Formerly
Known As:
Stephanie Williamson
About the Artist
I have known since childhood that I wanted to be an artist; despite being encouraged to pursue more academic or athletic routes. I experienced setbacks in high school that shattered my confidence in my artistic abilities, and so I never seriously considered pursuing a career in art until I was 19 years old. I was in college and unhappy with my current major when I developed a friendship with a NASCAR driver that set my art career in motion. That driver led me to meet artist and author Lee Hammond, whom I studied under for many years and consider my greatest inspiration in my art. I learned how to draw in Lee's studio and finished my education in 2008 with a BSE in Art Education.
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I taught art to children of all ages in Kansas for over 10 years. I founded a successful youth art organization, volunteered for local school art programs regularly, and worked in an art gallery. But I had big dreams of living in the mountains and being a full-time artist. My family and I moved to Colorado Springs in the summer of 2018 and we bought a home in Canon City, Colorado in 2021.
I enjoy live drawing in restaurants and on the street. My favorite things to draw are pets, animals, and children. In addition to crayon, I also draw in graphite and mixed media, paint with acrylic, and am an experienced photographer. Besides art, I really enjoy reading, listening to the Beatles, and spending time with my family.
I began my art career using the brand Art Saves Lives; and I was drawn to that name because it described how I felt at the time. I first experienced symptoms of mental illness in 2002, but did not receive a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder and multiple anxiety disorders until 2012. And in those 10 years where I struggled with my mental health and suicidal ideation, I relied heavily on my love of art to get me through the darkest days.
Fast forward to 2022 and the switch to The Crayon Chameleon-
Another positive influence on my mental health has been interacting with all sorts of pets and animals. And mixing that with art seemed like the best route for my art career. I chose the name Crayon Chameleon because of the way chameleons change their colors based on their moods, and I can relate because when I struggle with my moods,
sometimes it feels like I "wear it on my face."
It is important to me that I advocate for mental health awareness and treatment through my art because it is such a big part of my life and how I got to where I am today.
