Meet Kristen Ferguson | Artist and art teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristen Ferguson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Nomads. It’s a running joke in our family, that we were our own nomadic tribe, because we moved so much. I was originally born in Baltimore, and lived in New Jersey, Ohio, Florida and then finally Texas.

Moving 14 times by the time I moved out as an adult teaches you a variety of skills. Don’t get attached to stuff, or people; it’ll be left behind within a couple years. Also, those moves come with a huge dose of resilience, because each of those schools I attended had their own culture that I had to navigate. I had to figure out how to blend in!

In all of that, art was my escape, my place of solace and what I think help me keep my “boat” upright. In retrospect, it was really challenging, but my art classes, my sketchbook, my journals, all helped me make sense of it all, and it was a place to escape to.

That resilience still serves me daily; 2024 was not kind to most artists and artisans, but I continue to create. And art is still a place where I sit down in my studio and work out what’s happening around me, to make sense of it all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a seeker of light, both literal and figurative. My art is a reflection of this pursuit, a visual exploration of the interplay between darkness and light.

Inspired by the dramatic chiaroscuro of Baroque paintings, I often use light and shadow to create depth and emotion in my work. A single beam of light can transform a scene, illuminating the essential details as it dances across the dark.

But the light I chase isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about the human experience, the complex tapestry of joy, sorrow, hope and despair. I’m fascinated by the concept of “sonder”, the realization that every person has a rich and complex inner life. This understanding fuels my artistic practice, as I strive to capture the unique beauty and vulnerability of the human condition.

I knew when I was young, I would be an artist and art teacher; the path was definitely not direct. My first career was in sales, while raising two daughters. I went back to school in 1999 and earned another degree, a BFA with my art teacher certification. I taught in the public schools until January 2024. During that time, I worked on my own artwork, using a variety of media, including pastel, oil, and acrylic.

An unexpected move in 2010 from the Austin area to the Houston area left me reeling. I’d left a lifetime behind, having chosen Austin as where I wanted to stay and never move again. Depression set in. I stopped making art for awhile, while my (ex)partner dealt with a health crisis. I remember standing in a hospital room, waiting for his test results, and looking at the coastal cloud formations. They were gorgeous – how the light plays off of their fluffy forms. And suddenly, a little spark began to burn again.

At times, it has been extremely difficult. When I discovered all of my art inventory and pages to a recently published children’s book had vanished from my house, I knew I had a mountain ahead of me to climb and I was sleeping with the enemy. I made my plan and I got out. I started over, and I just kept going. I’m so grateful to all of the people who helped me during that time.

When you go through a horrible event, whether it is divorce or death of a loved one or job loss…..at some point, you realize that you are not alone in it. And there is comfort in that. And there’s also a huge comfort in knowing that whatever you’re in, in that moment, will not last forever. I think that’s why I’m drawn to painting light the way I do……you can’t have darkness without light. And even on cloudy days, sunflowers always turn towards where the sun would be.

Just keep going. I currently work part time with juvenile probation students, sharing life, art and healing through art journaling and it is incredibly fulfilling. That leaves me plenty of time for my own art work, but I still have the teaching component, and making a difference, which is important to me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If it was baseball season, we’d have to start off with an Astros game! The next day, probably the Museum of Natural Science, and lunch at a quirky spot in the area, like Space City Birria Tacos.

We’d need another whole day for the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston. That spot is probably my most favorite….the Modern Art section is my favorite gallery; I’d like to think the masters are speaking to me!

Texas Art Asylum is a treasure! Literally, tons of found items to sift through that add to my art journaling practice. And always unique art pieces on display!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would give a shout out to my amazing husband, Shawn Ferguson. This man understands me and all my quirks, and loves me as I am. He built a beautiful 36 x 14 studio for me. (photo included) He understands the need for me to have my own space.

Website: https://www.KristenFergusonArt.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristen_ferguson_art

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristen-ferguson-art