For this month’s Artist of the Month feature, we are proud to spotlight Stefanie Newman, a painter whose work beautifully captures the charm, color, and character of Savannah.

Originally from Chicago, Stefanie has called Ardsley Park home for the past four years. While she spent many years creating large abstract paintings, moving to Savannah opened an entirely new artistic chapter for her.

“I respond to color first,” Stefanie explains. “I was a painter of large abstract works, but after moving to Savannah, I was taken by the richness of the vegetation and architecture.”

That inspiration led her outdoors, painting en plein air — a style of painting done on location, directly observing the scene in front of the artist. Stefanie now spends much of her time painting downtown Savannah and the surrounding neighborhoods, capturing the city’s unique atmosphere through her own deeply personal perspective.

Her work is driven by contrast and the visual surprises she encounters every day.

“It could be something as simple as a bright red door,” she says, “or it could be the interplay of Spanish moss and architecture.”

Those contrasts — vibrant color against weathered textures, sunlight cutting through moss-covered oaks, historic structures framed by lush greenery — are what give her paintings such warmth and immediacy. Her pieces invite viewers to slow down and notice the beauty woven into Savannah’s everyday moments.

After fifty years as a practicing artist, Stefanie says her greatest achievement is not tied to any one piece or exhibition, but to the lifelong journey itself.

“I am glad to have had the opportunity to be a practicing artist for fifty years,” she shares, “and to arrive at a personal way of seeing the world.”

That sense of authenticity shines through in her work. Each painting feels observational yet emotional — less about reproducing a scene exactly as it appears and more about capturing the feeling of being there.

Neighbors in Ardsley Park may already be familiar with Stefanie’s artwork through neighborhood Facebook posts, Instagram, or one of her occasional front porch art shows and sales. These relaxed community gatherings offer neighbors a chance to connect with her work in a welcoming and personal setting.

For Stefanie, art is not only about creating beautiful images — it is about paying attention, finding contrast, and sharing the way she experiences the world around her. Through her paintings, Savannah’s streets, gardens, and architecture become both familiar and newly discovered all at once.