This is a private interview I carried out, because I had secretly promised myself that the 100th person to fav Mystic Island would receive a prize. Kristen Nokes was the unsuspecting person to have done so. I'm thrilled to say that I also love her art, and she is a very talented lady!

The Interview

1. How long have you been doing art?

I have been doing art since I was a toddler. My mother and grandmother were always involved in doing arts and crafts with me, decorating cookies, finger painting, playdough, and ornament making. I drew and painted all the time. When I was 11 or 12 I began taking painting classes.

2. What, or who, got you started and influenced your work?

My Family wholeheartedly encouraged me in anything I wanted to do, especially my art. They made it possible for me to get as much training as I could, and supported me the whole way. My teachers also influenced me quite a bit.

3. Do you have any formal training as an artist?

I took Bob Ross classes for 6 years or so, 5 years of traditional classes learning landscapes, seascapes and animals, and have a BFA with majors in Fine Art and Multimedia

4. What software do you normally use for creating or preparing a work for display on the internet?

Photoshop is my friend.

5. Do you have a preference for the type of picture you like to create?

I love painting animals and seascapes. I have always wanted to venture more into fantasy art, maybe someday I'll have time.

6. Can you give a brief overview of the techniques you use?

I have done more wet on wet recently since I teach it for one of my jobs. It's basically like Bob Ross's method with my own style. My traditional method usually involves doing an underpainting and then spending days doing layers of glazes and opaque details on top and repeating. It allows for more depth of color and detail that opaque painting doesn't. I use liquin for my traditional medium, and highly recommend it to anyone.

7. What sort of things inspire your artwork?

I love color and textures so I'm instantly inspired by sunsets, the ocean, cherry blossoms, and fall leaves. I see little things that give me ideas every day. Animals are also something I've loved since I was little and I used to draw them constantly. Lastly I think I am inspired by life in general and the people in my life help keep that passion going.

8. Could you pick out 3 of your most favorite images from your gallery and explain why you partiularly like them?

Only 3? Wow thats a tough choice.


Washington Highlake

I like the depth and detail, the color of the water, the textures... everything really. It was also very fun to do.


Woodland King

I am proud of him because of the difficulty of the horns, and getting the light and shadow on him right. The eye is possibly the most realistic animal eye I have ever done.


The Sisters

I had never painted flowers before, so the irises in my gallery were my first. This is the version I like best. I did less layers than I normally do but it felt so different and stylized that I couldnt keep adding to it. The loose feel of the background is a nice change from my usual style.

9. Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

Take every opportunity to learn from someone new you get. Learn it, too. Taking one class on something is not learning it. Take as many as you can to get more instruction and experience. Take notes, take photos of the process, and practice. Every technique you learn will give you versatility and will help you create your own methods.

Do NOT buy cheap art supplies. Poor quality pigments in paint cause muddy, drab paintings. Good brands have more beautiful hues and you need less paint since it spreads farther. Cheap brushes make messy markings on a canvas and fall apart quickly. Good brushes have perfect textures that will make your painting easier and more beautiful, and the brushes will last you nearly forever if you take care of them.

10. Do you have any future plans for diversifying your artwork?

I would like to paint more animals and possibly get into painting peoples' pets. Future painting ideas: a very colorful opaque painting of Mt. Rainier, my first city scape of Seattle at night, the Wenatchee valley, Lake Chelan, Apples on branches, and maybe a dragon? If given the chance I would like to do more portraits.

11. Is there anything else you'd like to add about what you do?

Art is my passion. I am currently working on a second degree so that I may become a highschool art teacher. For a side business I have dreams of doing either murals, video editing, photography, or private lessons. Anything artsy or craftsy brings me so much joy and I honestly think I am who I am because of my mother and grandmother. They were always so involved in doing projects with me and supporting me. I can't wait till the day I am a mom and can do those fun things with my kids too. I also couldn't have asked for a better husband. He supports me 100% in my dreams and he loves everything I do.

_{(Anna's comment - I totally agree with starting off using the best quality materials possible! It's painful to watch talented would-be artists using inferior materials, become disillusioned and giving up! (I've been there myself!) I liken it to learning the piano. A grotty old piano that is hardly in tune and the key-pressures of which are uneven because of a dodgey action, can never give the positive feedback to a new pupil that a well made, well-known make used by the professionals can! Such pupils need the best if they are to get correct, positive personal feedback from their playing. (Of course some means has to be established first to ascertain the talent being there in the first place, but once it has been (usually on a "better" instrument owned by someone else, or already in the family), then any subsequent investment will pay off.)}

Some Examples of Kristen's Artworks

Do please take a look at Kristen's gallery HERE - I hope you will enjoy her work as much as I do!