Hello and Welcome!

You have found yourself in the future home of my new art blog. My name is Kristin. You could describe me as an artist or a bookworm; but at heart, I am an explorer. I love to travel both in life and on the page. I want to see new worlds: Worlds that are, worlds that were, worlds that might be and worlds that can never be. History, science, and fantasy are the fuel that feeds my imagination. I feel at home in libraries, archives and museums; but I also spend a lot of time outdoors. When the weather cooperates, I enjoy wandering through the woods near my home with a camera or a sketchbook documenting anything that catches my eye.

Awash of Stars started as a social media handle. I wanted something with a connection to drawing or painting that was easy to remember and showed a little personality. Over time, the name grew on me and it took on new meanings. I love the image the phrase, “painting with a wash of stars,” evokes and how well it describes my approach to life. Living a life awash of stars means moving through the world with a sense of wonder: Leading with curiosity, appreciating skill and craftsmanship, and being present in the moment. It is about enjoying the journey and making the time we have on Earth feel a little more magical.

Why Substack?

What I want from a social media platform is relatively simple. I am looking for a place to share my art, find inspiration and build a community. Like many, I have been searching for alternatives to the ad-supported platforms for years. Although I wasn’t looking to monetize a blog, I kept an eye on Substack because I liked their business model. I was curious if it would work. In theory, serving creatives rather than advertisers should result in healthier conversations and communities. That also appears to be true in practice.

I never expected Substack to become a viable platform for me. I simply hoped their success would lead to someone creating something like it for artists. I was surprised when Substack itself began to turn into the platform I wanted. As they added features, I saw more creatives flocking to Substack. I saw communities forming. I saw meaningful conversations happening. I saw people making art for the sake of making art. That is what I have been missing and hoping to find.

What can you expect from me?

The short answer is art: Drawings, sketches, paintings and illustrations. Charcoal has my heart; but, more recently, I have been experimenting with digital tools. Below are a few of my favorite pieces from last year.

The longer answer is I plan to use this space to share my work, meet people with similar interests and find new sources of inspiration. To start, you can expect bimonthly posts about art. I am currently working on designing and illustrating a tarot deck. One of my monthly posts will be devoted to talking about that project. I’ll share progress updates, my thoughts on the cards and everything I learn while working on the deck. My other monthly post will be a more general exploration of art and the things that inspire my work. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, I hope you will subscribe, check out my work and share some of yours with me.