Stefanie Hunsaker: Mixed-Media Portraits, Self-Love, and the Long Game of Style
Host Wendy Solganik introduces season six, episode five of the Show Up or Shut Up podcast featuring Stefanie Hunsaker, a mixed media collage artist in northeastern Washington whose vibrant, layered portraits combine acrylic paint, fabric, scrapbook paper, and occasional embroidery and beading to explore self-love, trust, and empowerment. Stefanie shares her upbringing in eastern Washington near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, early creative influences including stained glass and sewing, and shift from high-school photography and marketing interests to a University of Washington visual arts degree spanning photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry. After years running a natural-light portrait photography business, she phased it out as her kids grew and, after moving to Spokane, found a new creative outlet through online classes that led her into portrait painting and collage. She discusses developing her portrait style over seven years, selling originals and some prints via her website, challenges with marketing, preferred surfaces (mostly canvas), local art markets, and interest in more gallery opportunities.
00:00 Podcast Intro and Guest
03:19 Growing Up in Washington
05:02 Hanford and Stained Glass
12:01 Early Crafty Roots
15:40 School to Art Degree
25:45 Motherhood and Scrapbooking
30:16 Photography Business Era
37:54 From Photos to Fine Art
41:21 Starting Art Instagram
42:00 Curating the Feed
43:25 Finding Her Genre
46:30 Seven Years of Style
48:21 Chuck Close Advice
51:00 ADHD and Hyperfocus
52:53 Selling Originals and Prints
57:25 Materials and Embroidery
59:46 Kids and Art School
01:04:26 Sewing Machine Renaissance
01:07:07 Galleries and Local Shows
01:09:38 Art Markets and Booth Setup
01:11:20 Wrap Up and Thanks