#The7LoveStories’s Illustrator: Steph Rapo
I’ve not seen anything like this! This project combines multiple senses that invite you into an immersive experience.
Hello, Dear Readers! I’m Rionna Morgan, author of The 7 Love Stories. Together with artists Steph Rapo, KGKH Art™, Megan Morrow, and Grace Lovart, we have created this dynamic LiteraryNFT collection, set to be released early 2023! The 7 Love Stories collaboration team is so very dear to my heart. I feel incredibly lucky to have found four talented, beautiful women artists to illustrate the stories I wrote for you. We set out with one goal: build with love, share with love, create with love.
I recently had a chance to talk with Steph Rapo, one of our four illustrators, and interview her a bit for this article. I want to share with you her journey — how she came to the NFT Community, her life as an artist, what advice she would give to others following a similar path, and her thoughts on The 7 Love Stories themselves.
Rionna: What has drawn you to the NFT Community?
Steph: My background is in tech and engineering, but my heart has always been pulled to the arts. The NFT space brings those two subjects together — so for me, the interest was immediately there. Once I started making connections and learning, the community blew me away with their kindness and open-minded desire to guide. I’ve made some incredible friends here that inspire me daily to be a better person by expanding my creative outlets and elevating my consciousness and way of thinking.
Rionna: As an artist, in what medium do you generally create?
Steph: As an interdisciplinary artist, I’ve always found myself focused more on the intellectual aspect found wandering between multiple mediums. The relationship to the subject, whether it be nature, human, or our cosmic connection is what transfixes me. The crossover of photography and writing is where I land most often. The recent growth of AI technology has swept me away — combining both words and visual images in a mysterious and complex new world that I find myself easily exploring.
Rionna: What key events stand out for you in your artist journey?
Steph: My first significant milestone was my first NFT collection drop in December 2021. It sold out within 24 hours, and I had never felt such support for my art. In 2022, my work was published in multiple national magazines, purchased as NFTs by over 20 unique collectors, and featured at multiple expositions including NFT Liverpool at Adelia Art Gallery, NFT NYC at Superchief Gallery, and NFT Miami at Blackdove Art Gallery, highlighted by Time Pieces, Rug Radio, Morgan Stanley and National Geographic.
Rionna: The 7 Love Stories is a Literary NFT- what sets it apart from other NFT projects?
Steph: I’ve not seen anything like this! This project combines multiple senses that invite you into an immersive experience. This team has come together and created a feature that explores and elevates imagination, love, depth, relationships, and art.
Rionna: What are you most excited about in regard to The 7 Love Stories?
Steph: I know it will inspire others to lean into the power of creativity found in teamwork. A lot of artists tend to create by themselves, but exploring a creative project with teammates that have the same goal in mind — to produce a high-quality piece of work that touches peoples’ hearts — has been such a rewarding process. I hope this encourages other artists to seek out what collaboration opportunities are available for them.
Rionna: Where else can we view your work?
Steph: My link tree has everything! https://linktr.ee/stephrapo
Rionna: What two pieces of advice would you give to someone who is looking to join the NFT Community?
Steph: Be open to listening and learning from others. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable for a while. In the beginning, nothing makes sense, just like when you’re learning anything new. But if you lean on the community, stay open and positive, the opportunities are endless here.
Rionna: What else would you like for your audience and supporters to know?
Steph: KEEP YOUR EYE ON RIONNA she is doing big things in the space and this is only the beginning!
This has got me looking forward Steph's artworks <3