About the Artist
Stepho, Stephanie Adams, was born in Washington, DC. Stepho was introduced to jewelry making as a child. "To think it started with those macaroni necklaces for my mom. I would spend hours taking apart colorful magazines, and create beads for my next jewelry creation."She was on to beadwork and wirework to make jewelry for sale that would support her live music listening habits. "People loved the delicate wire worked beads. I began working in clay, and made my own beads and "gemstones". I would turn them into one of a kind jewelry." It was after her high school graduation that she up and moved to California. In California, she began her deep exploration into clay, which helped finance her through University. She was working in production pottery with Michael Lambert, and hand built ceramics with Marsha Blaker-Desomma. Dabbling as an assistant to Marsha and Paul DeSomma's during the choreographed glass blowing in their hot shop.
After graduation, she felt something was missing. Stepho continued to work with her hands in clay and wire, but decided to go back to Cabrillo and take those fun classes. She began learning metalsmithing techniques and small-scale jewelry making from Dawn Nakanishi at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. Working in clay, porcelain painting, and metals. Stepho showed my metal work to a local goldsmith, and was offered a paid apprenticeship.
Working for two years learning fine jewelry techniques, and the art of a retail jewelry shop. That life took her out of the studio, and where she longed to be. Using my hands to create metal and mixed media objects inspired by the ocean.
"From the moment I saw the ocean it was love at first sight. My parents often tell the story of how at three years old, I bumbled over the berm of sand, and my hands went over my mouth in awe. My first observations of the powerful forces that surrounded me. I stood for hours on the beach hearing the waves crashing, feeling the vibration of the ocean washing over me, and tasting the salty air. It is no wonder that the world of marine life is amongst the most powerful of muses for me. The organic life that surrounds me, inspires me, and drives me to create something in its image."
Stepho holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz. As well as, two Associates of Arts with honorable mention from Cabrillo College.
Stepho has attended and assisted metalsmithing and jewelry classes at Cabrillo College and Penland School for Arts and Crafts. She has taken numerous classes at Monterey Peninsula College with Theresa Lovering-Brown, Carol Holaday, Megan Nancy Corwin, Lynda Watson and Thomas Mann.
Stepho has been a Teaching Assistant at Cabrillo College and Penland, where she aids students in developing their skills and nurtured their love for creating. Currently, she is the Vice President of the Monterey Metal Arts Guild.
