Arboretum Walk Drawing

Stephen Schildbach is a web designer and visual artist. The former being his profession, the latter being his passion. He works for small businesses developing, designing, and maintaining their online presence. His visual art spans from landscape drawings to children’s book illustrations. His main 2024 creative projects are working on a children’s book illustration called “Santiago’s Woodpile”, and being a member of Valise Gallery. He is also a member of VIVA (Vashon Island Visual Arts). Stephen moved from the east coast to Seattle in late 1995. From 1995-2008, he was a professional illustrator, working for publications like The New York Times, Money Magazine, Harvard Business Review, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg Magazine, and MIT Technology Review. While being fully immersed in the vibrant creative culture of Seattle at the time, and beautiful nature of the Pacific Northwest, his illustration work was often mailed and emailed across the country. After the 2008 market crash, many publications went out of business. Stephen went back to school to learn web design, and eventually changed careers. From 2009-2017 Stephen took a long break from art focusing on his relationship with his wife, and together they enjoyed raising their daughter in Wallingford, Seattle, WA. In 2017, the urge to make art returned at the very same time Monica and Stephen had a son. While raising their two children, Stephen experimented once again with illustration, fine art, and selling illustrated products. In 2022, Stephen and family moved to Vashon Island, WA seeking a simpler rural life. Most everything on Vashon has proven to be simpler and brings increased joy, except for transportation with a family of four, and getting to the mainland.