Work samples

  • American Family
    American Family

    39” x 45” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. My friend Elizabeth met her husband Pernell in December of 1971 while working in the “Pictures with Santa” in Columbia Mall during the Christmas Season. Elizabeth worked as an elf and Pernell was Santa, the first black Santa ever in Howard County Maryland. They are pictured here with their daughter Hannah. 

     

    In November of 1971 my friend Elizabeth (white t-shirt) met her future husband Pernell (gray t-shirt). Elizabeth had been hired to be an elf at the Photos with Santa section of Columbia Mall. Pernell was Santa, the first black Santa in the history of Howard County Maryland. They married five years after meeting and had their daughter Hannah. This is an image of the family as they are today, each expressing how they feel about laying on the floor to be photographed for painting references

  • Aquatic Ascent
    Aquatic Ascent

    29” x 21” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. Aquatic Ascent is part of a series of paintings based on reference photos that I took during the summer of the pandemic of a small group of friends. I submerged underwater intending to shoot a few pictures and immediately had the feeling of being isolated in a room.  It was quiet and serene with fluidly changing patterns of light.  I was so inspired by the feeling of peacefulness and the movement of the water that I immediately knew this would not be an isolated experience. 

    Available for Purchase
  • Recess - Higher Learning
    Recess - Higher Learning

    26” x 20” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. The model for this image was the same age and level as everyone in her group.  Her posture and expression however seemed so much more mature and somehow elevated from all of those around her.  I loved her confidence and serenity amidst the pandemonium of her surroundings. 

     

    Available for Purchase
  • Max X3
    Max X3

    23” x 22” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. I painted this piece from multiple screenshots I took during a Zoom call with my son Max. Max is a very animated, uninhibited individual and he approves of this painting. I wish I could remember what we were talking about.

    Available for Purchase

About Stacy

Artist and Baltimore native, Stacy Lund Levy has been creating art in many forms since kindergarten. She earned an undergraduate degree from Hood College in Biochemistry as well as a Masters Degree at The Johns Hopkins Art as Applied to Medicine program. Combining her natural artistic talents with her intellectual interest in anatomy and science, she initially worked as a medical illustrator. Stacy then opted to establish Lund Art Studios, a career move that enabled her to take on a… more

People In Their Natural Environment

I love portraiture.  In my larger more developed paintings, I like to include elements that I hope will contribute a suggestion of a back story.  My goal for these paintings is to suggest an insight into the subject’s personality, depict a snapshot of their daily routine, or capture their mood.

In familiar surroundings people are relaxed and unguarded.  When not posed for the camera, they can be themselves. If the subject is in the act of doing something that can only be caught in that specific moment in time, it makes the painting process even more interesting to me.    


  • Receiving Alms
    Receiving Alms
    22” x 30” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. This trio of female monks are receiving alms as is their ritual. The combination of the bald heads, small feet, and pink robes were so unusual to me that I felt compelled to paint this image. This painting was accepted into the Alaska Watercolor Society’s 45th Annual Juried Exhibit at 2 Friends Gallery in Anchorage 2019.
  • Arizona Blues
    Arizona Blues
    22" x 28" - 22" x 28" - The reference photo for this painting was taken as the subject was lost in thought and totally relaxed. I was drawn to the way the light touched her face. “Arizona Blues” was awarded the Jack Richeson, Salis, Golden Artist Colors Award at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition at the Black Rock Arts Center 2019.
  • Snoozin'
    Snoozin'
    7” x 7” watercolor on paper. Beachscape of Rehoboth vacationers in their natural environment.
  • Chesapeake Bay Bridge Run
    Chesapeake Bay Bridge Run
    22” x 30” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. This painting was based on a series of my photos from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Run. This figure was obviously more interested in the view than the run.
  • Tutu Envy
    Tutu Envy
    30" x 22" watercolor painting on Arches 300 lb paper. Awarded an honorable mention at Baltimore Watercolor Society's Slayton House Juried Exhibition.
  • Cheryl
    Cheryl
    30” x 22” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. The annual Baltimore Watercolor Society trip to NYC to see the American Watercolor Exhibition is also an opportunity to take photo references of the city. I shot this image of my friend Cheryl in front of a set of reflective doors in an alcove. She was unaware that she was in the image at the time. I was drawn to the repetitive horizontal security bars against the reflections from the street in contrast to her vibrant red coat and silver white hair. It felt like a frozen moment in time. Little did I know that the annual trip would be cancelled the next two years.
  • Cold in DC
    Cold in DC
    12.5" x 23" watercolor on paper.
  • Marty
    Marty
    30” x 22” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. This is a painting of my father-in-law seated at the kitchen table after a Sunday brunch with the family. At that moment, he appeared to exude satisfaction and contentment. My goal was to capture that moment in time. This painting was accepted into the 153rd American Watercolor Society’s Annual Exhibition.
  • redhead wm.jpg
    redhead wm.jpg
    20" x 15" Watercolor on paper. I met this fabulous artist at a Hall & Oats concert.
  • Is It Safe To Come In Yet?
    Is It Safe To Come In Yet?
    What can I say about this? COVID

Characters In My Life

What in a face makes it similar or unique?  I am drawn to portraiture because of the infinite amount of subjects to depict.  Two eyes, one nose, and one mouth, are combined to create billions and billions of permutations of one theme, a face.  In a split second, those same structures can morph to express thousands of different emotions. Here are several of the characters that I have encountered in my life.
  • That's AMAZING!
    That's AMAZING!
    11" x 15" watercolor on paper - In my experience waiters and waitresses are great models. They are full of character and usually willing to pose for a few quick pictures. I met this man in Sante Fe in a restaurant on Canyon Road and because he had the most expressive face I asked him to pose for me. I chose this expression because it seemed to fit this style of the colorful paint application I had planned.
  • Kindness
    Kindness
    11" x 14" watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. One of the residents in a senior living community where I taught drawing classes exuded kindness and beauty. She is still one of my favorite subjects to paint.
  • Target Dude
    Target Dude
    9" x 12" watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. The checkout clerk or “Target Dude” had great hair and absolutely no expression. He was obviously very unhappy in his job, but was nice enough to agree to pose for a photo reference. I went back to give this to him, but he had moved on to greener pastures. He agreed to let me take his picture with absolutely no change in expression.
  • Great Hair!
    Great Hair!
    15" x 11" watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. This gentleman has great hair and is a snappy dresser. He was also kind enough to let me take a photo to paint this portrait.
  • Junius
    Junius
    10” x 12” watercolor on paper. Junius is an artist who drops in to visit my painting class occasionally. He has a very expressive face and he seems to exude happiness wherever he goes.
  • Mom
    Mom
    23" x 23" watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. I have often described my mom as being “like Ghandi”. She is kind, understanding, and infinitely patient. I hope that the viewer sees those qualities when looking at this portrait.
  • Feather Head
    Feather Head
    15" x 11" watercolor on paper. One of my favorite events to take reference photographs is the Maryland Renaissance Festival. This lady was kind enough to give me permission to photograph and paint her likeness.
  • Jet Lag
    Jet Lag
    11" x 15" - My son Max after a red-eye to Glasgow.
  • Kristie
    Kristie
    14" x 11" watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper.
  • Busboys & Poets
    Busboys & Poets
    11" x 15" watercolor on paper - Fabulous waiter that I met in Washington DC.

Water Is My Favorite Element

Swimming has always been my favorite sport and painting water in watercolor is my latest obsession.
  • Frolicking
    Frolicking
    10” x 20” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. Frolicking is the first in a series of underwater paintings of a group of friends known as the Treading Tribe.
  • Sun Worship
    Sun Worship
    20” x 30” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper.
  • Untethered In Blue
    Untethered In Blue
    22" x 30" watercolor on paper. I shot the reference images for “Untethered In Blue” in an indoor pool at night. The model was the only swimmer in the pool and the surface was calm. The artificial light was not inspirational so I created my own swirls and eddies of paint color and value with a technique I like to call “flinging paint”.
  • The Swimmer
    The Swimmer
    22" x 30" watercolor painting on Arches 300 lb. paper. This painting was inspired by a trip to Rehoboth Avenue Inn & Spa. The Inn has an indoor metal lined pool with colored lights. The lights cycle through green, blue, red, and pink, and reflect through the water and onto the swimmers. “The Swimmer” is part of an ongoing series of water paintings which include "Untethered in Blue" and "Untethered in Green". Awarded the Ron Schloyer Outstanding Watercolor Award 2019 at the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society's 40th Annual International Juried Exhibition.
  • Bliss
    Bliss
    28" x 22" watercolor painting on Arches 300 lb paper. The cool values of the water contrasting with the warm values of the skin made this image irresistible to paint. I have always been inspired by water and its unique, unpredictable effects on the objects around it. It has always had a calming effect on me. I love the way that light and color are reflected and refracted on its surface and how below its surface objects are distorted into abstract shapes. “Bliss” was accepted to the South Carolina Watercolor Society’s 43rd Annual National Exhibition and was awarded Best of Show.
  • Tub Time
    Tub Time
    30" x 22" watercolor on paper. Tub Time was painted to study water and how it reacts in yet another environment, under fluorescent lights, in a monochromatic shallow background. Max is a great model and fun to work with.
  • Aqua Yoga
    Aqua Yoga
    25” x 30” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. This image depicts three members of the Treading Tribe moving into their favorite yoga poses. In this painting, I attempted to capture the beauty of the changing patterns of light snaking across the pool floor which seem to change minute by minute.
  • The Treading Tribe
    The Treading Tribe
    30” x 22” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. For exercise and sanity, four friends and I (known as the Treading Tribe) treaded water almost every day of the summer during the pandemic. The Tribe agreed to model and as I submerged underwater I immediately had the feeling of being in a very quiet, peaceful room full of amazing shifting patterns. I was so inspired by the feeling that I knew this would not be an isolated experience. What started as shooting a few images for one painting, evolved into shooting hundreds of photographs for multiple paintings.
  • Janine
    Janine
    22” x 30” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. The colors from this figure’s shoulder, arm, and swimsuit mirrored on the underside of the water’s surface seemed to suggest an abstract image of a face. I loved the crisp patterns on the swimsuit and the muted diffused colors of the water itself.
  • Remember When...
    Remember When...
    30" x 22" watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. The baking warmth of the orange tiles with the cool blue greens of the water drew me to paint this image. Each time I paint water I learn something new and in this image it was the impact of shadows it’s surface. “Remember When…” was accepted into the 41st Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s International Juried Exhibition and was awarded a merchandise award.

Places That Interest Me

I am usually inspired to draw or paint people or scenes that contain people. This group of paintings is of places that were interesting to me with little or no human element.  Peaceful, serene, quiet, erie or desolate, each of these locations had a personality or mood that was clear to me.   

I selected the color palette for each painting to convey to the viewer the same feeling that I had when looking at each location.

  • After The Rain
    After The Rain
    22” x 30” watercolor on Arches 300 lb pape. This is the view from the upper floor of the RISD Museum of Art. Between admiring exhibits, I looked out of the window. The brief break in the rain was perfectly timed to see reflections in the clear pool of rainwater puddled on the top of an adjacent building. This painting was awarded the Cheap Joe’s Award in the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s 39th Annual Juried Exhibition in the Crary Art Museum, 2018.
  • Afternoon in Miami
    Afternoon in Miami
    30” x 22” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. Riding down an escalator in the Miami Fashion District I was greeted by a sea of umbrellas washed with a blue light that was reflected from decorative glass panels. It was a very hot day and although it was no cooler in the “blue” area, it looked cooler. From the aerial perspective the shapes of the umbrellas combined with the dark shadow shapes were very appealing to me. This painting was accepted to both the Transparent Watercolor Society of America Juried Exhibition at the Kenosha Public Museum in 2019 and also the 46th Annual Alaska Watercolor Society’s JuriedExhibition where it won Best of Show.
  • Not Everyone Is Shopping In Glasgow
    Not Everyone Is Shopping In Glasgow
  • Oban Lane
    Oban Lane
  • Rain In Bosnia
    Rain In Bosnia
    30” x 22” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. This is the view from a hotel room overlooking an apartment complex in Bosnia. Photographic reference compliments of Eric Ogden.
  • Brunch!
    Brunch!
    17” x 13” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. Urban landscape painting of a rainy day in New York City.
  • How Much Longer?
    How Much Longer?
    16" x 22" watercolor on paper. The reference picture for this painting was taken in Glasgow, Scotland. I was inspired by the stance of the attentive dog, as well as the fluorescent light blasting from the shop.
  • South Exchange At Night
    South Exchange At Night
  • NYC
    NYC
  • The Studio
    The Studio

Mixed Media Figures

All of the figures in this project are approximately 18 inches in height and are handcrafted from polymer clay, wire, lace, and upcycled fabrics, beads, and various assorted bling.  The heads, facial features, and hair styles are sculpted from polymer clay and attached to handsewn fabric stuffed bodies. Individually designed and hand sewn clothes, as well as sculpted polymer clay purses and shoes are then added to complete the unique look and personality of each figure.


  • Clarissa Simone
    Clarissa Simone
    Clarissa Simone is made of Fimo clay, fabric remnants, costume jewelry parts, boa, and stuffing. She stands 18” tall and weighs 1 pound. She was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland where she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. At age 33, Clarissa gave up her job as an assistant dental hygienist and moved to the U.S. to realize that dream. She is currently enrolled In the University of Maryland Veterinary program. She is an avid knitter, a two-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, a certified martial arts instructor, and has a weakness for drag racing. Her favorite food is Haggis.
  • Sadayakko Kikuya
    Sadayakko Kikuya
    Sadayakko is made of Fimo clay, silk remnants, beads, silk cord, and stuffing. She stands 18” tall and weighs 1 pound. She works as a professional kimono model in the Baltimore area. She is the founder of “Cloggers For Peace”, an amateur dance group that performs at charity functions to help increase awareness of clogging and also to raise money for various charity groups. She has mad hula hoop skills and also plays the accordian.
  • Marie Antoinette
    Marie Antoinette
    Marie is made of Fimo clay, silk remnants, tulle, lace, rhinestones, and stuffing. Her hair is supported by a metal champagne cap and decorated with small birds and flowers. She stands 18” tall, 19” with the hair, and weighs 1 pound.
  • Marie Antoinette
    Marie Antoinette
    "Let them eat cake...I would prefer some Utz and a cold Natty Boh!" Marie has weaknesses to gambling and the home shopping network. Marie is an avid runner which helps her to stay fit and in turn enables her to support her large dresses and coiffures. She won the Baltimore Marathon two years in a row, incognito of course.
  • Ana-Amaranta
    Ana-Amaranta
    Ana-Amarante is made of Fimo clay, fabric remnants, lace, costume jewelry parts, wire, paper, and stuffing. She stands 18” tall and weighs 1 pound. She works as a professional flamenco dancer and teaches ballroom dancing at her local senior center. Ana-Amarante has an extensive collection of antique Pez dispensers. She is currently studying the Italian language at the Center For Italian Studies at Bryn Mawr School in the evenings. Her favorite movie is Clue and her favorite band is Slipknot.
  • Delilah Desiree
    Delilah Desiree
    Delilah is made of Fimo clay, fabric remnants, lace, costume jewelry parts, wire, paper, and stuffing. She stands 18” tall and weighs 1 pound. She worked at the Moulin Rouge until her bunions could no longer tolerate the stylish footwear.
  • can can
    can can
    Delilah relocated to Rehoboth Beach where is enjoys long walks on the beach and reading romance novels in her free time while soaking in the tub. She refuses to own a cell phone or eat any food than contains olives. She has seven cats, each named after her favorite action movie stars. Her favorite movie is Total Recall.
  • Allotta Rumspringa
    Allotta Rumspringa
    Allotta Rumspringa is made of Fimo clay, dance costume fabric, netting, lace, costume jewelry parts, bells, and stuffing. Allotta is a professional drag queen who is at the top of her game. She swims at least five days a week for fitness and to fit into her costumes. She has five hidden tattoos, three penguins, one bunny, and a portrait of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson which is tattooed on her right thigh. Allotta volunteers her time at inner city after school enrichment programs. She has a PhD in forensic Science.
  • Svetlana Rose
    Svetlana Rose
    Svetlana is made of Fimo clay, fabric remnants, tulle, wire, nylon stocking, stuffing, and my grandmother’s broach. She stands 18” tall and weighs 1 pound. Svetlana comes from a family of dancers. When her grandmother defected from the Bolshoi Ballet, she relocated to Baltimore. Svetlana remains in Baltimore because of her love of steamed crabs...also pork rinds and nachos. She recently binged watched all five seasons of The Wire.
  • I love my hair!
    I love my hair!
    Monique Renee is made of Fimo clay, dance costume remnants, costume jewelry parts, boa, and stuffing. Her hair was created with a garlic press, twisted into braids, and attached one at a time. She stands 18” tall and weighs 1 pound. Monique witnessed a gangland style shooting in 2018 during a trip home to the South of France to attend her 25th high school reunion. After testifying, she entered the witness protection program. Even though she may risk exposure, she could not miss this opportunity to be included in the Baker’s Artist Portfolio and show off her latest hairstyle. She speaks four languages fluently including Gaelic and enjoys duckpin bowling on weekends.

Wearable Art

I want a big reveal in life.  I am always hoping that there will be just a little more.  When I create wearable art, I try to incorporate that “little more” in my designs.  I want the viewer to look at a little closer, to see the small details or maybe find something humorous within.  

Building unexpected movement or functionality into a piece is irresistible to me.  Coming up with a concept, envisioning how the piece will move, and sourcing suitable materials is only the beginning.  To me, working through the trial and error of making the piece functional is the really exciting part.


I try to start building from the supplies already in my studio, leftover materials from earlier projects, recyclables, and found objects.  I have repurposed bridesmaids dresses, costumes, building and plumbing supplies, kids toys, maps, books, and fabric/trim remnants. I add new materials to fill the gaps.

  • Vortex Rider
    Vortex Rider
    Sketches of the “ornithopter” or flying machine by Leonardo da Vinci brought to light the possibility of human flight in about 1485. The oldest reference of a collapsible umbrella was recorded in the year 21 AD. These two ancient works inspired me to repurpose umbrellas to give the illusion that human flight is possible in a more elegant manner than using a jetpack.
  • Vortex Rider
    A combination of five dismantled umbrellas, wood, maps, pulleys, Paracord, buttons, and an upcycled overcoat created Vortex Rider. Reconfiguring the umbrella halves to open and close, adjusting the distances, angles and spacing of the pulleys, were a few of the challenges in making this piece functional. Awarded the Master Award, ManneqART Sculpture on the Human Form.
  • Read More - Front
    Read More - Front
    Read More is a collection of the images and prose representing memories of my favorite books. Using mostly materials that I had in my studio and at home, I showcased what was most significant and influential to me from the readings. I disassembled and repurposed materials relating to the people and the time period that I associate with the books. Stuffed animals, my daughter’s dance costumes, my grandmother’s sewing lace & quilting supplies, bridesmaids dresses and floral arrangements are some of the memory invoking materials used. Awarded the Innolect Literary Award, ManneqART Sculpture on the Human Form, 2015. I want to inspire others to Read More.
  • Read More - Back
    Read More - Back
    Symbols associated with L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven are represented on the back of Read More. The red poppies, yellow brick road, red glittery shoes and striped stockings of the wicked witch from Oz and the prose and a raven from The Raven.
  • Action Waiting To Happen - Back
    Action Waiting To Happen - Back
    The embellishment on the hat and the bustle on the back of Action Waiting To Happen are composed of ride tickets in keeping with the carousel theme. The frame of the skirt is made of metal strips much like the mechanical workings of a carnival ride. Awarded the Action Award & Ace Binding Award, ManneqART Sculpture on the Human Form, 2016.
  • "Action Waiting to Happen" in motion
    My kids had outgrown an entire room full of toys. I repurposed and added bling to the forgotten animal figures. The animals reminded me of the glitter and fun of carousels and inspired me to create a “Lazy Susan” with the human body at the center.
  • Untethered
    Untethered
    Untethered is raised slightly off the ground, unrestrained by gravity. Lego Mindstorm units slowly raise and lower the balloons to enhance the illusion of buoyancy. The color palette was limited to white to suggest a free and spiritual being. The bodice was designed in a flower shape to suggest an open connection to life and nature.
  • Untethered In Motion
    Untethered in motion during the judging of ManneqArt 2018. (Not Shown) The balloons raised and lowered controlled by Lego Mindstorm and pulleys. Untethered was awarded the Mechanics Award, ManneqART Sculpture on the Human Form 2018.
  • Iron Mantis
    Iron Mantis
    Plumbing tape, Worbla, window screening and an outdated riding helmet come together to create Iron Mantis. Awarded the Alien Award, ManneqART Sculpture on the Human Form, 2019
  • Iron Mantis
    Iron Mantis
    The Praying Mantis is considered the perfect predator. I modelled this piece after the body shape of the Mantis with the finish of armor.

Animal Magnetism

Animals are very capable of showing emotion and I love them as subjects of paintings for this reason.  Dogs in particular have distinct personalities which I enjoy trying to capture. As I described in the portrait section... two eyes, one nose, and one mouth, are combined to create billions and billions of permutations of one theme, a face...only these faces are extra furry.
  • Pick Me
    Pick Me
    22” x 30” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. Many trips to the SPCA and the Humane Society were made to find our family dog. This guy was adopted by another family the same day that we found our perfect dog.
  • Somebody Bring Me A Biscuit
    Somebody Bring Me A Biscuit
    22” x 30” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. Using a limited palette is one of my favorite methods of painting, especially the combination of one warm and one cool color. This painting was done with this method. I also wanted to push the range of watercolor from areas of true transparency to complete opacity.
  • Frenchy
    Frenchy
    10” x 13” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. I painted Frenchy as a Baltimore Watercolor Society workshop demonstration for painting pets.
  • Riding To The Park
    Riding To The Park
    22” x 18” watercolor on paper. I had a few seconds while stopped in traffic, to catch a reference photo of these two hanging out of the truck next to me. They filled the window and rocked the truck.
  • Reclining Nude
    Reclining Nude
    30” x 22” watercolor on Arches 300 lb paper. Penny is my friend’s dog. She has a really great life.
  • In Memory
    In Memory
    18” x 22” watercolor on paper. This painting was commissioned as a gift, intended for a friend who had recently lost their beloved family dog. When the recipient of the gift unwrapped the painting and saw it for the first time, they cried. My job here was done.
  • Solitude
    Solitude
    23" x 17" watercolor on paper. My cat's favorite spot at her favorite time of day.
  • Pandogmonium
    Pandogmonium
    48” x 30” - There are 37 hidden hearts ♥️ in this watercolor painting that I created for the Ronald McDonald House Charities “ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE” project. The original painting was auctioned at the RMH Gala fundraiser and a giclee hangs in the dining area of the house.
  • Diva copy.jpg
    Diva copy.jpg
    11" x 14" watercolor and ink on paper. Poultry can be charming and fashionable!
  • Nixie
    Nixie
    24.5" x 16" watercolor on 300 lb. paper. I am frequently more inspired by how light plays across a subject than the subject itself.