We were lucky to catch up with Krista Miller recently and have shared our conversation below.

Krista, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I’ll never forget the day of my first art show. Rolling in that morning after a weeks worth of preparation praying to all that is holy that I hadn’t forgotten anything. It was chilly, but my nerves were sure to warm me up. Once my partner and I located my spot we began unloading and talking through a plan. I was glad we had gotten in early because I wanted enough time to play around with staging all the artwork. After the tent was popped and the walls were up I remember taking a breath and thinking to myself, “wow, this is really happening.” Looking around people were starting to pick up the pace. More white tents as far as I could see lined up side by side down the long stretch of road. The sun was out and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Everyone that passed by asked if they could help or if I needed anything. I realized was starting to be folded into the art show community and it felt really amazing. The artwork was the last to go up. I had been working on all these pieces for months. Some of them of which no one had seen before. Up until this point I had only sold pieces to friends and family and had shown my work on instagram as well as a simple website I was working on. Sales were going well so I decided to take a risk and invest in a tent that would allow me to tryout the art show scene. I wanted to see how I would do on a larger scale that would also stretch me socially. As soon as the gates were opened I don’t think I sat down for more than ten minutes! I think the nerves settled after about the fourth or fifth conversation and for sure after I had my first sale. I remember turning to my husband and at one point after another sale had happened and saying, “So when’s our next show?!” The feeling as an artist that you get when someone purchases a piece that you created is so unreal. Especially when you know that you have put everything you have into it. Art is connection to something bigger than ourselves. I take a risk every time I paint because I am putting my whole self onto a canvas and exposing it to the world. That is how we grow. That is how we become better versions of ourselves. You’ll never know unless you try right?

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am a creative abstract expressionist that lives in Dallas, TX with my husband Josh and two kids, Isaac and Willow. I started drawing and painting as a kid and over the years it has grown into what I now like to call a mind-body canvas meditation. I do not have any formal training, however lots of my technique and knowledge have come from life experience and by surrounding herself with community who push me to be better. My body of work is done with multiple tools and acrylic medium to bring you the highest quality of art fit for any home, office, or community space. Anger, depression, and infertility is what led me to art. I believed the body I was given was broken and throwing paint at a canvas became healing. The canvas became big enough to hold my pain when I felt like I had nothing else. Working with the flow and energy of my own sacred feminine power I translate my embodied lived experiences of “what is” to the canvas. My hope is that I can continue to hold space for others on the canvas just as it continues to hold mine. As an artist I love creating my own work as well as custom commissions for my clients. I have also been the Visual Arts Curator for St. Andrew UMC in Plano, TX. I have also participated in and have been involved with organizations such Art House Dallas and the Texas Youth Academy. I enjoy exhibiting and showing my work and have done so in several local events around the DFW area such as Artsgoggle, West Elm, Legacy West, and Maddery PLLC Art Exhibitions, The Artcentre of Plano, Art on the Trail, Flite to Freedom, and Color Me Empowered to name a few.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being artist is seeing that light, that spark happen, that in-take of breath when the viewer makes the life connection with YOUR piece. There is something that happens that goes beyond words when a deeper connection is made. It may or may not be the original interpretation of that piece, but it’s what comes through for them in that moment that becomes the vehicle to healing.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
BUY LOCAL! Seriously. As much as you can. It’s not cheap to be a full time artist or even a part-time artist. As artists and creatives we want to give our best to our clients and that means having the proper tools that we need and getting the best quality paints, canvases, wood, stones., etc. to make that happen. Those things are not cheap friends! Also, we love it when you come see us at art shows, festivals, and the sorts. Please don’t stop! However, it costs us an arm and a leg to be in those shows that you love. Not to mention travel costs for some on top of that. For many artists it’s a gamble to be in these shows because you never know if you are going to sell anything. The best thing you can do for your local artists is to buy from them whenever you can. Even if it’s just something small. A little goes a long way!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kristamillerart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristamillerart