Artist Spotlight: Meet Steph Stilwell

With a flair for bright colors, silly puns and hand lettering, artist Steph Stilwell’s work is just what fun-loving party people need to get in the mood to celebrate! Learn more about what inspires her (and what some of her own parties have looked like) and then check out her latest Evites.

What inspired you to become an artist?

When I was a kid, my parents gifted me an art kit on Christmas with all sorts of art supplies in it, and I was immediately hooked. I’d wake up on the weekends and grab the comic section of the newspaper, sit down with my art kit, and make my own comics. As I got older, I knew it was what I wanted to do as a career—it brought me so much joy.

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When you have a creative block, what pulls you out of it?

I keep a sketchbook with me where I try to make time to draw purely for fun. So sometimes if I’m feeling stuck, I’ll take a break from what I’m doing, grab my sketchbook and doodle. Even just flipping back through the pages can help me get unstuck sometimes too. Finding old silly ideas can sometimes spark something new! 

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You've mentioned before that food is a theme you love to draw in particular. When it comes to food IRL, what are your go-to party picks?

I absolutely love making a cheeseboard when I’m hosting! They’re delicious, can have tons of variety, and just look so nice as a centerpiece on the table.

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What's your most memorable childhood birthday party?

I had a '70s-themed party that I’ll never forget. We all dressed up in tie-dye clothes, circle frame glasses, and had temporary peace sign tattoos. I even painted pet rocks for everyone to take home along with mood rings—it was so fun!

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What advice would you give to an aspiring creator?

I always tell other creators: don’t be afraid to be different, even if that means being weird or going against the grain. 

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When I graduated college I had a recruiter tell me that I should expand my portfolio and draw more than just food, but I had a gut feeling that wasn’t the right advice for me as an artist. And I’m thankful I followed my instincts because while I maybe didn’t get a huge amount of work at first, it really did attract the type of work I was excited to do.

Steph Stilwell is a pun-loving illustrator based in Brooklyn, NY. She’s worked on everything from New York Times best-selling books to stationery and sticker sheets for clients like Snapchat, BarkBox and Crayola. Her work often utilizes bright colors, silly puns and hand lettering, but her absolute favorite thing to draw is food. When she isn’t drawing, you can find Steph binge-watching cooking shows, strolling through Prospect Park, or hanging out with her dog Jake.

For more of her work, check out @stephstilwell on Instagram (or these Evites, of course)!