn't know what that meant at the time. and he showed that to my work and she immediately was like, I wanna meet her. and I just never foresaw anything like this happening. Um, I'm like a very humble person. I don't, I don't take anything for granted.

So like, I was just like in awe and like tears of like somebody actually like liking what I do. oh's great. She's amazing. She's so nice and friendly. And it's just, we've been in contact ever since

Jeff04:34

isn't she? One of the nicest people in the world. Oh my God. Yes . Yeah. So tell me you, so you currently work at an art.

What's the name of the art store? You.

Sara04:42

It is, it's literally called the art store. the

Jeff04:45

art store. And, and what, what city is that in? That

Sara04:48

is in Syracuse, New

Jeff04:49

York, the art store in Syracuse, New York. Well, if there's anybody around and you wanna see some of the work that Sara does go to the art store in Syracuse, New York, and ask for Sara by name

Sara05:03

I will be having, so my artwork display, they have a nice, uh, upstairs where they have a lot of artists display their work.

I've been working, getting a lot. Framed and ready for display for up there. So I'll have stuff there for you guys to see. Definitely.

Jeff05:16

So talk to us a little bit about the artwork that, that you do. What does it look like? Uh, what if people went into the art store in Syracuse, what would they see?

Sara05:26

So my style is very close to, um, like manga anime, very fantasy, like very elaborate, like Japanese clothing design.

It's very, got a lot of prints on it. Very like bold in colors. And it's very eye catching. There's a lot, a lot of like super fine details. I'm like, I love little details in everything. When, if it comes to hand drawing an actual, like kimono pattern on something, or like a line of like pearls and jewels and everything, I.

The detail work. So it's very in your face.

Jeff06:06

so good. And so tell us the types of products that you use from Aitoh Aitoh to do that.

Sara06:13

So the, um, most of the, um, that I use almost in every picture is they're using, uh, Japanese paper. It is, I've never seen anything like it until I saw it at the art store. Um, it's beautiful.

Handmade Japanese paper. Um, it's got like a nice texture to it. It's got like the metallic, like the shimmer to it a little bit. Like, so when you turn it, it gives you that like nice gold metallic, like iridescent look to it. Some of the sheets that I have, and I have probably 13 different prints, so far of paper that I use.

Um, and what I do with it is I will hand cut each piece. The. a, like a part of the, uh, outfit for the picture. So I'll take my Exacto knife and I'll hand cut the size that I need and then adhere it to my picture. So it gives you that more 3d print. So

Jeff07:11

you're, you're drawing a picture on something. Is that what you do first?

Sara07:16

Yep. So I draw it either on, um, water color, paper, or bristle paper. um, I sketch it, then I outline it. And then I go from there and filling in like all the colors or the patterns and like the, the paper and everything with it.

Jeff07:30

So let's go through that with our audience. So you've got, let's say you've got a piece of watercolor paper and so you just sketch it with just a regular pencil.

Is that what you do? Yeah. And then you said you outline it. What do you use to outline.

Uh,

Sara07:45

currently I'm using, uh, Copic multi-liners. Um, I have been practicing with, um, Sumi ink. Um, I haven't gotten it quite down just yet. Um, I'm very, um, inconsistent with my line, so they're not as smooth as I want them to be yet, but I am practicing with inks that, uh, Aitoh has provided me as.

I'm just not too confident yet with those

Jeff08:08

yeah. Now you said it was a Ja some sort of a Japanese paper. What was the name of that paper and how do you spell it?

Sara08:15

Um, I it's a Yuzen so it's, uh, Y U Z E N.

Jeff08:21

Ah, I there's no way I ever would've spelled that correctly. I would just go that's the one. Yeah. S E N that's all I would do.

So

Sara08:30

use it. My mom would've added like some other letters into it. She would've been like use zoom, but like no close

Jeff08:36

to not . So when they see your, uh, your artwork in the store, uh, is it just, uh, your sketch and this using Japanese paper? Do you put watercolor on it? Do you do any other things?

Sara08:52

So, um, it is a final piece that they say, so, um, I'm a, I use mixed media, so I use probably about six to eight different mediums altogether.

Um, most of it is, um, Copic marker. Um, but I also use the, um, gunk, uh, watercolors that Aitoh also carries. Oh, um, I'm still practicing with my watercolors. Um, I get very intimidated by water. Yeah. Um, I've been taking a few classes, but I ha and also buying a lot of watercolor books to learn, you know, different techniques with it.

Um, but the, the Japanese Gansai watercolors are just beautiful. Like I have 'em in metallic. I have 'em in shadows. I have 'em in interference. So like, I have like a good variety to choose from and to like mix and match, to see what'll fit in the picture that I'm making at the. Okay.

Jeff09:43

Uh, what is interference?

What, what, what is that? I know it's, it's

Sara09:48

a, it's a weird word. You, you, you probably won't guess what it means.

Jeff09:52

I have situation foggiest idea. Just maybe I got your way.

Sara09:56

Oh no. so the interference is, uh, when you look at the pan water colors, they all look white. They all look like this iridescent white, but when you lift them and you turn them, they change color.

So I can put, uh, one of the colors down. And if you look at it straight on, it might look white with like an orange hint, but when you pick it up and you turn it, it turns blue or it'll turn like purple or pink, depending on what color I chose it for

Jeff10:24

really. So you, if you look at it from different angles, it it's different colors.

Yes. Wow. How the heck do you do that?

Sara10:36

I I've never seen them before in my life until Beth sent me some from Aitoh and I was like, I was like, these are all just the same color and I'm looking at I'm going like, wait, no, no, they're not. They look different and yep. Depending on if you put 'em on white paper, they look like one color.

Um, and then also if you put 'em on just black paper, the color is a little bit deeper and it shows a little bit better, but. People always like, oh, it's an orange. I'm like, no, when you turn it, it turns blue. I'm like, yeah, you see this?

Jeff11:05

Wow. And so these are wa what, what, what, what did you call these watercolors or

Sara11:09

inter these are, uh, Gansai interference.

Jeff11:14

Gunza how do you spell Gansai

Sara11:16

so that is gonna be, uh, GANSAI.

Jeff11:23

Oh, wow. And so do you use other watercolors, other, I heard you say use some Japanese watercolors in, in addition to Gansai

Sara11:33

yep. So the, uh, the Gansai are the Japanese watercolors. Um, I use also a metallic ones that have. um, some of those are either like gold, metallic, silver, metallic.

Um, there's also like magenta or green metallics I use. And then the shadows, it's just, they're they all look black when you look at the pan, but when you activate them with water, they actually turn into like the different colors, like either like a shadow red or a shadow blue. And like, I'll like dilute those a little bit to make them not as dark to use them as like, you know, shadowing for like my picture or if I need to add, like, I wanna add like more of.

A darker depth into like my drawing,

Jeff12:13

my goodness. This is really kind somebody simple like me. I couldn't do all of that stuff. so I, I mean, so you're, you're basically an illustrator, right.

Sara12:26

I, I would categorize myself as that. Um, cuz it's the best, you know, fitting word for like the type of art that I do.

Um, I've never found anything else, like close to like what, what style, I guess it would be. I. Um, cause I kind of created like my own style and everything like that. Cuz I'm not, if you think about the traditional, um, like Manga anime, like illustrator, I kind of just, you know, blended like all different styles that I like to make my own.

Kind of like unique.

Jeff12:55

It sounds really interesting and I'm sure our audience would love to see some of your work. Uh, is there a place they can go on the, on the web to, to see what it is that you do?

Sara13:10

Um, so I do have a Instagram and a TikTok as of right now. Mm-hmm um, I'm working on getting, I thought about getting a YouTube channel, but I don't have a very good camera yet.

Video record everything just, just yet. So that's on the back burner for now, but my main platform is, uh, TikTok. That's the one I'm most, most active on. Um, but my Instagram is also there for where my, I post, like my final, uh, pictures. Like I take nice screenshots of 'em and post them on there for everyone to see.

Jeff13:41

So if they go there, they would type in your name, Sara, and that's S a R a. S T E D N E R. Did I say that right? Uh, yep. Yep. That's correct. Okay. And so they could probably just type in your name on, uh, both of those and see your work, right?

Sara14:01

Yep. It should bring up everything, uh, that I've done so far. Yeah.

Jeff14:06

Well that would be good. And, um, so you said your style is you've kind of morphed it into your own style. What would you call your. um,

Sara14:18

it's because, uh, Hmm. That's a good, that's a good question. Because a lot of people like will comment being like your style's amazing your style. And I'm just like, mm-hmm, , it's just kind of like my, my version of like anime or manga that I created, um, like the, the eyes are, would be, our eyes are a little bit different than like what the nowadays, you know, Standard is for like creating Mongan anime.

Um, mm-hmm, , I'm a little bit more, more detailed than a lot of like the Mongan anime, like quick, quick drawings and stuff like that. Um, so I mean, as a name for a style, Hmm. Never really thought about it. you can just, just

Jeff14:58

call it The Stedner.

Sara14:59

The Stedner style? Yes. The Stedner

Jeff15:01

style. . So you said you use, uh, is it predominantly Japanese papers from Aitoh or are there other types of papers that you might use also?

Sara15:15

Um, I do use some of their origami paper as well. Um, I, I use it mostly for like the patterns and the textures and everything. Um, cuz sometimes like I mix, I do a lot of mix where like I will hand draw a specific pattern. And then there'll be somewhere. I'm like, okay. Since I hand drew this pattern, let me add, you know, some more texture and dimension to it by using paper instead.

And people like people get so confused when they look at they're like, oh, so this is all paper. And I'm like, no, well, this one's hand drawn this one's paper. And they're like, they're like, wow, that's paper. And I'm like, yes, this is, this is paper made by like it's made by hand. I'm like, It's amazing looking and it's beautiful.

Jeff15:54

yeah. So, so when you put the, when you lay the paper down on the watercolor paper, how do you get it to stay there? What, is there a medium that you use? Is it glue? Is it, is it, what is it.

Sara16:10

So the first time I used it, this is a funny story. Beth yelled at me. Um, she asked me how I was adhering the paper and I was like, oh, I'm super

Jeff16:21

glue.

Uh, and she

Sara16:23

immediately was like, excuse me. I was like, uh, oh. And she told me to look up. Uh, so now I use a gel Nat medium, uh, by like golden it's like this weird tub of like white. Like let's, it's like a, a gel paste and you like brush it on and then you put the paper over it and it like adheres to it. It works.

It works great.

Jeff16:48

and I'm sure it, so does it soak through the paper and just dries clear?

Sara16:53

Um, you wanna make sure you to put too much on, uh, cuz I have made the mistake of putting too much on before and it did come through the paper a little bit. Um, you just do a nice thin layer. Um, the one I have is matte drawing.

So if I happen to go outside the. It'll dry Matt. Um, there are like shine and gloss versions of it, but for what I use it for Matt was like the best way to go. So just in case I did go outside the lines, I didn't want to be visible.

Jeff17:17

Okay. So when you are done with your, uh, ner piece , um, do, is there something that you put over it?

Do you put a varnish over top of it or is it just out there for the world to see how do you protect it?

Sara17:35

I have bought a varnish, um, a, a light, fast varnish, cuz the mediums that I use are not light fast. Okay. Um, so I, I honestly haven't used this spray yet cuz I'm very intimidated by it. Um, I I'm just worried that like all the metallic detailing and everything I put on it that it's going to.

make it. So it's not as like shiny and metallic and like iridescent. So I haven't practiced with it yet, but I do have in the future hopes of spraying. I just haven't done it just yet though. Cuz I'm got it. I'm I'm nervous.

Jeff18:12

well, and I think that, um, relates to our audience. I think when all of us are doing things that we're uncomfortable with, I started out doing oil painting.

I tried watercolor once and I went never again because. Oil paints take forever to Dr. Dry and watercolor, dry it in an instant. I couldn't do anything with it. So I think everybody's scared aren't they? Yes. . So, if, if somebody wanted to do the kind of art that you do do, do they have to be a, an illustrator, do they have to draw things well?

Or can the beginning person start what you're doing and, and be successful?

Sara18:55

Oh, you can start from, from absolutely not knowing anything about the products. Um, I teach, uh, art classes at the, at my art store. Um, once in a while on Saturdays Uhhuh , uh, where I show people like the starting, like how, how I started out doing it.

Um, kinda like the easy steps of it. Um, it's just. Playing with, um, different mediums, just, you know, finding what you're comfortable, you know, using, um, and just testing things out to kind of fit like your style and how you like to use it. Cause there's so many different ways of using a medium that I might use one way than somebody might think of a whole different way that I never thought about combining with something else.

Jeff19:35

Oh, gotcha. So it it's literally, you can use pretty much any medium you want, right.

Sara19:42

. Yep. Yep. I use a lot of different, like a lot of, uh, other other products. Um, I really got, I got, uh, really into, uh, inks recently. Mm-hmm uh, so like I went crazy and I own probably like 30 different bottles of ink now. where it's a bad it's it's bad.

but I use those now, too in my work cuz it's, you know, another like, uh, another medium and style that I could add and make it look, you know, unique and different.

Jeff20:09

And you said you use other, other tools and mediums and stuff. What other kinds of things do you use?

Sara20:16

Um, so I use a lot of, um, I have a big washi tape collection that I have accumulated.

I have over probably a hundred to 200 washi tapes that I use.

Jeff20:26

Wait a minute. I have no idea what you just said.

Sara20:30

wasy tape. It's like, um, it's like a masking tape that have like very intricate and detailed like designs on them. Um, so I like to put them on like a cutting net and I will hand cut out with an exact knife, like a flower or like a pattern out of it and like stick it on the picture to make like my own pattern with it.

Jeff20:49

So this is a, a, a, like a, a masking tape that has some flowers and hearts and illustrations and stuff on. Yep.

Sara20:59

Yep. Uh, most of the mine I get when I was in Japan. Um, so they're very, very detailed with like traditional Japanese, like patterns and floral patterns and like designs and everything like that.

That, that's what I like to use for my style. Um, but you can buy ones that aren't as like detailed and elaborate that, you know, just have some, maybe some like hearts on it or polka dots or like line details. And what

Jeff21:23

did you call it again? Um,

Sara21:25

it's called washi tape.

Jeff21:26

All right. Spell that.

Sara21:28

So it's, uh, w a S H I

Jeff21:33

it's spelled just exactly the way it sounds.

Isn't it? Yep. And, and do you think most fine art stores will carry it, or are you gonna ha would you have to go to like a craft store or just find it online?

Sara21:48

Um, I know it's, it's become common in, uh, book scrapping and book making, um, here in the, you know, United. Uh, huh. Um, so like my goals and like Joanne fabric and stuff like that will carry it.

Um, some local art stores might carry it depending on like the clientele for it. Um, I import a lot of mine from Japan. Um, only because the patterns that, you know, we have over here, aren't the style that I look for. Right. Uh, but the, you can buy very nice ones at like local craft stores and everything like.

Jeff22:20

Uh, is, is it a common website that you go to when you buy it from overseas?

Sara22:26

Um, the one I'm using right now is, um, a regular.com website that, you know, they ship anywhere around the world

Jeff22:33

for it. Right. Is that, is that something you can share or no? Oh yeah,

Sara22:37

of course. Yeah. So it's, it's gonna be it's a little bit of a long name.

Okay. It's um, Kawaiipenshop.com.

Jeff22:44

All right. Spell it.

Sara22:46

so it's it's uh, KAWAII and then, uh, P E N S H O p.com. Yep. And they have a lot of beautiful, uh, washi tapes that I, I purchased from there. I actually just got an order in a couple weeks ago, I spent like 190 something dollars on was.

Jeff23:12

Wow. So you really use them a lot.

Sara23:16

Yeah. I mean, I that's, the person I've ever spent that much money. Um, but of course, you know, because of the, uh, the upcharge, because, you know, they're importing it it's yeah. You know, normally like a $3 washing tape over there is like $6 for us here. So I mean, you are paying to, you know, to have a broad over, but they're beautiful looking

Jeff23:35

well, you know, this is what, what you're doing now is exactly what our audience looks for.

All of those little tips from here and there and where they can get them. Um, this is, this is wonderful stuff. Is, are there any other mediums that you use that our audience might have interest in?

Sara23:54

Um, so two of my favorite things that I've been using, um, well I use mostly COIC markers.

Jeff24:00

Okay. Copic markers.

Sara24:02

Yeah. Um, I love them. Um, I finished my collection, maybe a couple, maybe like last. Um, wow. That's that's a lot of markers. Yeah, they are. There's a lot of 'em and they are expensive over here, um, compared to overseas where I bought most of mine. Um, so, you know, you don't need to own every color. I tell people that, cuz I teach classes on it.

I'm like, you don't need to own every color. Right. I'm like there are other brands that are just as good as copings out there, but like I grew to love them when I was overseas.

Jeff24:33

Um, oh, they're a great marker. I've I've known of cop for a long. . I love them.

Sara24:39

I love 'em yep. I agree. And then I also use a lot of Ferris wheel press inks.

Um, I was lucky enough to actually work with them and do a giveaway on my Instagram. So I'm, uh, SP I was sponsored by them at one point, but I was using their inks far before. Um, I was reached out to, and I love their inks a lot. Um, you can get those online on their actual website. Um, they're, they're beautiful.

And, and

Jeff25:07

what was the, what was, what was the name of

Sara25:08

that? Uh, Ferris wheel

Jeff25:10

press that's F E R R I S. Yep. And then just the regular wheel. Yep. press.com.

Sara25:21

Uh, yep. Yep. I believe it's Ferris wheel press it's either press inks.com or just, uh, press do.

Jeff25:28

Okay. Great. And, and then finally, let's talk just a little bit about, you said early on that there were some Japanese inks that you were, you were working with and you were a little intimidated with talk a little to our audience a little bit about why those inks feel intimidating.

Sara25:47

Uh, so the Sumi inks that I've been, uh, testing a little bit about, um, uh, a lot of the mediums that I use are water based. Uh, so the problem I was having was I think I wasn't letting the Somi inks try long enough before I started using my water based mediums on them. So the black lines that I would use would bleed into what I was working with.

And so that, I think that was on my part for not being patient.

Jeff26:17

That is a problem for a lot of artists is we're a little impatient.

Sara26:23

Yes. I'm very impatient when it comes. And when I have an ID and I wanna get working, I wanna get working right then and there on it.

Jeff26:30

Well, I, well, Sara, I gotta tell you th this what a fun interview. Um, I, you have, so given our audience so much information and specific information about where to get stuff, and again, they can find you on Instagram and TikTok.

Is that right? Yes. Yep. And again, if you're in the Syracuse area, you work at the art store. Yes. And you teach classes on the weekend.

Sara27:00

Yep. Uh, about it can be once a month, depending on like, when I have, usually I just tell them like, Hey, can I teach a class this weekend? They're like, oh, okay. You know, like we'll put it in the schedule and got it.

It just goes from there.

Jeff27:13

. So if anybody wanted to contact you about. Stanner art style. Um, the best way to do it is through Instagram or TikTok, or is there another way that they should get in contact with you?

Sara27:28

Um, let's see. So I'm okay with giving my email out. Um, if, if anybody wants to directly message me, um, no shenanigan business though.

no

Jeff27:38

shenanigan. I totally agree.

Sara27:41

but yeah, I mean, I love answering questions and, you know, like giving advice of like what I like to use and what, like I found works for me and might not work for me. And, um, and I love, I just love sharing what I love with people. Yeah. It just makes me, it makes me happy. It makes me so happy.

Jeff27:57

It's absolutely evident in chatting with you today. Thank you. So your email address is

Sara28:05

it's gonna be my last name and then my first name@gmail.com.

Jeff28:10

Okay. And so that's Stedner Sara and Sara is S a R a@gmail.com. Yep. Is there anything I've forgotten to ask?

Sara28:24

No, I don't think so. Not that I can, not that I can think of

Jeff28:28

this, this has been a breath of fresh air.

I've gotta tell you this, uh, your, your art style, the, the, the way you come across, the way you share your information, um, you are helping a lot of people out there. So thank you again for being on with us.

Sara28:45

Oh, gosh, you're very welcome. Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. Our

Jeff28:49

pleasure. And, uh, as you grow in your art and there are, uh, other things you can share with our audience, we'd love to have you back.

Sara28:58

Uh, yes, I would love to come back. Thank you.

Jeff29:00

Thank you. You bet. You've been listening to the art supply insiders. Check back with us often as we talk about the world of art and craft supplies. If you'd like to hear more of these podcasts, please hit the subscribe button and we'd really appreciate it. If you tell a.

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