Curriculum Vitae.

Stella Henriques Ryan studied painting, drawing, design, and sculpture from Louisiana State University. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1973 and her Master of Fine Arts in 1975. She taught drawing and design at Louisiana State University , the University of New Orleans, and Southeastern Louisiana University.

She worked as a fashion illustrator for two big department stores in New Orleans before moving to New York City and freelancing. Stella continued to work on her own paintings and sculptures until marrying and starting a family. Over the years, her kid's art projects and school productions allowed her to play with set design, costumes, and scenery. She has contributed her

artistic skills to local fundraisers, proms, and galas for schools. A 20- foot falcon sculpture currently flies overhead in the Hightstown, N.J. Peddie School's gymnasium!

After joining the Rumson Garden Club and attending a class on botanical arts (how to make twigs, nuts, and seeds look like jewelry), a fellow member showed Stella a Tiffany book for inspiration. As she flipped through the pages and spotted bug jewelry, Stella was more excited by the bugs than jewelry. Since then she has been focused on creating insect tableaux, pollinators in cloches, and cicadas in screen houses. The more realistic the better.