At Pink Olive we are working very hard to find the best local independent designers, the handmade, one of a kind, the clever, the innovative and the classic. This month, we will be featuring Brooklyn artist Kristina Parn

New York City artist Kristina Parn was born and raised in Estonia, where at the age of seventeen, she launched her art career, studying with Estonian painter Marje Berlokko. Shortly after graduation, Kristina moved to New York City to study animation at the School of Visual Arts. Since 2005, she has focused exclusively on illustration work, starting out as textile designer for various Manhattan studios. In 2006, Kristina established her own studio in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, where she creates original work for clients in the New York area, and exhibits her paintings and drawings at local galleries.

Kristina has developed her current style by experimenting with different techniques to create the impression of light and air. Backgrounds are created by applying colored pigments to damp wood blocks; and objects are then drawn and painted with sharp outlines and bright colors to create depth of field. The natural grain patterns of wood that she uses as her raw material is the natural world's contribution to the paintings, and suggest the collaboration between artist and nature. At its core, Kristina's art is an attempt to both express and foster the human characteristics she holds most dear: love, wonder, whimsy, and joy.

Q: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town in Estonia.  It was a beautiful place to grow tall and be inspired.

Q: What made you want to become an artist?  Is it what you thought it would be?
I always loved illustrated encyclopedias, and looking through them and copying the pictures was one of my favorite pastimes as a child.  As a teenager I wanted to illustrate children's books, and I have been working on that ever since.  Is it what I thought it was going to be?  Hard to say.  I never had a clear goal, I enjoy taking each day step-by-step and try to appreciate the process instead of working towards any goals.  

Q: What inspires you each day?
I'm inspired by beauty.  I find beauty in everything.  

Q: What is your favorite place to go to in NYC?
There are many, Prospect Park is one of my favorites.  Also, any place near water wins my heart immediately.