Stella Im Hultberg works in mixed media; combining ink, watercolor and acrylic to create masterful works of art. Her paintings often depict a peaceful, dreamy woman surrounded by flowers, as though every thought and feeling of the girl is made of the soft petals of these flowers. Hultberg’s use of pale skin tones offset by the strong and vibrantly colored flowers makes her female characters seem even more delicate, as though they are more fragile and vulnerable than even the blossoms that surround them.
The artist prefers using pastel colors in her watercolor bouquets of flowers and leaves. Even the red of a poppy flower is subdued to a pinkish glow. These pastel blossoms, along with the pale skin of her female subjects are outlined with strong, illustrative lines. This style is a kind of grown-up version of children’s books illustrations, and it shows that it is a style that still appeals to adults who have left their childhoods far behind.
Hultberg was born in South Korea, but was raised in Seoul, Hong Kong, Taiwan and California, USA. She has a background in product design, but chose to become a full-time artist in 2005. She now lives in Oregon, USA, where she doesn’t only paint; she also enjoys riding her bicycle, doing crossword puzzles and eating. Because of her international upbringing, Hultberg’s characters are influenced by the facial features found in both the East and the West, and her artistic style shows hints of both Asian art and Western art.
For more art works by Stella Im Hultberg, you can follow her on Facebook or visit her website.
Korean-born artist Stella Im Hultberg shows her masterful use of mixed media in this beautiful painting that shows a peaceful woman surrounded by giant flowers. The soft, pale skin of the woman’s face is offset by the strong colors of the flowers, which gives the impression that the woman is even softer and more delicate than the flowers that surround her. [source]
Stella Im Hultberg has used a massive peony bloom as part of this woman’s head in this painting called Flowerhead. The vibrant red of the peony flower matches the color of the girl’s lips. [source]
A vulnerable young woman poses with a headpiece of flowers in this mixed media painting by Stella Im Hultberg. The girl’s thin wrists and hands show the fragility of women. [source]
Colorful peony flowers surround a beautiful young woman in this mixed media painting by Stella Im Hultberg. Hultberg’s female figures are often depicted as being nearly colorless. The monotone of this girls skin is offset by the bright colors of the flowers. [source]
Artist Stella Im Hultberg has painted a pretty girl sleeping beneath a cover of beautiful flowers. The artist has muted the colors that she’s used, darkening the entire scene to create a still, dark night full of the scent of the blossoms and the sound of the girl softly breathing. Many of Stella Im Hultberg’s paintings have a deep sensualism in them. [source]
The girl in this painting by Stella Im Hultberg engages with the viewer by making eye contact. In most of Hultberg’s paintings, the female figure looks away from the viewer, or has her eyes closed, which makes this piece a rarity from the artist. [source]
Here is artist Stella Im Hultberg using a fine point paintbrush in this small, highly detailed painting of a young Asian woman posing with bouquet of flowers. [source]
