Meet Kristin Allen of Olathe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Allen.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I’ve always loved drawing and painting ever since I was a kid. Since fourth grade, I’ve been saying I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I took art classes in high school and even started majoring in art in college. That’s when I fell in love with watercolor painting—it’s my favorite! But as I went through college, I heard stories about artists struggling to make a living, even from my professors. It made me doubt if I could pursue art as a career, so I got a business degree instead. I worked in non-profit and insurance jobs for about ten years, leaving art behind. Then 2018, after having my child, I felt this strong urge to find something for myself again. I picked up painting once more, mainly making paintings as gifts for my family and friends. And when 2020 hit, with all the extra time at home, I started painting daily and sharing my work on social media. From there, I started getting requests to paint people’s pets, and the demand kept growing. I was juggling commissions while still working a full-time job. Seeing other artists who made art their full-time gig inspired me, and I realized that’s what I truly wanted. Right now, I’m running my own little art business on the side while still working my regular job. But my dream is to make art my full-time career. Sitting at a desk from 8 to 5 isn’t for me. I’m determined to make art my main focus. I look up to other artists who have transitioned and won’t give up until I get there.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It’s been a bumpy journey, with struggles like knowing how to price my art, creating a website, and marketing myself. And then, of course, taxes and managing commissions take much organization. The first piece of art I shipped got bent up in the mail, so I had to learn how to package art securely for shipping. They never taught these things in art class, but thank goodness for Google, YouTube, and podcasts. The biggest challenge is balancing all of this while working full-time and raising a kid. There’s been a lot of late nights and little sleep.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Watercolor is my specialty, especially pet portraits—I’ve completed over 60 of them in the past three years. These portraits hold a special meaning for people, especially when their beloved pets have passed away. I’ve also done quite a few people portraits in watercolor, which are challenging but often turn out to be my best work. I love adding splashes and splatters to my watercolor pieces to give them an expressive look. Vibrant colors are my thing, and that’s evident in my series of rainbow animals. It’s a blast bringing those colors to life on paper. I’ve been exploring landscape painting with acrylics recently, and it’s been a fun experience. Unlike watercolor, I can play with texture using thick paint and visible brushstrokes. I’m particularly inspired by the painting style known as “Open Impressionism” and have been experimenting with it. I had a fantastic time participating in my first plein air painting competition, and I’m eager to do more. My next goal is to venture into live event and wedding painting, something I’ve wanted to try for a while.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
For apps, I like to use Splice for video editing/creating, Canva for marketing materials, Plann for social media scheduling, and Unsplash or the Free Reference Photos for Artists group on Facebook for free reference photos. The Facebook group Artist Academy has been a lifesaver for me, along with the Artist Academy podcast, run by the same person. Other podcasts I like are The Biz Birthday Bash, Tipsy Business, and The Jenna Rainey Show. Jenna Rainey has a lot of good Youtube videos, especially for watercolor artists. Sema Martin is also an excellent person to follow on Instagram for Art business tips.

Pricing:

• Watercolor Pet Portraits start at $125

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kristinallen.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinallen.art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinallen.artist
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinmallen/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kristinallen.art