Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirsten Israel.
Hi Kirsten, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been drawn to painting – maybe it was seeing my mom’s old sketchbooks or making amazing memories at my hometown’s annual art festival. I took every painting class offered in middle and high school. During my senior year, I took a painting elective that you had to apply for. It took place during the first two hours of school, and it was the best way to start the day. My best friend took it too, and we would sit together and talk about life, our dreams, and our latest inspiration. Today (15 years later), she’s a successful painter and art teacher, and we talk on the phone for hours about those same things we talked about senior year. We talk about the highs and lows of both life and art, and our fears and dreams about it all. The truth is, I’ve always wanted to be a full-time fine artist, but I lacked the confidence because I also lacked the fine arts education. I was scared to be one of the stereotypical “starving artists” and I thought I ought to pursue a more “practical” career – marketing.
Throughout my years as a 9-5er, I continued my painting practice on the side at my kitchen counter. I’d paint the things I found beauty in – flowers, forests, and oceans. Friends, and then friends of friends, started purchasing my work as I continued to prioritize creating and sharing my artist journey on Instagram. In 2022, I was commissioned to paint a commemorative piece for the Rose Bowl, and that’s when I realized that maybe my dream was possible after all. I just had to keep taking steps forward and consistently show up for my art.
I read “The Artist’s Way” in early 2023, and it helped me overcome blocks and limiting beliefs. It drove me to pursue a goal to rent studio space by the end of the year. Only a month later, a friend reached out to me to say she heard about a local studio rental, so I reached out to the owner for more details. I hadn’t really thought about a budget for the space, but the price she mentioned in her response was out of reach. I got clear about what I was willing to invest monthly, and the next day, the owner reached back out to me, letting me know she was willing to cut the rent in half to fill the space, which came out to exactly the amount I landed on as my budget. It felt meant to be. While touring the space, I instantly felt at home, and the owner said, “That means you belong here.” I signed the lease the next day, and that was the official start of my pursuit towards becoming being a full-time artist. The studio quickly became so much more than just a space – it became a community, a resource of other artists, a source of endless inspiration, and the best investment I’ve ever made.
Since working in the studio, I’ve started teaching art – something I never thought I could do. I also had my art displayed at Venice Fest, and I consistently receive commission requests. No matter what life throws my way, I keep my pact to myself to continue taking action every day towards my dream of becoming a successful fine artist, and I feel confident knowing the universe has my back.
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?
The biggest struggle was learning to believe in myself, trust myself, and invest in myself. It took years and years to overcome my limiting beliefs and trust that my dreams are achievable. I can’t count all the times I’ve doubted myself, but today I truly trust the process and know that there is always a net waiting to catch you when you take a leap of faith. It might not always look like what you thought it would, but I promise it’s there.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a mixed-media painter that specializes in abstract landscapes. I love exploring the balance between abstraction and realism, and I paint things that bring me joy, which is pretty much anything nature-related! I find inspiration, peace, and happiness exploring the outdoors, and I hope to bring those feelings to others through my art. My biggest accomplishment has been painting a commission for the Rose Bowl to celebrate the iconic stadium’s 100th birthday. I painted 100 roses flowing throughout the venue to symbolize beauty, growth, and richness – all traits of “America’s Stadium.” The painting was auctioned off at the stadium’s Party of The Century, hosted by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Too many to count!! My best friend – Alexis, my mom, my husband, Denise Ambrosi (owner of my studio space at These Hands Collective), my studio mates, Dedan Brozino (President of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and the Chief Development Officer at the Rose Bowl Operating Company), Stephen Herring, and all of the people who purchased my art over the years. I’ll never forget the first time someone I didn’t know very well purchased a painting from a photo I posted on Instagram in 2017 and then commissioned two more. All of these people have believed in me, supported me, and played a role in helping me realize that my dreams are possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: kirstenisrael.com
- Instagram: kirstenisrael.art
