Rebecca Brooke Stern

Hello, my name is Rebecca Stern, and I am above all, an Artist-- who happens to be on the autism spectrum. Both have informed who I am as a creative talent and as a person.

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While I wasn't diagnosed with autism until the age of twenty-four, my passion for the visual arts has been lifelong. Having had both a mother and grandmother who were artists, I aspired to be like them. Other inspiration came from Disney and Pixar movies, as well as PBS Kids, which made me want to do animation. My interest in illustration was influenced by children's book illustrations, like that of Dr. Seuss, and peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I designed and drew everything from characters to portraits to comics.

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I've now come full circle by following in the footsteps of my mom and grandmother, who were not only artists, but like me, graduates of Maryland Institute of Fine Art (MICA). In fact, I was getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation from MICA, I created an animated short ("Sheri") about my mom, which was screened in many festivals throughout the country. I recently received my Master of Arts in Illustration from MICA.

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Other accomplishments as a young adult have included an internship (Make Studio), a mentorship program (with Animation Director Howie Hoffman), and freelance jobs--from medical illustration to an animated promo of a book cover to a commissioned portrait.

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As an artist with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I have an Art Director's gift for color design, pattern/texture, and composition. Though in my earlier years, I needed much language support, I have the executive-function and organizational skills of a Producer.  Whether as a fine-artist, illustrator, or animator, I have and will continue to proudly embrace my challenges.