Kristine Sarsons has been encouraged and supported in her art from early childhood by family, friends and teachers. She does not
remember when she began to draw, only that she always has. She would spend afternoons with her sister drawing Walt Disney characters in
their sketchbooks. Kristine credits the encouragement she received at an early age for her life long pursuit of art.
Kristine attended the Art Institute of Houston where she studied commercial art. She worked as a graphic designer for many
years. Although she found the industry interesting, it was unfulfilling to her as an artist.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised primarily in Houston, Texas, Kristine now lives in Sundre, Alberta Canada. She has been
producing fine art since 1996. Predominately using pencil and chalk pastel, Kristine often includes friends and family in her work. She
says that the friendliness of the people here and the beauty of the mountains are inspiring.
Artist's Statement
I believe that having the ability to create art, to draw or paint, to render something with skill, is a gift.
I also believe that we are supposed to use our gifts to fulfill our purpose.
My journey so far has been to learn to see my world. I have been striving to improve my skills and techniques as a
realistic artist. To produce art that represented people, places, or things in a realistic manner that was
interesting or beautiful. So far, my reasons for creating art have been primarily for enjoyment.
My goal for my art is to move beyond recreating images directly taken from the world around me. I would like to be
able to express the experiences and the emotion of the world as I see it.
In the past, my primary medium has been graphite. My favorite being a mechanical pencil. This enabled me to achieve
the tiniest detail. I enjoyed people's reactions to the smallest nuances and attention being paid. Creating art
with graphite is primarily a study in value. Using pastels has changed my focus. Colors, in and of themselves,
create and evoke emotion. Your reactions are not just dictated by your subject now, but by color pallet as well.
Pastels are a sensual experience. They are soft to the touch. Because I am in contact with the pigment as well as
the subject itself, I feel very intimate with the pieces created as a result.
Creating artwork as a whole is a gratifying experience. Revealing my work is at times however, a bit nerve racking.
I am literally asking a viewer for a response. For acceptance. For understanding. For a moment, to be drawn in to
the world as I see it. To share in an experience or a thought. To evoke an emotion or a change. Being an artist,
whether you are an actor, a musician, writer, dancer or visual artist is to, hopefully, tell the world who you
really are.
