Artist: Stephanie Kossmann
About the artist:
Stephanie Kossmann is a contemporary artist living in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. She grew up in a coastal town in Massachusetts and has also lived and worked in Ontario and Vermont. Kossmann studied at Boston University, where she combined fine art with studies in landscape geography and environmental science. She also earned a graduate certificate in positive change leadership from Champlain College. Read more about Stephanie here.
What is your biggest indulgence as an artist?
My biggest indulgence is buying art from other artists. I really love buying work that I wouldn't create myself. And, I love pottery.
What is important to you as an artist?
Supporting other artists is incredibly important to me. For me that means showing up to openings, visiting exhibitions, sharing coffee and a studio visit, and, when I can budget for it, buying art.
What challenges you the most in your practice?
I always have several projects that I'm envisioning. Choosing one to focus my effort is challenging. Since I work best when I get into a groove, I don't like spreading my time between bodies of work.
What themes or symbols are important to you as an artist?
I'm focused on colour and how it creates and enhances mood and emotion. I enjoy exploring how colour alone, without representational imagery, can evoke place, time, temperature, and humidity.
If you were to hang one work of art by another artist in your home, which would you choose?
When I can budget for it, I buy art from fellow artists. If I were to live with a dream artwork, I'd seek out something from Jay Defeo, Clyfford Still, or Mark Rothko.