Today we’d like to introduce you to Hollie Stuhlman.
Hi Hollie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been curious and creative. Looking back, I think I was becoming an artist long before I realized it.
As a little girl, I loved digging through my grandmother’s costume jewelry, completely fascinated by the way the rhinestones caught the light. I was equally mesmerized by the neon, glitter-filled fishing worms in my dad’s tackle box, and after summer rains, we’d grab flashlights and search our neighborhood for nightcrawlers. My dad also rebuilt cars, and I loved watching him take something completely apart and patiently put it back together again. Those experiences taught me to look closely, appreciate details, and never be afraid to experiment.
My grandmother encouraged my creativity, and later Martha Stewart and Iris Apfel became two of my biggest inspirations. Martha showed me that creativity could be woven into everyday life through cooking, gardening, decorating, and making a home beautiful. Iris inspired me to embrace color, boldness, and authenticity. She reminded me that it’s okay to express yourself unapologetically, and I’ve carried that philosophy with me ever since.
Professionally, I’ve spent nearly 30 years building a career in corporate leadership, helping organizations navigate change and transformation. At the same time, I raised my son as a single mom, balancing a full-time career with the creative pull that has always been part of who I am.
Because I’m self-taught, experimentation has always been central to my process. Resin, mosaics, acrylic, inks, stained glass, and mixed media each give me a new way to explore color, texture, and light.
Over the years, that creative energy has extended beyond my own artwork and into community service. I served for many years on the Lee’s Summit Arts Council, including as co-chair, and one of my favorite memories was partnering with Summit Fair to help bring a permanent public art installation to our community. I also became passionate about beekeeping, helped advocate for the ordinance that made backyard beekeeping legal in Lee’s Summit, and later had the honor of accepting the City’s World Bee Day proclamation on behalf of our local beekeeping community.
Today, my home, a charming 1920 bungalow in downtown Lee’s Summit, has become another expression of that creative spirit. My mosaic front steps often stop families on their walks, especially children, who point them out and pull their parents over for a closer look.
My artwork can be found at INSPO by KHL Design Studio in downtown Lee’s Summit, in other local boutiques, and in the homes of collectors. This year I’m especially excited to debut my newest collection, the Refraction Series, during the final DTLS Fourth Fridays Art Walk of the season.
When I look back, I realize the common thread through every chapter of my life has been curiosity: the desire to notice beauty, follow inspiration, and create something meaningful. Whether through art, community service, or everyday life, creativity has always been my way of connecting with the world around me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not entirely, and honestly, I think that’s true for most creative journeys.
For many years, my art had to fit into the margins of life. I built a corporate career while raising my son as a single mom, so there were plenty of late nights, early mornings, and weekends spent creating whenever I could find the time. I learned to give myself grace during seasons when life demanded more from me than my studio could.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning to trust myself. Because I’m self-taught, every new medium, project, or collection comes with a certain amount of uncertainty. Over time, I’ve learned that growth happens outside of my comfort zone, and that uncertainty is often a sign that I’m stretching creatively rather than a reason to hold back.
I’ve also had to be intentional about avoiding comparison. There will always be artists with different styles, bigger audiences, or more experience. I’ve learned that the healthiest path is to stay focused on creating work that feels authentic and meaningful to me.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change the journey. The challenges taught me resilience, patience, and confidence, and they reinforced something I’ve always believed: creativity isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and continuing to create, even when the path forward isn’t entirely clear.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a self-taught mixed media artist and the creator behind BeeUniqueCreate. My work is known for bright color, reflective surfaces, layered texture, and a sense of movement that changes as the light shifts throughout the day.
One thing people quickly learn about me is that I don’t like creating the same thing over and over. I’m drawn to materials that let me keep discovering, whether that’s resin, acrylic, stained glass, crushed glass, mosaics, or other mixed media. Every collection becomes a new creative challenge.
This year I’m especially excited about my Refraction Series, which explores how light bends, reflects, and transforms color through acrylic, glass, and layered materials. It feels like a natural evolution of my work, bringing together many of the elements I’m most drawn to.
Many people also know me for my handcrafted resin coasters, which have become one of my signature pieces over the years. They are colorful, energetic, and full of movement. They’re small pieces of functional art designed to bring joy, energy, and personality into everyday spaces.
What I’m most proud of isn’t one specific piece; it’s hearing that someone connected with my work. Whether someone finds the perfect piece for their home or tells me my artwork makes them smile every time they walk by it, those are the moments that remind me why I create.
I think what sets me apart is the way I combine curiosity with optimism. My inspiration comes from nature, travel, architecture, fashion, color, and everyday moments that many people might overlook. My corporate career has also influenced my creative process by teaching me to solve problems, adapt, and think differently.
More than anything, I hope my work feels joyful. In a world that can sometimes feel heavy, I want my art to bring energy, possibility, and a little brightness into someone’s day. If someone walks away feeling inspired, uplifted, or simply more connected to the beauty around them, then I feel I’ve done my job as an artist.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is feeling connected to people, creativity, nature, and the world around me.
My son is, of course, at the center of that. Watching him grow into his own person and build his future has been one of the greatest joys of my life.
Creating makes me happy because it gives my curiosity somewhere to go. I love the moment when an idea begins to take shape, especially when light, color, and texture come together in an unexpected way.
I’m also happiest in the small, everyday moments: working in my garden, watching bees and other pollinators, spending time with people who inspire me, discovering a new place while traveling, expressing myself through colorful clothing and bold jewelry (sometimes pieces I’ve made myself), and seeing someone pause to appreciate something I created. Creativity doesn’t stop when I leave the studio. Whether I’m decorating my home, tending my garden, or choosing what to wear, I see each day as an opportunity to express who I am.
Giving back to my community brings me a great deal of happiness, too. Whether I’m supporting the arts, teaching children about pollinators, or helping create something others can enjoy, I love knowing I’ve contributed in a meaningful way.
Ultimately, I think happiness comes from staying engaged with life and remaining open to wonder. I’m happiest when I’m learning, creating, connecting, and finding beauty in the everyday. Those moments remind me that joy is often found not in the big milestones, but in the small things we choose to notice and appreciate.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.holliestuhlman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beeuniquecreate
