Biography
Kristen is an award-winning and published full-time artist and art instructor in Southern California. She graduated from art school at Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Art Education, that focused on painting, book arts and printmaking, and has been teaching realism painting since 2004 and abstract painting since 2018. Kristen currently is working in three mediums: acrylic, oil/cold wax, and colored pencil. Kristen lives in Poway, CA where she works out of her home studio.
Her work is currently represented through Janssen Artspace in Palm Springs CA, Libby Silvia Artstyle in Boston, MA, Liza Pruitt, and Sorelle Gallery. Kristen's work has been on exhibit with Ashton Gallery in San Diego CA, The Athenaeum Arts & Music Library in San Diego CA, Sandstone Gallery in Laguna Beach CA, Huntington Beach Art Center in Huntington Beach CA, Borrego Art Institute in Borrego Springs CA, Arc Gallery in San Francisco CA, Port Angeles Fine Arts Center in Port Angeles WA, Jen Tough Gallery's Artist Alliance, Woman Made Gallery in Chicago IL, JAG Gallery in Key West FL, and Saatchi's The Other Art Fair Los Angeles.
Artist Statement
"I enjoy pulling inspiration from my favorite vacation destinations (Palm Springs and Hawaii) and combining it with Mid-Century Modern design for my creative choices; translating the beauty and atmospheric feeling of these places into lively marks, vibrant color, and rhythmic movement.
"Though I use reference photos that l've taken from my travels for inspiration in the studio, I don't always focus on creating a loose rendition of a photo. Often, I will instead deconstruct the image in a very abstract way.
"I'll borrow the colors I see, find a silhouette from a small section and turn it into a more prominent shape. The list goes on. Al that gets infused into my art though it may seem like a messed up Mr. Potato Head to some. That's the abstracting part: re arranging things in a way that's unique to my point of view and that's pleasing to me.
"Good news with abstract art: it's easy to appreciate. You don't need a special understanding or degree to enjoy it. If you like looking at it, for any reason at all, that's all there is to it! Regardless of what my intentions and inspirations are, I simply hope that you enjoy 'the looking' and can soak in its uplifting, playful spirit."
