March 2026 Stephanie Hoover Art Newsletter

The Bravery of Artists

It is rare to speak of the bravery of artists. Such discourse is usually reserved for the military or first responders. But artists aren’t strangers to acts of heroism.

Vojtech Preissig, the first artist to be featured in my art history snail mail club, Curated Envelope, is a man whose selfless courage is worthy of admiration.

Born in Czechoslovakia in 1873, Preissig always knew he would be an artist. He succeeded in numerous mediums including printmaking, painting, typography and illustration. In 1910, Vojtech moved to the United States. He could have remained here, safe from the growing threat of Nazi Germany, but instead he returned to his homeland to join the resistance.

The rest of Preissig’s story (as well as a reproduction of one of his prints) can be found in my inaugural Curated Envelope.

Curated Envelope is dedicated to sharing art and history through carefully crafted physical mailings - the kind many of us still look forward to receiving.

The monthly subscription price is $8.00 and the first envelopes will go out (via first class postage) on or about the 20th of April 2026.

Each 7.25" x 5/25" Curated Envelope includes a letter from me telling the story behind the featured art print, document or other enclosure. I'll also offer glimpses into my own private creative world and will gift each subscriber with a print of my latest painting or linoprint. Additionally, each mailing will include a special bonus item. This could be a bookmark, planner sheet, adult coloring card, or QR code that takes you to videos I've created exclusively for Curated Envelope subscribers.

For more information, please visit this page.

Frames Are Art, Too

I’ve had the pleasure of being accepted into three art shows thus far in 2026. While this is a wonderful compliment, it can also be a challenge. Each gallery has its own idea of how art should be presented, with many providing very specific expectations for frames. Some galleries only allow black, white or natural wood frames. Others are less strict, but nonetheless expect some level of conformity among artists. And then there are the gems: the gallerists who allow you to use the same creativity in the selection of frames that goes into the actual making of your art.

ShadowBoxX Gallery in Waukegan, Illinois (36 miles north of Chicago) is one of those gems. Their recent call for artists for the theme Pareidolia - the tendency humans possess to see familiar images in random patterns - exerted no restrictions on the frame style. So, when my framer suggested something unique, I turned him loose. To be honest, I was worried at first. Did I go too far…? But when I saw the finished result I had no doubt I’d made the right decision.

My entry is a linoprint called “Waves on the Loch.” What does your pareidolia make you see?

If you’re in the Chicago area March 21 through April 11, 2026, do support the great artists exhibiting at the ShadowBoxX Gallery Pareidolia show.

Recommended Reading (and Free Galley Giveaway): Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Camille de Peretti

Art lovers may be aware of Gustav Klimt's 1916 painting called Portrait of a Lady. What they might not know, however, is that this painting is the subject of one of the greatest mysteries in art history.

Firstly, there is said to be a “lost" portrait of a girl wearing a hat, painted in 1910, hidden under the 1916 portrait. This would not be uncommon as many artists re-used canvases. Some art scholars disagree with this theory, but the similarities in pose and facial structure are certainly striking.

As if that possibility isn’t intriguing enough, the 1916 portrait was stolen from Italy’s Galleria Ricci-Oddi museum in 1997 - and miraculously reappeared in a crevice in one of its exterior walls in 2019. It was unharmed and is once again part of the museum’s collection.

Camille de Peretti uses this storied piece of art as the basis for her novel Portrait of an Unknown Woman. Thanks to my years working as a traditionally published author, I’m still on the list of several publishers hoping to solicit my reviews of their new releases. That’s how I received the pre-publication galley of this very interesting read.

If anyone would like this galley, the process is simple: be the first to hit “reply" and type the phrase “I want the book" in the body of the email. Postage is on me, so act fast.

See My Work at These Galleries

Just a reminder, my work can be seen at the following fine galleries (in addition to the Pareidolia exhibit mentioned previously:

The 12th Annual Crow Show, The Studio Door Gallery, San Diego, California

(Happening through April 3, 2026.) I’m honored to have my linoprint Apollo Damns the White Crow exhibited alongside many other talented artists.

Greetings from the Mother Road, artCentral, Carthage, Missouri

(Happening March 28 through May 16, 2026.) As a seven-time cross country traveler, there is a special place in my heart for Route 66, the “Mother Road." To be included in a national show celebrating its 100th anniversary is one of the great honors of my life. If you’re a fellow Mother Road Lover, make plans to see this exhibit.

Memento Mori Gallery, Lakewood, CO

(Happening April 3 - 28, 2026.) This show, called "Hidden Wilds" is dedicated to those mysterious beasts that may or may not exist in our world. My oil pastel piece is called "Portrait in a Natural Setting." I've never actually seen Bigfoot - but anything is possible.

Please Share My Newsletter and YouTube Channel

If you enjoy seeing and learning about great art and its history, please recommend this newsletter and my YouTube channel to like-minded readers and viewers. Simply forward this page and encourage your friends to click on these links:

StephanieHooverArt.com

YouTube.com/@stephaniehooverart

Until next time: be well, be happy and be kind - especially to yourself.

STEPHANIE HOOVER

Artist, Printmaker & Bookbinder

Member: Authors Guild (Since 2012)