Check Out Kristi Darner’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Darner.

Hi Kristi, We’re so excited to have you on the platform. Before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been creative, even as a kid. I started with pencils and crayons, began painting in high school, and later attended Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from 1999-2003. After graduation, I moved to Colorado to pursue even more education in 3D Animation. After attending school for some time, I realized I wouldn’t say I liked the computer aspect of art and enjoyed the hands-on approach of traditional mediums. I started working in restaurants and other jobs to make ends meet, which was not fulfilling and caused me a loss of interest and the energy needed to be creative. I then decided to pursue a degree in criminal justice, thinking this would give me a career that I would be proud of, possibly helping others along the way.

After completion of my second degree, I started working with convicted felons who had a mental health and substance abuse diagnosis. I learned so much about mental health that it provided me with a great understanding of my mental health and allowed me to address my struggles. After some traditional therapy and medication, I started feeling like myself again, and my creativity began to shine. In 2019, I officially started Darner Fine Art and Illustration. Soon after creating my organization, the facility I worked at in Denver closed, and I became a full-time artist in March of 2021.

You can read more about my story in CanvasRebel Magazine at https://canvasrebel.com/meet-kristi-darner/ and Bold Journey Magazine at https://boldjourney.com/meet-kristi-darner/.

Alright, so 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 has not been a smooth road; I still feel sometimes that I must figure out what I am doing! There needs to be an instruction manual for going out independently and following your dream, but I strive to improve and learn something new at every possible moment. My first significant struggle was finding places to showcase and sell my art. I signed up for craft fairs and art festivals, not trying to figure out what to expect. I started to network with other artists, and with experience, I began to understand better the demographic of each event location and where my art sold well. I discovered my second struggle after signing up for events at the beginning of my career. What if people think I suck? Are they just going to laugh at me? What am I doing with my life and wasting my time? This was all in my head, and I would not continue this journey if people didn’t enjoy the quality and uniqueness of my work. That initial anxiety is still with me at every event, and with some positive self-talk and some compliments on my work, it has been slowly fading throughout the years. One last struggle that stands out is the financial aspect of this all. I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this because I wasn’t in a good spot financially. The Denver Metro area is not an inexpensive place to live, but over time, with the support of my husband, I was able to pursue my passion.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I was recently asked at an event, “Do you just go into your mad lab and create?” Well, yes, that sums it up! Over the last few years, my work has branched to new mediums, and sometimes, combining them has made it more unique. It all started with acrylic pet portraits and two of my first original paintings, “The Dock” and “The Amaryllis,” where I focused on the contrast of black and white with a small amount of color in each piece. Shortly after pursuing art as a full-time job, COVID hit, and I started working from home. I was still interacting with my clients at the halfway house but without the much-needed outlet to decompress mentally with my coworkers. During this time, my original paintings got dark, and at first, I was hesitant to showcase them at an event. I eventually did, and I received so many compliments and great feedback, and they were selling. People appreciated these pieces because they could interpret through my work how I felt and relate to what I was feeling. These “dark” pieces took a lot of courage to display but allowed me to stand out at an event and relate more with my audience.

Next came the wood carving and burning; after being asked by a coworker to make an address plaque for her home, I started experimenting with wood carving and burning. My earlier pieces were very simple, but I began to grasp the technique over time and have created several pieces, from mountain scenes to dog-related plaques and leash holders. Then came the copper wire and wire-wrapped jewelry. I was terrible at it at first, but after a few YouTube videos and some books on wire wrapping, I had a decent idea of what I was doing. Learning a new art was fun at first, but then I got frustrated with the tedious process. I didn’t want to follow the rules anymore, but I had a ridiculous amount of wire left over. So, I started making spirals from the scraps and adding them to small acrylic tree paintings. I later decided to try to create just a wire tree on wood, and they soon became as popular as my wood art. I thoroughly enjoy all the work that I do, and I am most proud of my new wood-carved and burned landscapes. Being located so close to the Rocky Mountains has helped with the subject of my work and the demographic of people who have made these pieces so popular. Despite the popularity of the landscapes, I will still continue to do what sets me apart from others: create unique pieces of art with whatever medium I can get my hands on.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned is not to sell myself short. I worked hard to get where I am today in my career. I took art class after art class for years. I learned new techniques and grew from my mistakes and successes. I spent hours creating and improving my work to improve my job. I have also used a lifetime of experiences as the subject and inspiration behind my work. My art is more than a picture or a wall hanging. My art is years of hard work and dedication, learning from my mistakes, sore hands and wrists, and literally “blood, sweat, and tears.” It is hard to predict what will sell at each event and how to factor in the time and skills I’ve obtained to price my art. I’ve learned that a sale is never worth lowering the price for someone to make the sale. Art speaks to people differently; those who truly appreciate your art and its worth will not hesitate to pay for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.darnerfineartandillustrationllc.com/
• Instagram: @darnerart
• Facebook: @darnerart