Title: Whatcha Lookin' At?
Introducing Kristy
What's in your art cup? Tea or coffee?
I am actually a tea drinker. My preferred option is green or a nice herbal blend, along with the occasional naughty half strength soy hot chocolate.
Why this piece of artwork for the cup?
I’ve always had a soft spot for this piece, I loved the colouring and the attitude of this little guy. I like working with bright colours and thought it would be eye catching, and, along with the title, I thought it a perfect catchphrase promoting Karvan Coffee, “Whatcha Lookin’ At?’, well, that’d be the best coffee in town of course…
What is the story behind this piece of art?
‘Whatcha Lookin’ At was a piece I created in 2021 when I was really exploring my creative side again. I have always loved creating, but as life does, it gets in the way. During this time, I was trying to work out what my “style” was as I was always told artists had a “style”, not something I agree with these days as I literally create what I feel like creating, wherever my creative brain may take me. I love animals, hence the subject. In this piece, I was exploring patterns and geometric forms rather than realism, looking for balance yet keeping it fun and bright.
What have you enjoyed about this project?
I was excited about this project, thinking, why not, submit the work and see what happens. I had serious imposter syndrome once I hit the submit button and was overjoyed when I was notified my work had been selected. This project is a fabulous way of promoting the arts. The volume of people that will get to hold my artwork in their hands, albeit for a few months, is just unimaginable. I will forever be grateful for having my art reach so many people and I hope it makes someone smile.
Why is it important to support the arts?
Art has the power to bring people together. It provides an avenue of self expression and personal development. Personally, for me, it’s downtime, so meditative it can dissolve the crappy parts of a day when I immerse myself in something creative. An artwork can evoke many emotions for the viewer, creating a connection, bringing back memories, creating new memories and the like. The Impact the arts can have on someone in the way of mental wellness.
