20+ YEARS IN PROFESSIONAL DECORATIVE ARTISTRY | FEATURED ARTIST — GOLDEN PAINTWORKS →
THE PAINTED PRAIRIE COLLECTION
Where Wildflowers
Meet The Prairie
Wildflowers have always captured my heart.
This collection is inspired by my love for wildflowers and the loose, expressive florals that remind me of Iowa’s beautiful prairie landscapes. To me, walking through a field of wildflowers feels like stepping into a painting God created—filled with color, movement, texture, and wonder.
Each piece is hand-painted on reclaimed wood as a nod to sustainability and my appreciation for giving beautiful materials a second life. Using layered acrylics and metallic details, I create expressive artwork that celebrates both the beauty of nature and the joy of artistic interpretation.
10% of every purchase supports Iowa native conservation efforts.
For Furniture Painters Ready To Grow
If you’ve ever wondered how to actually make money painting furniture, this book walks you through the real side of the business – pricing, selling, customer relationships, and building a profitable career.
Professional materials I use in my own work—now available for you to create your own finishes and artwork.
For over 20 years, Stacey Designs products have inspired breathtaking creations—from walls and ceilings to fine art and furniture. Now, they’re available for you to create your masterpiece!
Featured Work
Meet Stacey Van Gundy
Hi, I’m Stacey Van Gundy! I’m an artist, educator, and creative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience transforming furniture, walls, and canvas into meaningful works of art.
What began as a stay-at-home mom decorating her own home on a budget grew into a career creating original artwork, teaching decorative arts, and helping creative women build businesses they love.
Today, my work is inspired by texture, nature, handcrafted details, and the belief that creativity can transform both spaces and lives.
My mission is to create artwork that brings beauty, warmth, and character into everyday spaces while empowering creative women to turn their talents into opportunities, income, and lasting confidence.
Whether you’re here for original artwork, premium supplies, or creative education, I’m glad you’re here.
Kind Words
“Stacey can do literally anything you can dream up! She can paint surfaces to look like the highest end furniture, actually better. She painted a beautiful armoire for me. She painted a table base for me to match my wood sideboard and it is fabulous. She can paint anything. She painted a desk base for me to match a gold etageres I purchased. It is beautiful. In addition, she painted my powder room in a glaze type finish that looks like beautiful wallpaper, only it’s the color I wanted! Stacey is super professional and fun to interact with, highly recommend!”
-Vicki W.
“I had the pleasure of taking Stacey’s staging wall workshop this past year. I have to tell you that I learned so much! Her class not only provided instruction on how to create a textured wall finish, but also provided tips on lighting, selecting the appropriate wall color, staging and showcasing you’re painted beauties. I highly recommend Stacey, she has years of experience and is a warm and encouraging teacher.”
Thank you Stacey!
Regina Lambert / The Salvaged Heart
“Stacey was amazing to work with and does beautiful work! We highly recommend her and will definitely be enlisting her services for future homes.”
Justin Comers
ON THE BLOG
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Luxury Leopard Finish
This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I truly love or...
Simple Fall Tablescapes That Won’t Break The Bank
Having a beautiful fall tablescape on your dining table is a must during this season, but coming up with one that doesn’t take a lot of time or money is key. In this post, I’m sharing my favorite simple and affordable fall tablescape ideas to help you create a cozy,...
General Finishes Milk Paint Review
General Finishes Milk Paint is a line of paint that I discovered over 10 years ago at my local woodworking store, in addition, it is my "go to" paint for furniture and cabinetry! General Finishes, based in East Troy, Wisconsin, prides themselves on being the "leading...
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
Two things I “must have” in my art are texture and organic materials. To me they both go hand in hand. Sometimes it comes from layers of organic mica sandwiched between clay plaster. Sometimes from the texture of a brushstroke over piece of raw wood. Art has such a longevity to it in and of itself. Pairing with materials that have been around for hundreds of years feels like a natural combination.
Have you noticed how the bees, butterflies and the hummingbirds are working hard to get the last of the nectar before this wildflower season comes to an end? I feel the same way. I just want to absorb as much of the season as I can. Painting wildflowers feels like I’m walking through a garden. I picture each petal in my mind and smell their scent with each brushstroke. I am actively giving 10% of my Painted Prairie Series to local conservation. DM me for more details. #staceyvangundy #desmoinesartist #iowaartist #iowaconservation
Your paintbrush was never meant for just one surface.
I keep coming back to this because it really is the story of my creative business.
When I became a decorative artist, I wasn’t trying to build some big career. I wanted to make extra income doing something creative while still having the flexibility to raise my family.
Over the years, my paintbrush took me from walls and decorative finishes to furniture, artwork, murals, textured surfaces, workshops and so much more.
And every time I added another skill, I added another possibility to my business.
That’s something I think is especially important for furniture painters right now.
The market changes. Trends change. Pieces that once sold quickly may sit longer. But the creative skills you’ve developed don’t disappear.
They can become the foundation for something bigger.
You don’t have to stop painting furniture.
You can simply expand what your paintbrush can do.
That’s really the heart behind my Surface To Success Program. I’m taking more than 20 years of decorative artistry and business experience and teaching creative women how to expand their skills, build a professional portfolio, and discover new ways to earn income doing creative work they love.
Because the goal was never just furniture.
The goal was creativity, income, flexibility and freedom.
And your paintbrush was never meant for just one surface. ❤️ Want more info about the Surface To Success Program? Comment SURFACE below and I’ll send it over!
Some paintings come together in a weekend. This one took almost 2 years. It actually started as a completely different painting…then became another…and eventually evolved into what you see today. I never painted over it because I hated it. I painted I d it because I knew it wasn’t finished yet. Every layer added something. Some layers disappeared. Others still peel through if you look closely. You can see the texture, the scratches, hints of color, and pieces of history still beneath the surface. I think that’s why I was drawn to name it ‘Beneath The Surface’. The title reminds me of the process. Sometimes the things we think were covering up or leaving behind are cruising the foundation for something better. I have a feeling this one was meant to become exactly what it is today. 💙 Have you ever had something in your life that took a completely different path than you expected, but ended up better because of it?
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