Everyone knows the feeling of being slightly overwhelmed when you step off an airplane and your phone blows up with notifications. Suffolk Professor Dale Stephanos arrived back home to Massachusetts from a vacation and described a similar feeling, yet in his case it was much more impactful as just one notification.
The messages on his phone marked the beginning of a pivotal moment in his career.
The notification in question was an email from none other than the director of art for the United States Postal Service. Reading the email, Stephanos was thrilled to learn that they wanted him to illustrate a postage stamp, the subject being the iconic Betty White, an opportunity that had been a long-time goal of his. The feeling of excitement quickly plunged to dread when he looked at when the email had been sent: the day he left for vacation.
In seconds, he thought the opportunity was lost. If it took him days to respond to their proposal, why would they let him keep the job? He hurriedly accepted and was relieved to find out they were still interested.
Years earlier, Stephanos sent the USPS a portfolio of his work, ranging from MAD Magazine and book covers to portraits and political cartoons, hoping to accomplish his goal of designing a stamp.
Five years went by without a word back, and Stephanos figured he should just send more work. This turned out to be exactly the nudge the USPS needed, and led to him accomplishing his long-time ambition.
Stephanos, currently a resident of Foxborough, Massachusetts and a well-respected art lecturer at Suffolk University, has always carried a passion for art.
“I was the kid in class who would always draw instead of doing classwork,” said Stephanos. “I was always warned that nothing would ever come of that.”
Those who warned him against pursuing art as a full-time career turned out to be wrong. Upon graduating high school in 1982, Stephanos began illustrating political cartoons for the Boston Herald. Despite his success, he holds no grudges towards those that doubted him.
“I might actually thank them,” said Stephanos. “I’ve always been the kind of person where if you tell me I can’t, that’s really just fuel for me.”
Drawing and painting portraits is not the only place his passion for art lands.
In the ’80s, Stephanos was involved in numerous bands in Boston, using his illustrating jobs as a way to pay for his music habit.
“I’ve only ever been involved in creative pursuits,” said Stephanos.
Eventually, he committed to art full-time, developing his own personal style that he describes as realism-based with a touch of storytelling. Stephanos says that marrying original thoughts and creative ideas is what makes his niche interesting.
This realistic creative style ended up being exactly what the USPS needed for their next big stamp: American icon Betty White. White has been a prominent figure in American pop culture for decades, and after her death in Dec. 2021, the postal service decided a stamp all her own was a good way to honor her.
Stephanos approached this project with respect for White, but also a determination to capture her likeness perfectly. White’s family, who was involved in the process, requested that her years of animal activism were reflected on the stamp. Stephanos admitted to struggling with how to incorporate that detail.
“I thought, this is not going to work at all, this thing is going down in flames.” said Stephanos.
His doubts faded when, one day, he looked at his wife and saw she was wearing an animal print on her top. His eyes then went to her earrings, and he suddenly got the idea to put an animal paw print on White’s earring in the illustration.
From there, Stephanos went through his creative process, which included a sketch in graphite, followed by coloring it in Photoshop. Though this description makes the process sound simple, Stephanos emphasized the amount of time and effort that really went into it.
“This took tens of hours, this was not a press of the button and it came out kind of deal,” said Stephanos.
Eventually, Stephanos had a finished product, and said he felt thrilled by the result and the opportunity.
“It’s a permanent record that I was part of something larger than myself,” said Stephanos. “I’m really thrilled that it’s been a universally positive message.”
Now well into his teaching career, Stephanos reflected on when he was first offered a position at a small Connecticut college, admitting he was hesitant at first. He ultimately decided to give it a try, and found that he enjoyed it more than he expected.
“I was able to be the teacher that I wish I had,” said Stephanos.
Stephanos began teaching at Suffolk in 2018, and in 2020 decided to begin his undergraduate degree so he could teach full time. The arts professor is now finishing his masters degree in fine arts, and has found a great community in Suffolk.
“There is a work ethic here that appeals to me,” said Stephanos. “Everyone that’s here is here for a reason.”
