My name is Stacey Best.  I have been painting since 2002.  I am a lawyer as well, and have been practicing law in California since 1987.  However, at this time, I paint much more than I practice law.  I paint for many reasons.  It brings me closer to nature, my friends, my family.  Something lawyering never quite did for me.  My painting can reflect what I am feeling, what I am close to, and who I am.  I am free because it is my choice.   

I paint mainly with acrylic paint on canvas.  I occasionally incorporate wood or other small material or fabric.  Bright colors are my palette  and I prefer to instill a joyful play into my work.  Inspiration comes from beauty:  the beauty of the incredible nature around me and the beauty of the incredible people around me.  I paint people I know and love:  parents, children, nieces, nephews, siblings, cousins, friends. I am inspired by the nature that I am lucky enough to live close to.  Biking and hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, located in Southern California,  allows me to gather the flowers, rocks, mountains, trees, oceans and skies for my paintings. My canvas reflects the  peace and exhilaration that envelopes me during my excursions to the scrublands, forests and California coastline.  Physically participating in nature is inextricably bound with my art.  Animals are another important aspect of my painting.  I enjoy painting people's pets and portraying the love those pets have for their owners.  Brightly colored wildlife is also part of my art,  capturing the essence of the animal and its relationship to its environment.

I hope  that my paintings inspire and bring joy to you.