Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Carroll.
Kristina, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Every artist has a unique story. Even though I grew up loving to draw and paint, it isn’t what I ended up studying initially. My only goal after high school was to get out of Montana. (Yes. I grew up in Montana. It’s very pretty, very white and very conservative. Not where a queer young artsy type is going to flourish). So, when an NYC theater school accepted me: that was that. I packed up and moved to New York. After a few years trying to find my place in the theater scene, I discovered that it was, ultimately, not where my heart was. But I regret nothing. Moving to New York was absolutely the best decision I have ever made and my theater education has remained incredibly helpful through every aspect of my life. (fun fact: I went to the same school Janelle Monae did initially!)
After drifting away from the theater and drifting through a very colorful array of jobs, I finally began to drift back towards my first love: art. Specifically comics and D&D. (Dungeons and Dragons for the uninitiated) And this is where being in a place like NYC, with its incredible cultural resources and energy, became instrumental. I began volunteering at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art and advertising at game shops to draw people’s D&D characters for them. (At that point, I hadn’t really figured out how to use the Internet for much more than MySpace, chat rooms and Livejournal.) This led me to curate shows and landing in a (very, very) indie documentary about D&D. Those things led me to befriend some truly wonderful working artists like Donato Giancola, Michael Kaluta and Charles Vess who not only shared their knowledge with me with welcome and enthusiasm but opened my eyes to the very real possibility of making a living at art. Something which, strangely, I had not really considered before. At that point, I was working as an executive assistant at a high-end insurance company which paid great but was soul-crushing. So, I spent a year taking classes at the Art Student’s League, building a portfolio that would get me a scholarship to SVA’s. (School of Visual Arts: My top choice and one that I could absolutely not attend without a scholarship.) I got the scholarship for SVA’s Illustration program, quit my job and somehow got Donato to hire me as his part-time assistant for the duration.
So, that’s how, at 25, I was finally starting down the path to art. A decade later, I am still absolutely in love with this world.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My artwork is very rooted in mythology, archetypes, storytelling, surrealist fantasy, and female strength. I make work to connect with people and invite them into a world that is partly mine but also partly theirs. It’s is a constant meditation on internal dialogues: both individual and collective. Even when I do more standard illustrations, I try to inject a sense of dream space into them. I want people to recognize themselves, recognize something familiar or recognize somewhere/someone they want to be but make sure there is enough room for them to fill in some blanks. The art is never finished until someone else is able to have a conversation with it. This is also partly while I still use mainly traditional media that remains very open/malleable during the process (oil, charcoal, watercolor). I crave that very physical interaction with art as an object in a way that records every moment and decision and also every mistake or unintentional mark. The act of making is it’s own conversation as well. It should be playful. William Merrit Chase said something to the effect of “You should always sing as you work.” I love that idea.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Don’t waste a lot of energy focusing on what you think you should be doing. Or what Artists X, Y, Z or doing. Figure out what works for you and recognize that’s ok. If you have people in your life who don’t understand, are judgmental or think you need to reach a certain milestone on their timetable, you don’t have to listen to that. No one’s path looks the same and I know very few artists that make all their money just by making and selling their art. Many teach. Many find art jobs doing work that doesn’t look like their portfolios. Many work full-time jobs so they can make their art on their terms, many set up a booth at holiday markets. Every path is valid and none makes you less of an artist. You don’t have to starve, you don’t have to struggle. I can’t focus on art when I’m stressed about bills. It doesn’t light a fire under my ass, it paralyzes me. I am very lucky to have forged multiple income streams that all include things that I enjoy, give me flexibility and leave me energy to create. That’s not to say it’s easy. You will likely have to make certain sacrifices at times and will have to figure out some sort of routine of discipline. But be realistic and take the time to understand what your values and goals. Day jobs become much more tolerable when you realize they don’t have to be dead ends but, rather, stepping stones.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
There are so many ways to show support. I love connecting with people as I work to try to create on a multitude of platforms to be as accessible as possible. My website, kristinacarrollart.com has links to my Instagram, Twitter, YouTube videos, live painting streams on twitch, my Patreon… there are just so many platforms to connect with artists these days, it’s amazing. People often think that if they can’t buy art that there’s nothing they can do but that’s just not true. Honestly, those $1 per month patreons are so important. Every YouTube subscription and/or enthusiastic comment means something to me. Heck, just share a piece you like of mine on Facebook or Twitter with a link to me and you never know what that will lead to. I’ve sold art that way. Mainly, just show up and say hello. I’m about to launch my 6th annual Month of Fear challenge at Monthoffearart.com as well which is a really incredible avalanche of spooky art from amazing illustrators every single day in October. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we do this year.
Contact Info:
- Website: kristinacarrollart.com
- Phone: 9176085312
- Email: kristina@kristinacarrollart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinacarrollart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofkristinacarroll/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristinacarroll
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/kristinacarroll
Image Credit:
Profile image by Steve Preston
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