Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Krishnan.
Hi Kathleen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In my childhood, I drew all the time. Babies, mothers, trees and rooms with furniture were some of my favorite subjects. In school, I loved doing illustrations for science projects. In high school, I learned about using pastels and other mediums and was asked to exhibit my work on many occasions. Later, I became a teacher, but I always incorporated art to make learning more fun for my students. I took early retirement and slowly transitioned into being an oil painter. Now I paint all the time, sell regularly and never have to worry about excess inventory. I also co-own an artist-owned gallery in Minneapolis
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?
It might have been interesting to attempt a career in art fresh out of college, but, because I had such a conservative father, that option was never on the table. I was expected to choose a less risky profession and chose teaching. In retrospect, I am glad I had two different careers because I believe teaching is a very creative endeavor that requires coming up with innovative ways of presenting material to be learned in a way that allows for students’ individual expression. I loved teaching almost as much as I love painting. Another obstacle was finding what has appealed to buyers. I initially painted mostly invented people from my imagination. They were supposed to be non-specific people engaged in everyday things, but they looked so real that viewers wanted to know who, exactly, they were. It was a hard sell in Minnesota. So, I decided to focus more on expressing my life-long love of fields, prairies and gardens.
All the other struggles are just those of learning a skill. I was always very stubborn and managed to learn by hardly ever giving up on a painting. Oil paint is rather forgiving so I could wipe out sections, paint over sections, etc. Needless to say, some of my earlier paintings were overworked but provided many learning experiences.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
A client of mine recently wrote this about how some of my paintings affect her.
“The paintings of yours that speak to us don’t just show us a view–they remind us of those rare times when we were sitting alone somewhere in nature and suddenly felt overcome by the peacefulness or awe or clarity of it all.”
This wonderful compliment describes my goal with most of my paintings. Most of us live in man-made environments with little time to be in nature soaking in its serene harmony. I want my paintings to transport the viewer to a moment they were standing on a beach or in a field or garden feeling comforted by the boundless ways we are part of nature and its energy.
Although my work is realistic, I do not sit down in front of a scene or photo and attempt to render it on my canvas. My canvases are composed in my studio and are informed by multiple references arranged, altered and sprinkled with invented parts using my imagination. Some of my paintings are totally invented. I know they are finished when they look like a place that would nourish my sense of well-being and give me peace.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I was lucky to have had a wonderful art teacher in high school who would get really upset with me when she learned I was no longer painting, and had become a teacher. When she saw me at reunions, she would shake her head, and mutter in dismay “What a waste!” Her passionate disapproval of my career choice planted a little seed in my head that said, “Someday, I will get back to the easel” And I did!
Another bit of luck was being asked to lease a gallery space with a very hard-working and intelligent woman. Over the years, this business partner has always set the bar high. Tres Leches Gallery, which we co-own and manage in the Arts District of Minneapolis, has continuously improved since it was founded 10 years ago.
Pricing:
- Oasis, 40×30, $2250
- Prairie View, 30×48, $2200
- Grace in the Fields, 36×36 $2400
- Joyful Riot, 30×40 $2250
- Harmony, 30×24 $1080
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.kathleenkrishnan.com
- Instagram: krishnankathleen
- Facebook: Kathleen Krishnan | Kathleen Krishnan Art
- Other: www.treslechesartgallery.com
