Stephanie O.

Music and Creative Art!

Boston

• I love turning recycled materials into storytelling adventures ~ inspired by the great Eric Carle and his collage technique ~ as in his book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar, " and others.
• My illustrations have taken an unexpected journey—from books to clay and porcelain, and new illustrations now of Children with Musical themes.
• When I teach children, I introduce them to classical music and jazz, played quietly in the background for inspiration, as they create their original Art. I am learning new music all the time, as Soprano me sings in my classical chorale and swing band groups.

Stephanie Osser is a book and editorial illustrator working in pen & ink, watercolor pencils, gouache, Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, plus clay and translucent porcelain Lithophanes ~back-lit illustrations. Her illustration career began unexpectedly while studying ceramics at the University of Montana, where she illustrated research papers for the Anthropology and Wildlife Departments. Returning to Boston, she became the staff illustrator for the New England Aquarium before collaborating with art directors and designers on nonfiction children's books, textbooks, gardening and cookbooks, and editorial illustrations for The New York Times, New York Daily News, and The Boston Globe. Her instructional illustrations also appeared in The Muppets Big Book of Crafts by Jim Henson Productions. Alongside her illustration work, Stephanie taught ceramics at Babson College, including students from Olin and Wellesley Colleges, and has participated in international ceramic residencies in Denmark, Hungary, Canada, and the United States. Her illustrated porcelain and stoneware works are included in the permanent collections of several museums in the U.S. and Belgium. As a Visual Arts Educator, Stephanie teaches arts & crafts workshops for children and adults, including digital illustration using Procreate. Her family-friendly classes combine hands-on art making with an appreciation for jazz and classical music, encouraging creativity through both visual art and listening. Music remains central to her life as a soloist singing with the Cooper Center Music Makers, specializing in songs by George and Ira Gershwin and Irving Berlin, and a soprano with The Masterworks Chorale in Boston. You'll often find her sketching at live concerts and operas alongside her husband. Their children have pursued careers in the culinary arts, green energy engineering, and vocal performance.