At one point, the desire to become a professional illustrator was all that Becca Stadtlander could think about. Art had always been part of her life. 

 This desire was anything but quick and easy to make a reality. Through overcoming years of doubt, insecurities and submitting her work to every website, blog and art director she could think of, Stadtlander finally became comfortable in being a full-time illustrator. 

 Now, a decorated fine artist and professional illustrator, Stadtlander will become the latest speaker for Syracuse University’s Visiting Artist Lecture Series. On Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in Shemin Auditorium, Stadtlander will give mentorship and advice to students with the desire to pursue a career in the fine arts. 

 Stadtlander’s work has been featured in Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, The New York Times, and Google, among others.   

 Associate professor of studio arts Sam Van Aken, who organized the Visiting Artist Lecture Series, said that the series is open to all and simultaneously acts as a four-credit course. He added that, primarily, School of Art students enroll; however, it is open to anyone that is keen on learning more about the arts.  

   “We bring in visiting artists to talk about their work and practice, and it does a couple things: One, it gives students different ways to think about art-making and gives students insight to artistic practices. So, how people actually make a living as an artist and have a career in it,” Van Aken said.  

Stadtlander has been able to create a signature style of realism-meets-whimsy, beautifully showcased in gouache, an opaque watercolor paint popular amongst illustrators. Courtesy of Becca Stadtlander

This exhibit is just another steppingstone in journey to success in her dream career. The hardest obstacle getting to this point has been actually getting hired, Stadtlander said.  

 “I wanted to be a working illustrator so bad — it was all I thought about,” she said. “I was terrified that no one would ever hire me, and that I had made a big mistake going to art school. I just kept my focus and tried not to think about the what-ifs.”  

 Stadtlander said that she has been drawing since she was able to “pick up a crayon.”  

 As for her creative inspirations, Stadtlander said that they come in the oddest of forms. Movies, books, Internet and TV shows have proven to be some of the most profitable wells of inspiration. She added that some of her best work has come to her while she was sitting in the bath or driving to the grocery store.  

 But when all else fails, Stadtlander will seek out her favorite books or simply go for a walk “and give [herself] a break” she said. Her favorite artists include Grandma Moses, Edward Gorey and Vincent van Gogh.  

 With inspiration gleaned from the beauty of everyday objects, Stadtlander has been able to create a signature style of realism-meets-whimsy, beautifully showcased in gouache, an opaque watercolor paint popular amongst illustrators, Stadtlander said. Her extensive portfolio includes illustrations of her favorite landscapes, book covers, animals and mystical creatures.  

In 2019, Stadtlander was awarded the Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration, given to her in recognition of her illustrations in the historical fiction book “Made By Hand: A Crafts Sampler.” Courtesy of Becca Stadtlander

In 2019, Stadtlander was awarded the Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration, given to her in recognition of her illustrations in the historical fiction book “Made By Hand: A Crafts Sampler.” 

 Despite the acclaim and her latest accolade, Stadtlander said her latest difficulty is handling the “solitude” that comes with being an illustrator. She conducts most of her work via email and creates pieces in her home.  

 Ginnie Hsu, an assistant professor in the School of Art who also had a hand in the lectures, said that the goal is to “bring in illustrators and designers that are in the current industry to have them share their experiences with students.”  

 As a multimedia storyteller and illustrator herself, Hsu most enjoys meeting other illustrators and exchanging ideas.  

 Stadtlander feels honored to have been selected for this opportunity, hoping she can provide something helpful to students with dreams of making it big in the world of art just like her. 

 “I was always clear-minded about being an artist,” Stadtlander said. “It’s the only thing I could picture myself doing. Art was everything all the time for me.” 

Published on February 5, 2020 at 12:23 am