MEET ME MONDAY – RESONANCE ART STUDIO
Kristen – Resonance Art Studio
What do you make / sell? Tell us about yo’ self.
I am known for my vibrant mixed media pieces that incorporate digital media and striking hand made elements. For me, music and sound are often connected to important moments and memories. I use these moments as inspiration to create abstract paintings that include sound waves and symbolic colours with alcohol ink. I work as a high school art teacher and create art in the evenings and weekends.
How long have you had your business?
I started making art again (after a long break following my B.F.A) in September 2016. I applied for an art show and went right to work! In January 2017 I launched Resonance Art Studio and continue to make 1-2 new pieces a week.
How did you get started?
The theme of sound began with my work during my Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Calgary. I was interested in the effect that music and sound had on my life and wanted to show this in my artwork. The silkscreen print “Complex Connections” juxtaposed the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. and Adolf Hitler. In my second sound piece, “Paradox of Sound” I manipulated sound waves into circles and this was the beginning of creating what I call “sound circles.”
Who or what inspires your work?
I am inspired by music and sound, emotional experiences, the senses, the beauty of nature, vibrant colour, new materials, and connecting with my spirituality. I hope my pieces will resonate with viewers because of our shared experience with music and sound. I aim to make emotional experiences tangible and relatable.
What do you dream for your business in the future?
I hope my business will continue to be an outlet for my creative expression, and an opportunity to make art that connects with others. I currently work out of my one bedroom apartment and would love to have a studio one day. My dream is to have a solo exhibition of my work showcasing the diversity of sound and its effects on human experience.
What’s your favourite social media platform and why?
From the beginning, Instagram has been a fantastic community of support and inspiration for my business. I immediately felt connected to other makers and artists, which motivated me to share my work with others.
How do you pick yourself up when things go wrong?
Emerging artists face a lot of rejection at the beginning of their career. I often remind myself of how many artists never received any recognition during their lifetime. Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting during his life, and it was to his brother! Other ways I pick myself up include going for a long walk, doing yoga, meditating, cooking a nutritious meal, or making art!
What’s one thing no one knows about you? Give us an interesting fact!
I have three tattoos. All of them have something to do with sound. The first is a monarch butterfly with the title of the Switchfoot song “Dare You to Move,” the second is a sound wave circle of my voice saying, “everything happens for a reason,” and my latest tattoo is an “Aum” symbol which was done with the traditional bamboo poke method in Thailand.
If you could have any super power what would it be?
I have always wanted to be able to teleport anywhere. I have a love of traveling and loathe airports. Teleportation would allow me to travel anywhere in the world quickly and efficiently! If I could teleport today I would go to Costa Rica and hang out on the beach.
What are your social media handles? Please include links.
Where can we find your stuff?
Information on upcoming shows, online store and custom artwork orders can be found on my website: www.resonanceartstudio.com