A native of North Carolina and now resident of the football reigning Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Kristin Blakeney is on our list of up-and-coming artists to watch out for! Whether it is her paintings, rich in texture and color, or her nudes, simple yet sophisticated in their style, we are big fans of Kristin and think you will be too! 

Q and A with Kristin:

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I was raised in Davidson, NC but I currently live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF PAINTING?

I have an appreciation for the classics with a pop of eclectic. I use a wide range of mediums but primarily a mixture of acrylics, ink and charcoals. 

WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS FOR YOUR ART?

When I travel, I take pictures of everything. I'll print out the photos and wait for something to grab me. I recently did a series of large abstracts focusing on the yellow and umbers in a photo I took of a field in France. I also love talking to the street artists!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MINTWOOD HOME PRODUCT?

I LOVE the Sea Mist Raffia Placemats!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO WHILE YOUR PAINTING?

I usually make playlists and they generally consist of Lindsey Sterling, Beach Boys, Feist, Florence + The Machine and a bunch of random 90's jams. Ha!

Favorite or most inspirational place?

Hard! Maybe Florence, Italy…but really anywhere when I travel.

ADVICE TO OTHER ASPIRING ARTISTS/CREATIVE STUDENTS?

Donate your work! If you're looking for ways to break out and meet new clients…find a nonprofit and offer to donate work towards one of their silent auctions. It's a great way to get your name in front of an audience!

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

Surround yourself with strong women.

Professionally, what is your goal?