Meet Aaron Stouffer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Stouffer.

Hi Aaron, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
Palm Springs, 2014. I’m poolside sunbathing with a cocktail in hand, flipping through the current issue of Palm Springs Life. The San Jacinto Mountains are seemingly touchable, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” is flowing through a distant speaker, and I am still soaking in my inaugural exploration of the picturesque Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood.

I’m glued to the magazine cover – a vibrant illustration of the Kauffman House, which I was quite familiar with from my academic days, and the owner’s additional home (Falling Water) designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in my home state of Pennsylvania. I quickly learned that the cover image was designed by local Palm Springs artist SHAG. Hold my cocktail!

Majoring in architecture at Kent State University, I was well-versed in digital rendering. Could I do this? Could I take my experience and my love for this animated, color-block graphic and create my own spin for homes and iconic Mid-Century Modern works of architecture in Phoenix? Against my wishes, the weekend came to a close, and I ventured home.

A few weeks later, friends of mine purchased their first home together in a north central Phoenix neighborhood – designed by famed Mid-Century Modern architect, Ralph Haver. This was my chance! I surprised them with a framed piece of art unique to their house and interior palette. It was an instant hit and before long, I was receiving inquiries for custom illustrations of friends and neighbors homes.

As they say, the rest is history. Or is it? I hold my journey close and draw from it constantly to improve the level of nostalgia that a childhood home or theatre where a first kiss was shared can evoke.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Even though my business is truly a small business, I am constantly learning new efficiencies or rolling with the punches when a framing or printing product becomes unavailable. Learning proper bookkeeping and tax recording was a challenge, as I am not a numbers guy, but once I developed a process, it became just another task.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in creating vibrant color block art of homes and landmarks that evoke a mid-century modern aesthetic, even if the subject of the piece is not. I am most proud of my work in Palm Springs, CA, which highlights architecturally significant residences of Hollywood’s who’s who in the 1950’s and homes that define iconic neighborhoods. As a trained architect, I tend to highlight specific details and simplify the composition of the artwork – hearkening back to mid-century design.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I’ll admit it: I am HORRIBLE with social media! However, I am easily accessible by phone or email. You can purchase my work directly at postandbeamaz.com or at For the People and Modern on Melrose in Phoenix and H3K Home + Design in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. I also participate in Arizona Tiki Oasis at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale every April and other pop-up art installations around the valley.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.postandbeamaz.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/postandbeamaz/
• Facebook: facebook.com/postandbeamaz/

Image Credits
Jessica Savidge