{studio sunday} with Chrissy Sparks

Hello!  I’d like for you to meet Chrissy Sparks.  She’s a self-taught painter and a California native who’s settled in beautiful Colorado!  I met Chrissy through another {studio sunday} feature, believe it or not.  See commented on the post and we started chatting and quickly realized that we live in the same state.  The best part is that she recently moved closer, so hopefully after the Holidays, we can meet in person.  Anyhoo, let’s jump in and see where she paints.

1. How long have you been painting?  What got you started?  What’s your inspiration?  Has your style changed at all?
I began painting in 2003. I received my first easel in 2004 as a gift and started learning everything I could about painting techniques. It wasn’t until 2009 that I really became passionate about painting and entertained the idea of selling my work. After much encouragement from friends and family, I decided to put my first painting up for sale and it sold right away! Shortly after, I opened up a shop online and now sell my paintings across the U.S. and internationally. My style has changed a bit since I first started painting; I experiment with a wider range of colors, my paintings are more detailed, and my subjects are more intricate. Most of my inspiration comes from nature, but is heavily influenced by music.

 
2. I know that you recently had two of you pieces in the Colorado State Fair, how exciting was that?!  Tell us about it.
This was my second year being part of the Colorado State Fair Fine Arts Exhibit. It was a great experience and such a humbling feeling to know that my work was chosen to be shown with art from across the state! This year I had two Nebula paintings from my Cosmos series on display. My paintings were the only Cosmos themed art at the Fine Arts Exhibit and it was great to see the reaction of people when they realized the paintings were based on actual photos from NASA.

 
3. On to your studio, where’s it located?
My family and I just  relocated to the Greater Denver Area and we are currently living with family. My studio is located in our house and is the largest space I’ve ever had. I love having such an open and well-lit space to work in from home. 

 
4. What’s your favorite part of your studio space?
My husband and I love going to coffee shops together, so I really wanted to incorporate the “coffee shop/lounge” feel into my workspace at home. It’s turning out to be a fun space not only to be creative in, but also to relax. I also love my hand-made easel (which my husband gave me while we were dating), my paint pallets with colorful paint all over them, and the glass jars full of paint brushes and other art supplies that are throughout the area.

 
5. Approximately how many hours per day/week do you spend in your studio?  Is it a full-time job, or do you do something else, too?
I  spend several hours a day in my studio. I’m also a stay at home mom, so I don’t usually have the time to be in my studio all day creating, but bursts of creativity work great for me at this point in life.  Aside from my own artwork,  I also work for my husband’s film business, Sparks Bros Media. He currently makes short films, spot light videos, and does commercial work. I do a bit of admin work and a bit of social media for him (mostly Pinterest and Twitter on occasion).

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6. Do you have any future plans for your studio?
I’m still getting settled into my new studio space so mostly I’m trying to add touches here and there that make the space feel comfortable and inspirational. I’d like to add a few books to the area and other small items to help in those times that I might need a creative “boost” or inspiration for color.

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7. Do you have any tips or advice on how to maintain an inspiring and functional workspace?
I think that surrounding yourself with things that inspire you and are meaningful to you is very important. I have all of my paint brushes displayed in glass jars. I also display my colored pencils and markers this way. I not only love the way they look, but it is also very functional . What’s most important to me is the creating part of it all. Do something. Make something. Be creative. Try new things. Surround yourself with encouraging people. I really feel this is just as, if not more, important as having an inspiring & functional workspace.

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Chrissy, thank you so much for your time!  I know you’ve just moved and are still getting settled, so thank you for taking the time to share a peek into your creative space.  I love that you’ve found your passion and that you’re supported by loved ones – it makes it that much better!

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Please take a moment and visit Chrissy, and say hello! FB | Twitter | Instagram: @ChrissySparks