Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Herrington
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started painting while I was in school for my Masters of Political Science. I always admired artists from afar and while I wanted to be like them, my academic brain kept my nose in a book rather than my hand on a paintbrush! My degree paid off, as I worked for nearly a decade in politics. But after the pandemic, I was one of many who opted for a new lifestyle. One where I could trade in my pencil skirt for paint clothes and wave goodbye to rush-hour forever! I left my corporate job and took up creativity full time. Since that big decision nearly 2.5 years ago, I have co-authored a hilarious travel & relationship book with my husband, launched a popular podcast called “Mike & Kristen” that features other artists and leaders, opened my own art gallery called Togetherland and this fall will be the subject of a documentary. I would best describe myself as a storyteller. I enjoy sharing stories of my own and of others’ great adventures. I hope to encourage women in particular to make the big leap and trust that your life is worth living boldly!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Any entrepreneur will tell you, it’s never smooth! Leaving behind the stability of corporate has often left me feeling uneasy. Business owners are not only specializing in their field of expertise – in my case, working as a painter – but we’re also our own marketing team, accountant, PR representative, photographer, social media manager and more often than not, our own therapist. Juggling these (unpaid) tasks are the behind the scenes that our clients don’t witness. The trick I have found is to try and make all of these jobs as much fun as I can. I’ll take myself to a new coffee shop to work on accounting, or design fun photo shoots with friend to market my products. It can be a lonely road at times, so collaborating with others has also become an important part of my journey. The recognition and understanding from other artists has been a life-saver at times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My creativity has followed an evolutionary path that starting with painting at my kitchen table to doing live performances at my very own art gallery. I am most known for my abstract paintings and accompanying quirky titles. My work is often inspired by a small moment or otherwise overlooked aspect of life. Instead of painting “nature,” I will look for the way a single pebble feels between my two fingers and use that to guide my work. These days, I am better known for curating creative experiences. I have slowly been transitioning into crafting immersive shows where elements of lighting, sound, and other sensory details are incorporated. I’m interested in ensuring my audience is completely present and adding a variety of elements helps do this. Last year I hosted a show called ‘Galactic Pie’ where I transformed by gallery into a cosmic galaxy. People were given flashlights to explore the artwork, everyone was dressed in costume and my husband, Mike Ryan, created an instrumental soundtrack to score the show. I want my audience to feel like a participant as much as an observer. I am always proud of a creation that leaves people feeling wowed. I want them to be talking about the show the whole drive home and again the next morning over coffee!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I believe that a focused mindset is an important tool for any human being. Approaching life with wide-eyes and an open heart goes a long way. That said, people often ask me for tangible advice. Something they can do right away. When I left my corporate job, I invested in grocery gift cards deducted from my last 5 or 6 paychecks. I wanted to build in a cushion so that no matter how my business was going, I could at least feed myself! Preparation for the harder financial times will give you the calm and confidence that you need to keep going. I would also advise any artist in particular to allow play in their lives! It’s easy to become known for one thing and then it gets harder and scarier to try something new. This is the sweet spot to new discoveries and keeps creativity and curiosity alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kristenherringtonart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenherrington.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristenherringtonart/
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mike-and-kristen/id1613542302
