About Peggy Steffens

Peggy is a retired educator who has found her passion in expressing herself through art, meditation and birding.

She taught middle school math and instructional technology and was fortunate to be selected 1988 Arizona Teacher of the Year. She received her Undergraduate and Masters Degrees from the University of Arizona and her Doctoral degree from Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership. She used that knowledge in her role as Technology Coordinator for Amphitheater School District.

She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.

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Artist Statement

“Watercolors are the window to my soul.  I enter another dimension where time evaporates and I am one with the universe.  Painting allows me to find balance in my life; as my mind calms, the energy is released with vibrant colors and bold lines.”
 
Peggy became an artist later in life.  Painting brought out a side of her that had been overshadowed by her dominant left side technical world teaching math and computer education. Peggy sought out a desire to turn her raw energy into art by signing up for art classes through Pima Community College, and thus opened the window to her soul. Her painting has been enhanced through her readings, studies, and workshops.  She believes in life-long learning, and knows that she will always learn and grow from trying new things from a variety of different artists.  Artists must always be open to new experiences and challenge themselves to do things they normally wouldn’t; that is why her art will always take on different forms.  She departs wiser from each artistic experience and incorporate techniques and beliefs into her style.
 
Peggy is primarily a watermedia artist, who works with numerous media including watercolor, acrylic, encaustic waxes, inks, and collage. She loves the unpredictable nature of watercolor that allows her freedom for her creative expression. Living in the southwest heavily influences her art. She uses vibrant colors as her aesthetic emphasis and focuses on picturesque subjects for her content.  Her general approach is representational with a semi-abstract treatment of form and color.  In recent years, she has found a love for abstract painting and is absorbed in expressing herself from that space of silence. Peggy is an eclectic artist who has a zest and passion for life and her art integrates this energy and simplicity. 
 
Peggy is an award winning artist and currently is a Signature member of the Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona and a Signature member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild.  Her work can be found in private collections around the United States. Her abstract piece Driving Desire appears in the book Acrylicworks 5 Bold Values: the Best of Acrylic Painting. And her painting Spirit Writer appears in Acrylicworks 6: Creative Energy: the Best of Acrylic Painting.

Meditation Statement

Meditation has changed my life.  I never expected to be a meditator.  I have a Type A personality, I am always “doing” and am an overachiever, and I didn’t think I could ever slow down enough to meditate. A friend sent me an email about a 21-Day Meditation Challenge and then, I attended the Chopra Center’s Weekend Within program and received my Primordial Sound mantra.  I love the peaceful way to start my day; it sets the tone for a calmer day. Meditation doesn’t remove the stressors in life, but it has helped me to make more conscious choices that are more reflective; I am less reactive to the things that used to push my buttons. Meditation changed my life so much I wanted to share that knowledge with others and I became a certified meditation instructor. After a year of spiritual reading and learning how to be an effective meditation teacher, I passed all of the exams and received my Primordial Sound Meditation Instructor certificate. 

Birding Statement
During COVID, I was blessed to become a birder.  On a trip to Madera Canyon, I saw an Elegant Trogon eating a worm and I was hooked.  The Tucson Audubon Society offered numerous Zoom classes on where to go birding in Southern Arizona and was out in nature 4-5 times per week. Birding is a way to blend my meditation practice with my creative side.  I am able to capture the essence of the birds in my photography and spend time in the editing process to express my artistic style. When I am birding, I connect with nature and am always in the present moment looking for the hidden treasures amongst the landscape. 
 
I enhanced my birding knowledge by participating in birding classes and field trips offered by the Tucson Audubon Society, Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and National Geographics Great Course Guide to Birding in North America. I volunteer with the Tucson Audubon Society and have participated in the annual Birdathon, Christmas Bird Count, Chestnut-collared Longspur Count, Tucson Bird Count and have begun leading birding field trips. 

I believe that our dharma, or purpose in life, changes.  At this time in life, I will focus on art, birding and meditation and share that passion when I teach!
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Examples of Peggy's Passion in Life

Birding

Meditation
Photograph by Sara Therese Moore

Watercolor Paintings