Bio:

I am a book/editorial illustrator, illustrator in porcelain, stoneware. I began my career while in graduate school for ceramics at the University of Montana. While there I worked for the Anthropology and Wildlife Departments illustrating research papers. The New England Aquarium, Boston, hired me as their staff illustrator for exhibits. What followed were collaborators with art directors and designers for non-fiction children’s books, textbooks, and adult trade books with major publishers. Cookbooks by famous chefs, gardening books, and editorial work for the New York Times, the N.Y. Daily News and the Boston Globe built my illustration portfolio.

One of my specialties is food still-life and step-by-step instructional illustrations showing hands making food recipes – or making puppets and crafts, like the ones in “The Muppets Big Book of Crafts” for Jim Henson Productions. It was an honor to work directly with the artists and crafts people who created those charming Muppet Characters.

I also bring my 2D illustration to 3D ceramics, working in porcelain and stoneware, reusing many of my book illustrations. Bas-Relief Architectural Ceramics, in-glaze transfer-ware decals, and lithophanes (back-lit translucent porcelain imagery), are all my specialties.

For Babson, Olin and Wellesley College students, I managed and taught their ceramics studio. Awarded a grant, I led the making of murals with these students celebrating Green Energy and Sustainability on their campuses. More knowledge/inspiration was attained at ceramic residencies: The International Ceramic Research Center, Guldagergaard, Denmark; the International Ceramic Studio, Keschcemet, Hungary; Medalta Ceramics Residency, Canada, Watershed Ceramics Residency in Maine, and the Ceramics Program Office for the Arts at Harvard University.

Some of my illustrative ceramic works are included in permanent collections: The Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Museum; The International Museum of Dinnerware Design, Ann Arbor, Michigan; The Blair Museum of Lithophanes, Elmore, Ohio; American Museum of Ceramic Arts~AMOCA, Pomona, CA in 2023.

Teaching 2D and 3D multi-media techniques in workshops to children and adults, bringing creative joy to others, brings me joy too. Music and singing in a classical chorale and
a swing band inspires my work ~ specialize in songs by Irving Berlin & George and Ira Gershwin.
http://stephanieosser.com
https://www.instagram.com/stephanie_osser_illustrations
https://artaxis.org/artist/stephanie-osser/