The Art of Patience
From vision to finished painting
In an age of instant everything, Stephanie's process is a deliberate act of devotion. A single painting may take weeks. Some take months. There are no shortcuts when you're working in the traditions that have defined fine art for centuries.
Two Ancient Mediums
Stephanie works in watercolor and egg tempera—both demanding mediums that reward patience and punish hesitation.
Watercolor: Light Made Visible
Watercolor is the most unforgiving of mediums. There is no erasing, no painting over mistakes. Every brushstroke must be intentional, every wash planned before the brush is wet. Stephanie learned this from her father, who himself learned from studying the masters.
She paints wet-into-wet for soft backgrounds and atmospheric effects, then layers with careful glazes to build depth. The white of the paper is never painted—it's preserved, allowed to glow through translucent washes. This is what gives Shuptrine watercolors their luminous quality, as if lit from within.
Egg Tempera: The Ancient Medium
Few contemporary artists work in egg tempera. It's too slow, too demanding, too unforgiving. Stephanie embraces it for exactly these reasons.
The process begins with raw pigments—minerals and earths ground to powder. These are mixed with fresh egg yolk, drop by drop, to create paint that dries within seconds of touching the panel. There is no blending on the surface. Instead, she builds form through hundreds of tiny crosshatched strokes, each layer modifying the one beneath.
It's the same technique used by Botticelli, by Giotto, by the icon painters of Byzantium.
The Studio
Stephanie works in natural light, in the studio her father left to her. His brushes rest in jars on her table. His palettes hang on the walls. The room smells of pigment and wood and something harder to name—perhaps the presence of the work itself, accumulated over decades.
She paints in silence, or with classical music playing low. A single piece might require forty hours of focused work. There is no rushing this. The painting will tell her when it's finished.
Before he died, Hubert requested that Stephanie take over his studio. Besides being the only artist he had ever taught, Hubert was satisfied that after all of his years of watching over Stephanie's artistic development, she was able to carry on in the style and insightful approach which had distinguished his works.
Every commission begins with a conversation. Whether you're dreaming of a portrait that captures someone you love, a landscape that holds special meaning, or a moment frozen in time, Stephanie approaches each piece with the same devotion her father taught her—treating every brushstroke as an act of care.
— The Shuptrine PhilosophyThe Journey of a Commission
From first conversation to finished work, here's how the process unfolds.
Initial Conversation
We begin with a phone call or email to understand your vision. What moves you? What story do you want this painting to tell? Stephanie listens carefully—this is where the magic starts.
Reference & Vision
Share your photographs, inspiration images, or simply describe what you imagine. For portraits, Stephanie may request specific lighting or angles. For landscapes, she loves hearing the story of why a place matters to you.
Preliminary Sketch
Before brush meets paper, Stephanie creates a compositional sketch for your approval. This ensures the foundation is exactly right before any paint is applied.
Creation
With patience and precision, your painting comes to life. Depending on complexity, this typically takes 4-8 weeks. Stephanie works in natural light, often pausing to let layers dry naturally—just as Hubert taught her.
Reveal & Delivery
You'll receive photographs of the completed work before it ships. Paintings are carefully packaged and fully insured. Framing services are available upon request.
Bring Your Vision to Life
Original Commissions
Custom watercolor or egg tempera paintings created specifically for you. Each original is a one-of-a-kind work, painted with the same techniques Stephanie learned at her father's side.
Giclée Prints
Museum-quality archival reproductions of select works from Stephanie's portfolio. Printed on fine art paper using pigment-based inks that will last generations.
Limited Editions
Hand-signed and numbered prints from special collections, including the Haiti Series and Wildlife Portraits. Each edition is strictly limited.
Investment
Original artwork pricing varies based on size, complexity, and medium
A 50% deposit reserves your place in Stephanie's commission schedule. Final payment is due upon completion, before shipping.
What Collectors Are Saying
Stephanie captured my grandmother's spirit in a way I didn't think possible. Every time I look at this painting, I feel her presence.
We commissioned a painting of our family farm before we had to sell it. Stephanie understood exactly what that land meant to us. It's our most treasured possession.
I've collected art for thirty years. Stephanie's work hangs alongside pieces from galleries in New York and Paris. It holds its own.
Ready to Begin?
The first step is a conversation. Share your vision, and together we'll create something that will be treasured for generations.
Contact the Studio →