Frequently Asked Questions
Who are you?
Hi, I'm Stephanie Lynn Girard, the wonderful, talented, and amazing artist. You can read even more about me HERE, or continue onto the following FAQs.
Why did you become an artist?
Once upon a time as a little girl, I became captivated with the magic of Disney and other cartoons. Fast forward a few years, and my talent for drawing was discovered in a fourth grade art class by Mrs. Margaret LaChut, who then invited me to take private lessons under her tutelage. At the time, I was the youngest student she had ever recruited. My passion to prove myself worthy of being considered an artist pushed me forward. After nine years of classes using a range of mediums, plus a few awards under my belt, I was more than ready to take on a new challenge by attending an art college.
Why did you major in Animation?
Growing up in a family that loved all things Disney, my fascination with animation started very early on. Although my artistic training followed a more traditional route, my imagination constantly ran wild with characters and stories. When I made the decision to apply solely to art schools, I finally realized that my love of art and storytelling could be combined in a medium I hadn't had much time to experiment with before. With my acceptance to MassArt in hand, I headed to Boston to fulfill a dream that was taking shape before my very eyes. Four years later, I graduated with my BFA in Animation, a slew of new dreams to pursue, and a whole wide world of possibilities to explore.
Where can I see your work?
Please visit my Portfolio page, located in the main menu at the top of the page. There you can peruse my most recent work, as well as navigate through the other more specific pages for different media and content categories (such as Animation, Character Design, Still Life, etc).
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in the Ocean State, AKA: Rhode Island, the smallest state in the United States. Please do not confuse us with "Long Island" in New York - we are our own state!
Where did you go to school?
After graduating from Cumberland High School,
I attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design to receive my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation.
How can I contact you?
If you would like to get in touch with me regarding my work, potential commissions, to leave a rave review, or constructive criticism, please use the main "About the Artist" menu to navigate to my "Contact" page, or click HERE for a quick trip there!
I keep seeing references to original stories in your portfolio. What is that about?
I am an artist and animator, but also pride myself on being one heck of a storyteller. Over the years, my mind has been graced with the presence of many original characters who long to be able to tell their stories to the public. Whenever I am able to, I act as their scribe and occasional illustrator. One of my many dreams is to finish and publish some of these stories in novel form. Some of the working titles for these tales that may be found around my portfolio are as follows: "Boundaries", "Elemental", "Devil N' Co", "The Forever Question", and "Vigilante".
What is your favorite medium to work with?
Currently, I most enjoy working in Adobe Illustrator. However, I am picking up my paintbrushes again... so that answer might change soon!
Who are your favorite artists/inspirations?
There are so many people in the world to be inspired by. A few of my favorites (old and new) are: Walt Disney, Edward Degas, Glen Keane, Hayao Miyazaki, Thomas Kane, Suzan Drummen, Phillip Light, and Brittany Jackson.