About Steph
Steph Cionca- Artist
At a very young age, Steph discovered the power of being in the zone while creating art, or being in the presence of animals. Countless days of her childhood flew by doodling in sketchbooks, making foil sculptures, nursing a baby hamster with broken back legs, and teaching an injured seagull how to swim and catch food. She has always closely watched how nonhumans interact with one another and humans. Ever since she was a little girl, she was enthralled with nature, spending hours watching ants move along invisible highways up and down a cherry tree, observing how rabbits would lay flat when she walked her dog by them, and looking carefully at a plant hoping to see it grow- everything recorded in her childhood artwork. Her passion for creating art and love for all creatures only grows stronger with age.
Today, Steph’s love of art and animals come together in quirky acrylic paintings inspired by mid-century modern design, pop art, and the fables she read as a kid. Her playful compositions often anthropomorphize creatures or offer a glimpse into fantastic places where human and nonhuman worlds collide. Steph’s work celebrates the individual personalities and spirits of all sentient beings.
The Rescue 2
Steph also enjoys creating custom pieces featuring beloved pets or favorite animals for her clients. The process involves interviewing the pet’s humans as well as studying photos and videos of her subject. This allows her to capture their unique personality. Steph finds beauty and humor in the awkward little things that often go unseen or thought of. She paints to share the joy and lessons she finds in these magical moments.
Portrait of Doc Holliday, Steph’s faithful dog
Steph hiking with her dogs, Doc Holliday and Little Greg
Steph and her husband Matt live in their dream home, a little 1950s brick ranch, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with their menagerie of formerly homeless dogs and cats. For 22 years, Steph was blessed to share her passion for art with kids as an art teacher in K-12 public schools, and she is now equally blessed to serve families in new ways. When Steph is not working or painting, you can find her hiking with her furry family, gardening, or experimenting with new vegan recipes.
long story short
Born in: Detroit, Michigan
Living in: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Education: Lesley University, 2007, M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction; Eastern Michigan University, 2000 BFA+Teacher certification
Favorite Childhood Book: Frog and Toad Are Friends
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Animals: Frogs, Dogs, and so many insects
Dream Second Career: Running a farm animal rescue
Favorite Quotes: “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” Maya Angelou
“Having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness.” Katherine Henson
“Be the kind of woman who, when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says "Oh, no! She's up.” Joanne Clancy