Daily Inspiration: Meet Olivia Stafne

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Stafne.

Hi Olivia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For as long as I can remember, art was the one thing I was always most interested in. I went from using crayons and markers to getting really into drawing with graphite and charcoal as I got older, then painting a lot with acrylics. However, when I got to college and actually started taking fine art classes, I found that I really hated being told what to do (a recurring theme in my life). I actually failed out of my drawing class because I hated being graded for nit-picky technique. One day about 6 or 7 years ago, I picked up some oil paints and I was enamored the second I tried them. Oil painting has been my focus ever since, but always on the side of whatever other jobs I had. When the pandemic hit, I finally had time to put all my energy into my painting. I started selling prints just to see if they would sell. It actually went way better than I thought and I made the decision that I wanted to do art full time. Eventually, I thought it would be fun to see my works on a larger scale, so I started commenting on peoples’ Facebook statuses asking if they wanted a mural, having never done one before (a bold move, as I had no idea how much work they are!) But it worked; I did my first mural about a year and a half ago, and now I have about 12 murals under my belt!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I consider myself extremely lucky and fortunate to have gotten the opportunities that I have thus far, but I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road. Like many people, I’ve had to learn how to start a business from the ground up; but with art, there are no real guidelines as to how to do it. There’s no website I can go to or course to take that has the correct steps to take in starting an art business, so it’s a lot of trial and error. It also takes a LOT of patience in trusting that things will work out and I really can make a career out of this. I think being a woman in this industry comes with its own set of obstacles as well. There have been times where I’ve found it really hard to be taken seriously just because I am an outgoing blonde chick. I’ve dealt with unwanted advances and even sexual harassment from clients that I’ve had to fire and lose out on opportunities that men in my position would most likely never have to lose out on. But everyday I’m learning to navigate being a woman-owned business and everyday I get more confident in my abilities in doing so.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I definitely specialize in bright, saturated colors and often incorporate trippy or psychedelic elements, usually along with women figures. I’d like to think I’m a mix of pop-art vs. surrealism. I think what sets me apart is that my work is unapologetic. It’s very bold and it’s not for everyone, but the people who appreciate it are my kind of people. The work I’m most proud of recently is my mural on the exterior of the iconic art supply store, Sam Flax. It’s a very 70’s, a groovy homage to my home Orlando. It says “Keep Dancing Orlando”, which is a tribute to those we lost in the Pulse Nightclub shooting. It truly fills my heart that I’m privileged enough to use my art to make a public tribute to Pulse, so I’m definitely proud.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Well, I mentioned previously that I hated my art classes. So I guess it may be a surprise to know that I did in fact finish college, but with a Psychology degree! I jokingly say that I have a Psych degree that I don’t use but I actually feel like I do use it a lot, just in a different way than I thought I imagined I think it helps me really understand my clients and get into their brains to figure out exactly what they want in a commission/project/etc. Although, it did take me about 8 years to get through school. Forever a UCF Knight! Literally.

Contact Info:

• Email: oliviastafneart@gmail.com
• Website: www.oliviastafne.com
• Instagram: @oliviastafne_art