Last updated: August 29, 2024
Article
Kristin Myers
Courtesy of Kristin Myers. Used with permission.
The desire to control the uncontrollable has been a central theme in my work since graduate school. Looking back over the past decade, I can identify several challenging periods: the end of a ten-year relationship, coming out in my mid-thirties, being rejected by the community I had always called home, moving away from that place, starting a new career, and then beginning yet another new career three years later. During these uncertain times, my drive to exert control over something—anything—became a crucial coping mechanism.
My artistic practice has evolved from capturing the awe-inspiring terror of hurricanes to detailed renderings of coastal textures, such as the sea's surface, piles of shells washed ashore, and weathered driftwood. These textures are created through multiple layers that abstract the original image and focus on mark-making. I invite viewers to perceive what seems tangible through the lens of intangibility. The minute marks and details in my line work strive to capture moments when I felt a sense of safety and control.
Having never been to Maine or a national park before, I was thrilled by the opportunity to explore. I spent two weeks immersing myself in the experience, captivated by the misty fog that could roll in suddenly, the fleeting sunsets, and especially the coastlines. Observing the waves interact with the diverse coastal shores throughout the park was a particular favorite of mine.
I chose the scene from Raven’s Nest on the Schoodic Peninsula for its rich variety of textures and the soothing sounds of the rocks being moved by the crashing waves. It was the most calming sound.
– Kristin Myers
My artistic practice has evolved from capturing the awe-inspiring terror of hurricanes to detailed renderings of coastal textures, such as the sea's surface, piles of shells washed ashore, and weathered driftwood. These textures are created through multiple layers that abstract the original image and focus on mark-making. I invite viewers to perceive what seems tangible through the lens of intangibility. The minute marks and details in my line work strive to capture moments when I felt a sense of safety and control.
Having never been to Maine or a national park before, I was thrilled by the opportunity to explore. I spent two weeks immersing myself in the experience, captivated by the misty fog that could roll in suddenly, the fleeting sunsets, and especially the coastlines. Observing the waves interact with the diverse coastal shores throughout the park was a particular favorite of mine.
I chose the scene from Raven’s Nest on the Schoodic Peninsula for its rich variety of textures and the soothing sounds of the rocks being moved by the crashing waves. It was the most calming sound.
– Kristin Myers
Kristin Myers resides in Savannah, GA Kristin Myers lives in Savannah, GA, where she is a Foundations Professor teaching Design and Drawing at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). She earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing from SCAD in 2006 and her MFA in Studio Art from Moore College of Art and Design in 2013. Following her studies, Kristin worked in her home state of New Jersey as the gallery manager at The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, where she co-curated over 30 exhibitions and taught adjunct painting and drawing classes at local community colleges.
In 2018, Kristin returned to Savannah as an art preparator for SCAD’s Museum exhibition team. This role provided her with unique opportunities to collaborate with world-renowned artists and engage with various settings and media, including Design Miami and SCAD’s satellite campus in Lacoste, France. These experiences have significantly influenced her sketchbook entries, which, in turn, inspire her drawings and paintings.
In 2021, Kristin transitioned to a full-time role as a Foundations Professor at SCAD and in 2024 became the lead of the Foundations Studies Exhibitions Committee. While her passion for the ocean continues to inspire her artwork, she is deeply committed to her teaching role and the exhibitions committee. During school breaks, Kristin makes it a point to travel extensively to seek new sources of inspiration. She has had the opportunity to paint lavender fields in the South of France, study the rugged coastlines of western Ireland, go on safari in South Africa, surf in Costa Rica, and explore the markets and deserts of Morocco. Additionally, she has participated in artist residencies at the Vermont Studio Center, Acadia National Park, and the Outer Cape Artist in Residency Consortium.
Visit her website.