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About Stacey
I’m a watercolor artist and instructor based in Greenville, South Carolina.
My work centers on simple forms, layered color, and the natural movement of water on paper. Whether I’m painting or teaching, I’m drawn to processes that reduce overwhelm and allow steady progress over time.
Art has been a consistent thread throughout my life; first as a student, then as a classroom teacher, and now as an artist and guide for others building their own creative practice.
About Stacey
I’m interested in atmosphere more than detail, and in the way color shifts, soft edges form, and layers create depth.
Instead of controlling every detail, I work in conversation with the materials, paying attention to flow, edges, and looking for unexpected reactions between the pigment and water.
My Artwork
My Artwork
My artwork is shaped by my curiosity
and an openness to chance.
Background & Experience
Background & Experience
I’m the creator of several art-focused platforms and resources:
•Expressive Monkey•
art lessons and drawing resources for educators
•Mindful Drawing Studio•
a guided approach to drawing as a calming practice
•Watercolors for Calm• relaxing watercolor lessons centered on process and flow
•Stacey Renee Art•
my personal watercolor work
•Amazon Author•
published drawing and creative practice resources
I’m the creator of several art-focused platforms and resources:
● Expressive Monkey — art lessons and drawing resources for educators
● Mindful Drawing Studio — a guided method to drawing as a calming practice
● Watercolors for Calm —a relaxing watercolor approach centered on process and flow
● Stacey Renee Art — my personal watercolor work
● Amazon author — published drawing and creative practice resources
My approach is shaped by long-term teaching
and an ongoing studio practice.
I began teaching art in 1989 and spent 25 years teaching elementary art in public schools. Working with young students made it clear how easily creativity shuts down when art feels overly technical or perfection-focused. That experience continues to inform how I structure both lessons and artwork—keeping processes clear, flexible, and supportive.
Teaching
Alongside my teaching career, I’ve remained committed to my own painting practice. I was a member of the Central Ohio Watercolor Society, and I studied watercolor with Jeanne Dolby, from whom I developed my love of color. Her approach reinforced the value of limited palettes, close observation, and strong color relationships, along with the permission to break the rules when the work calls for it.
Painting
Education
I have a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design and hold a Master’s degree in Art Education and also was a National Board Certified Teacher. Over the past 10+ years, my work has expanded into online spaces, where I create lessons, resources, and guided practices for educators and adults seeking a calmer way to work with art materials.
My teaching and studio practice are grounded in the same idea: structure creates calm, and chance keeps the work alive.
Rather than offering unlimited options, I work within clear boundaries—limited patterns, simple shapes, and cohesive color palettes. These constraints reduce decision fatigue and quiet the mind, making it easier to stay present.
Within that structure, chance is invited in. Whether it's the pattern made by dropping objects, the way water moves unexpectedly, or the interaction of patterns that repeat throughout a design. Instead of forcing control, the focus stays on the process, observation, and response.
This balance between intention and chance shapes both the artwork I create and the way I guide others through making it.
Teaching & Studio Approach
Teaching & Studio Approach
● adults returning to art after time away
● artists drawn to simple, modern work
● educators looking for clear, flexible teaching tools
● beginners who feel intimidated by traditional instruction
● anyone seeking a calmer, more intentional creative practice
No prior experience is required, just curiosity and a willingness to slow down.
● adults returning to art
● artists drawn to, modern work
● educators looking for clear, flexible teaching tools
● beginners who feel intimidated
● anyone seeking a calmer, more intentional creative practice
No prior experience is required, just curiosity and a willingness to slow down.