Graphic Designer
International Award-Winning Master Artist
Certified Professional Photographer
A lifelong rider, I grew up loving all animals. If childhood holds the blueprint for one's destiny in life, then it was obvious what I would grow up to be. I loved animals from the very beginning, playing with my stuffed animals and plastic horses way more than with my dolls! And at the very young age of 4, I was already drawing pictures of horses and dogs on whatever media I could find, including seashells, and selling them to a kindly neighbor woman down the street for a nickel or a glass of milk with a cookie or two.
I settled into the profession of Graphic Design early on in my life, going to school in California and spending my spare time purusing typography and graphic design annuals, hungry for inspiration! I worked my way up, starting in production and quickly moving into design. Now I am like "one-stop shopping," incorporating production techniques, design expertise, photography, and digital imaging for all genres of design.
A dual career unfolded for me as my love for photography and animals evolved into a second career photographing horses and pets. Always looking for artistic ways to work with my photographs, before long this path morphed into one of creating artistic paintings – timeless, heirloom-quality wall art of people's beloved horses, pets, and families. Because my heart is so into this, excellence, after many years of training and hard work, moved me into the upper echelons of digital artists. I've won many international awards for my work, including the coveted Canon Par Excellence Award in the Artist Division.
I believe my two careers are not exclusive of one another, but rather, one supports and enhances the other. My trained eye for design benefits my composition and color choices, lighting, and background settings for my paintings. And my painting artistry in turn opens up new avenues for technical and creative expression in my graphic design projects.
Whether you are looking for a portrait of your horse, pet, or family, or a graphic design for a new business project, my passion is to create for you beautiful imagery that captures the essence you are looking for, is timeless, and that you will love and treasure!
I have tried to create very simple and reasonably priced options for you to have that special painting, or to produce your graphic design project. Please call or email me, and we can talk about the process and costs to make this happen.
I so look forward to hearing from you!
All my Best--
Lois
lois@loisstanfield.com
612-269-0705
Paintings
After many years of study as an artist, graphic designer, and photographer, and many years with a successful business photographing horses and pets, I turned my attention to what I love most: painting portraits of these beautiful animals that grace our lives!
Using the incredible technology that unfolds continuously, I have developed a technique for painting portraits digitally from your favorite photograph. This is not a push-button filter, or anything "quick and dirty." I spend many, many days on my portraits, sometimes weeks, painting stroke by stroke using a pressure-sensitive stylus/brush on my digital canvas/tablet using oils, acrylics, and watercolor interpretations. The end result is a beautiful, classic painting, printed to canvas, and ready to hang on your wall and enjoy for generations!
We all have tons of photos on our cell phones of our loved ones! And guess what? I can create your beautiful heirloom painting from a simple image taken with your cell phone!
The way it basically works is:
1. You would email me a high resolution image (I can walk you through that, and what "high resolution" means), or, preferably, a few of them so I can select the best or possibly do a composite from a couple of them. The images do need to be SHARP.
2. I do color correction and balancing of the image and mask out the original background in Adobe Photoshop, and then paint your pet or horse with a custom painted background that works with your decor. I use a very sophisticated software called Corel Painter, and have spent many years developing my techniques. (I also teach and mentor other artists on how to paint with my techniques.)
3. Once I am satisfied with your portrait, I will email you a proof for approval.
4. I then send it off to a master craftsman printer who turns it into a beautiful canvas worthy of a place of honor in your home.
5. The canvas is shipped directly to you, free of charge.
I truly believe you will be amazed at how affordable a beautiful painting can be. Please email me a few photos you are considering for your painting and I will get right back to you with suggestions and feedback as to which image, or possibly a composite of images, would work best. We can also chat by phone. Feel free to call!
Thank you!
Lois
lois@loisstanfield.com
612-269-0705
Graphic Design
Sophisticated digital imaging using Adobe Photoshop is my specialty, creating one-of-a-kind, compelling designs!
Using the Adobe Creative Suite, I have designed pretty much every genre of print and digital design, including children's richly colored books, adult 4-color coffee table books, scholarly books, how-to books, biographies, journals, fiction, albums, newsletters, brochures, marketing materials, collateral, web banners, powerpoint presentations, email blasts, and everything in between. I design, produce, provide illustration and do photo research as needed, bringing your project all the way through final digital files.
Lately I have been working more and more with self-publishers to get their books on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. I create not just the paperback versions of your books, but also the ebook versions, and guide you through the maze of self-publishing from start to finish.
Being a jack of all trades, I also edit copy and have been known to do a bit of writing as well!
Please call or email me so we can chat about your special project!
Lois
lois@loisstanfield.com
612-269-0705