Stefanie Hunsaker: Mixed-Media Portraits, Self-Love, and the Long Game of Style

<p>Host Wendy Solganik introduces season six, episode five ofthe 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 herupbringing 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, sellingoriginals and some prints via her website, challenges with marketing, preferred surfaces (mostly canvas), local art markets, and interest in more gallery opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>00:00 Podcast Intro and Guest</p><p>03:19 Growing Up in Washington</p><p>05:02 Hanford and Stained Glass</p><p>12:01 Early Crafty Roots</p><p>15:40 School to Art Degree</p><p>25:45 Motherhood and Scrapbooking</p><p>30:16 Photography Business Era</p><p>37:54 From Photos to Fine Art</p><p>41:21 Starting Art Instagram</p><p>42:00 Curating the Feed</p><p>43:25 Finding Her Genre</p><p>46:30 Seven Years of Style</p><p>48:21 Chuck Close Advice</p><p>51:00 ADHD and Hyperfocus</p><p>52:53 Selling Originals and Prints</p><p>57:25 Materials and Embroidery</p><p>59:46 Kids and Art School</p><p>01:04:26 Sewing Machine Renaissance</p><p>01:07:07 Galleries and Local Shows</p><p>01:09:38 Art Markets and Booth Setup</p><p>01:11:20 Wrap Up and Thanks</p>