Stefania Andrada Budan

Year of birth: 1990.
Where do you live: Toulouse, France.
Your education: Political Science.
Describe your art in three words: peculiar, expressive, and raw.
Your discipline: portraits/figurative art.
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Your artistic journey began during the pandemic. How did this challenging time influence your work and style?

I have been passionate about painting since I was a child, but I took a different academic path due to various circumstances. I come from a small town in Romania, not very developed, where a sense of isolation combined with social pressures and the prevailing ideology suggested that becoming an artist was a dead end in life. Although the pandemic was a very difficult time for me—I lost my job and the professional network I had built in Brussels—my passion for painting and drawing called me back. I believe that the mental freedom I experienced during the pandemic opened the door to a new life and reconnected me with my old passion. I rediscovered myself through art, and I want to emphasize that art is not about doing; it’s about being. My journey with my artistic style is still ongoing, and, fundamentally, art is a journey through one’s life.

You work with a variety of mixed media, such as oil pastels, soft pastels, markers, and colored pencils. What is your process like when choosing which medium to use for a specific piece?

I started using oil pastels during the pandemic, and there was something magical about this medium. The texture is absolutely beautiful and creates a strong atmosphere in a painting, especially when capturing the features of a portrait. Using oil pastels makes the portrait resonate deeply, and I believe it enhances the emotional impact. At some point, I also shifted my focus to colored pencils and soft pastels. All of these mediums have a vibrant quality, and working with them feels almost whimsical. My process is quite spontaneous; I visualize the painting or drawing, then I enjoy playing with textures, hues, and intensity. I love the complexity these mediums create when combined with emotions.

Stefania Budan | Fearless Woman | 2024

You mentioned that peculiarity is a source of inspiration. How do you incorporate this sense of peculiarity into your portraits?

As I visualize my models, I look for that special, peculiar quality that is often hidden. I enjoy bringing it to the surface because peculiarity is not something negative; in fact, it is a unique trait or feature of a person. This peculiarity can be physical, but it can also be mental. I find that it invites me into a sort of mental game, and it’s fascinating to play with hues and colors to describe something that may be so abstract in someone’s portrait.

Your work focuses on people’s expressions and features. How do you decide which emotions or stories to convey through your portraits?

I can’t exactly explain how I decide, but it’s more of a spontaneous choice or feeling. As I observe people, even in cafés, I sometimes see someone who, to me, is incredibly expressive. Perhaps their eyes convey a certain hope or sadness, and that becomes my source of inspiration, an open door to create a new universe around someone I don’t actually know. Their movements, behavior, or expressions invite me to explore my imagination and create their story. I find people to be the most fascinating subjects; the complexity of human anatomy intertwined with emotions is both beautiful and challenging.

Stefania Budan | Searching Ideas | 2024

Your art combines accurately drawn characters with vibrant, raw environments. Can you tell us more about the contrast between these two elements and how they come together in your work?

I recently developed the idea of creating paintings or drawings where the character is rendered more accurately while the background remains raw and vibrant. I believe that the vibrancy and texture of the background make the character pop out and also show more of the notes of peculiarity. A note of peculiarity can be a mental feeling or a physical feature. Sometimes, I like to deform the body or a hand a bit so the character can speak more about itself. My inspiration comes from my childhood home, particularly my grandparents’ house, where they always had a wall carpet with raw motifs. I used to touch it constantly, fascinated by its vibrancy and raw elements. Combining two styles is part of my artistic journey, and it also symbolizes a bridge between two dimensions, which can have so many meanings.

As someone with a background in political science, do you find that your academic studies influence your artistic practice in any way?

During my studies in political science, I took a very interesting course on art and politics, which had a profound influence on my artistic journey. Not only did it bring me back to my true passion, but it also deepened my understanding and appreciation of art. As I mentioned earlier, art is not about doing but about being, and exploring various artistic movements under different political regimes broadened my perspective on society and individuals. I do this by truly observing people and reflecting on how I feel about them as I paint or draw, and how my feelings meet theirs in my art.

Stefania Budan | Wilted Blossom | 2024

How do you feel your work has evolved since your first exhibition in 2022 in Brussels?

After my exhibition in Brussels, I was still hiding in my shell, convinced that I needed to change careers and pursue a “real career.” However, I eventually realized that I couldn’t truly be myself if I wasn’t painting. In 2023, I moved to France after working as a tech specialist for Apple in Ireland. I decided that, despite my fears, I would pursue art and find myself through it, and I did it. What followed were months of insecurity and intense fear, but I would never give this away. I flourished, allowing myself the freedom to explore and evolve in ways I never could have imagined.

Stefania Budan | Midsummer Delight | 2024