Continuum: Artwork by Bill and Jean Stephens

For more than five decades, Bill and Jean Stephens have been partners in life and in Art. They met in the RIT Printmaking Studio in 1972, and both later earned their degrees in the RIT MST Arts Education Program. Their teaching skills were sharpened at the AllofUs Art Workshop, then under the leadership of Luvon Sheppard, Art Professor at RIT.

Bill taught at FLCC and in the Webster CSD, mentoring hundreds of successful future artists and arts educators, until retiring a few years ago. Jean has taught classes out of her own studio and they both continue to offer classes at The Mill Art Center in Honeoye Falls. 

Across these fifty plus years, their artwork and artistic processes have continued to evolve and expand. There is a support “mechanism” built into their relationship.  I have had the honor and privilege to witness this seamless support both as a friend and colleague in past, and ongoing settings, within our profession. 

Beyond their partnership, Bill and Jean are individually exceptional artists. They enjoy a remarkable setting for their home and studio practices.  Even though the style of Jean and Bills’ work differs widely, that work is highly influenced by the natural world around them. As individual artists, they have exhibited their work in the Greater Rochester region and nationally. In many cases, both have won competitions, awards and been asked to speak and present their unique techniques-processes and artistic philosophies at: galleries, workshops and university settings across their long careers. They continue to work, teach, mentor and grow...as artists and as valued pARTners. - Bob Geroux