Meet Stephanie Weitekamp | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Weitekamp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I like to think of myself as a cautious individual, but my actions typically prove otherwise. My intentions to enter into a comfortable life have always ended with a grand exit, flailing wildly into the next adventure. Risk has always been seemingly accidental until just recently. I realized that every single time I made a huge life change, I’d stumble into something I deemed practical or “safe”. It was a vicious cycle that silently declared I was disrespecting and denying my innate desire to create the life I wanted to lead. I lacked the confidence it takes to break that pattern and embrace the unknown. Just like so many, I rely on a steady income to maintain the tiny apartment I share with my partner and daughter. I would risk my happiness for health insurance and financial stability at a desk job for almost 5 years. This time though, I didn’t wake up one day and decide to quit. It was a nagging feeling that sat in me for years waiting to be called upon. Where I was once reactionary with my decision making, I became contemplative. In order to break the cycle of complacency I had to learn self respect. It didn’t come easily and there are times I have trouble believing it’s even there, but acknowledging that you are worth the risk is half the battle. I don’t know what the right thing to do is ever. To sit idly, however, is the first mistake. I had to commit to the idea of keeping my job until another opportunity came up or I had to take that leap I was all too afraid and familiar with in hopes that this time I’d have faith in myself to make it work. I took the leap and I landed. Safely? I don’t know. Risk is a funny thing. It doesn’t have to be about wild abandon. It can be meticulous and thoughtful. Each day that you make a choice, you risk an outcome that mirrors your decision. I spent too long staring at a reflection I didn’t like. Risking it all to make art, that reflection smiles back.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is constantly in flux. That’s what I think makes it interesting. It has and will constantly change with me. I typically find myself painting portraiture and fantasy, which meld together frequently within my work. These days, I’m no stranger to mixing up my mediums in order to discover more creative possibilities. From visual art to clowning, expressing myself has always been a dire need. Growing up, I was always making art but had little to no self esteem and that led me down paths of both self discovery and destruction. Throughout my life, I have struggled with mental health. Painting was always an indirect way of speaking my truth and expressing my experiences. Where I lacked control, art provided structure. When I felt empty, painting filled me. I have always struggled trusting myself. The decisions I had made during adolescence led to a fully fledged eating disorder, so needless to say I didn’t have the best track record. I had actively made choices that hurt me so I was always skeptical of what my brain thought might be best. When I recently decided to leave my 9-5 desk job in order to pursue my art as a career, I was terrified. I had been in and out of different minimum wage jobs, barely progressing, and for what? I had never taken a chance on myself or my art. There were so many ideas that I’ve been dying to make reality. A children’s book, a comic strip. Things that meant something to me, parts of me that I was denying. Before I made the leap, I released my pent up energy through painting and clowning. Clowning, I found, was a profound way of being. A true testament to my experiences. A caricature of my emotions. I felt beautiful and seen. Painted on my face or across a canvas, art was my grand performance, and a lot of the time, I was the only one with a ticket to the show. It’s done me no good to hide away what I feel is my most authentic self. I opened my online shop, I delved into social media, and most importantly, feverishly made the art I wanted to make. Art is a non verbal dance the artist should have with their audience. When viewing my art, my hope is that we can create a story together instead of strictly telling one on my own. I finally feel as though I can produce work that is authentic and vulnerable. I don’t know what’s next for me, but I know that above everything, creating art is about trust. You have to trust that you are making things because it’s what makes you who you are. It doesn’t matter that everyone else sees you so long as you are able to see yourself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When I’m not reclusive, I can be quite the entertainer. Living here in Los Angeles there are plenty of gems around the city I love to frequent when the conditions are right. Depending on the season, a hike to Switzer Falls or Echo Mountain is a lovely morning treat. After a long hike I’m almost always hungry for Spitz, an incredible little Mediterranean spot that has great falafel wraps. A trip to the Iliad, my local bookstore, makes for a wonderful and immersive browse and an affordable read. It’s guaranteed we’d head to a favorite pub, MacLeod Ale in Van Nuys. This little brewery is always friendly and has deliciously crafted beers brewed on site. Finally, if you’re with me on the last Saturday of the month, around 10pm, I’d take you to the corner of Western and Elmwood in Koreatown. I don’t know if I can tell you exactly what happens there until you’re actually there, because words do not do it justice, but I can promise you puppets will be present.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Every day I look to my partner Anthony Stewart as a source of inspiration and support. We met at The Hive Gallery in Downtown LA 6 years ago and have been magnetized to each other ever since. Anthony moved to Los Angeles from Pennsylvania to work in the special effects industry as a sculptor and mold maker. His persistence and dedication to his craft has never wavered. His unique imaginative energy is reflected in the art he creates. Knowing him makes me a better person and watching him make his dreams a reality gives me strength to pursue mine.

Website: www.sweetbaphomet.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sweetbaphomet

Other: www.patreon.com/sweetbaphomet www.etsy.com/shop/sweetbaphomet tiktok: sweetbaphomet stephanieweitekamp@gmail.com

Image Credits
the photo of me is by Matt Herter